Loran Mutafov, Developer in London, United Kingdom
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Loran Mutafov

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Software Engineer and Website Developer

London, United Kingdom

Toptal member since November 13, 2020

Expertise
Software EngineeringBack-end DevelopersFull-stackCSSJavaScriptPHPSQLReact.jsMySQLSymfonyGitAWSChatbot Development
Bio

Loran has 10 years of professional experience as a software engineer, but he's been programming since he was 12. It's not just a job for him; it's a passion. He has delivered small projects on an ASAP basis and others that had to be more robust, extensively tested, and perform at scale. Loran flexes his approach to meet each client's needs and will never build something you don't need.

Portfolio

Monzo
Amazon EKS, Kubernetes, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS)...
Element Human
Terraform, Kubernetes, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Docker, PostgreSQL...
Thunes
Go, PostgreSQL, Kanban, REST, SOAP, Amazon EKS...

Experience

  • PHP - 11 years
  • React - 8 years
  • Git - 7 years
  • MySQL - 7 years
  • Go - 5 years
  • Kubernetes - 5 years
  • Docker - 4 years
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) - 4 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Docker, React, Go, Jira, GitHub, Visual Studio Code (VS Code), MacOS, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Terraform, Kubernetes

The most amazing...

...personal project I'm developing is a platform to train chatbots with AI.

Work Experience

Security Infrastructure Engineer

2023 - 2024
Monzo
  • Implemented and deployed a host-based intrusion detection system across all of Monzo's servers, including DCs.
  • Helped out other teams as part of floater-rota duties.
  • Triaged vulnerabilities and migrated some services' egress.
Technologies: Amazon EKS, Kubernetes, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Terraform, Docker, Vault, Go, RPC, REST, Prometheus, Thanos, Grafana, Puppet, Software Engineering

DevOps Engineer

2021 - 2023
Element Human
  • Inherited the entire infrastructure after the previous DevOps engineer had left the company.
  • Performed a wide range of overdue updates of Terraform, Kubernetes, and other supporting technologies with zero downtime.
  • Researched and communicated options to rewrite the old back end.
  • Selected and planned the rewrite from Python to Go.
  • Organized Go Dojo to familiarize the team with the language.
  • Helped management figure out what observability means to them.
  • Improved observability of systems to help keep track of key metrics.
  • Identified many areas of the product where tests were missing and guided the team on a sensible and pragmatic approach to tackling these without burning out.
  • Inspired and enabled the co-founder to say he loves his job again after getting some of those tests in place, which made the product more stable.
Technologies: Terraform, Kubernetes, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Docker, PostgreSQL, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Google Pub/Sub, GraphQL, Datadog, Rust, Go, Back-end, Scalable Architecture, Architecture, Scalable Application, Cloud, DevOps, SQL, Stripe Checkout, Stripe, Cron, APIs, Software Design, Microservices, Scalability, Performance, React, Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), TypeScript, CI/CD Pipelines, Google Cloud, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Software Engineering

Back-end Software Engineer

2020 - 2021
Thunes
  • Wrote an API gateway from scratch for a greenfield project.
  • Provided stable REST APIs for several archaic, SOAP-only banking systems in countries with little to no banking cultures.
  • Completed several deliverables that are covered under NDAs.
Technologies: Go, PostgreSQL, Kanban, REST, SOAP, Amazon EKS, Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), APIs, Back-end, Scalable Architecture, Architecture, Scalable Application, Cloud, DevOps, SQL, Stripe Checkout, Stripe, Cron, Software Design, Microservices, Scalability, Performance, Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, JavaScript, CI/CD Pipelines, Protobuf, gRPC, Software Engineering

Software Engineer

2019 - 2020
Appear Here
  • Increased the Apdex score from 0.6 to 0.85 by analyzing and introducing front-and back-end optimizations.
  • Reduced CI runtime from 1.5 hours to 45 minutes, resulting in happier developers and reduced cycle time.
  • Stabilized CI builds from 30% to 90%, mainly by fixing flaky tests or parts in the system.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, Git, Mapbox, Datadog, Jenkins, Amazon EKS, Kubernetes, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Terraform, GraphQL, REST, Kanban, Cypress, Jest, React, PostgreSQL, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Back-end, Scalable Architecture, Architecture, Scalable Application, Full-stack, Cloud, DevOps, SQL, Front-end, Stripe Checkout, Stripe, Cron, APIs, Software Design, Microservices, Scalability, Performance, Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, Google Tag Manager, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), TypeScript, CI/CD Pipelines, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Software Engineering

Software Engineer

2018 - 2019
Gousto
  • Moved Gousto's recipes' source of truth from a monolith to a new microservice.
  • Developed specs for a messaging contract to help other teams slowly migrate and move closer to the event-driven architecture we had envisioned.
  • Led refinements and retrospectives, planned team capacity, and tracked metrics as the squad's agile champion. Planned Gousto-hosted tech events as an events champion.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, Git, Go, Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), CircleCI, REST, Scrum, Cypress, Jest, React, MySQL, Python, Codeception, PHPUnit, Test-driven Development (TDD), Lumen, Laravel, PHP 7, Back-end, Scalable Architecture, Architecture, Scalable Application, Full-stack, Cloud, DevOps, SQL, Front-end, Stripe Checkout, Stripe, Cron, APIs, Software Design, Microservices, Scalability, Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Chatbots, Artificial Intelligence (AI), TypeScript, CI/CD Pipelines, Rust, Software Engineering

Software Engineer

2016 - 2018
Amara
  • Delivered core repository features, optimizations, fixes, implementations, and key migrations from Symfony 1 to Symfony 2.
  • Planned systems architecture changes for future scaling.
  • Brought VarCon to PHP: https://github.com/AmaraLiving/php-varcon.
Technologies: Docker, Git, Behat, Gherkin, Behavior-driven Development (BDD), Jenkins, Kanban, React, MySQL, PHPUnit, Symfony, PHP 7, Back-end, Architecture, Full-stack, Cloud, SQL, Front-end, APIs, Software Design, Scalability, Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, Google Tag Manager, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, CI/CD Pipelines, Software Engineering

Software Engineer

2014 - 2016
Composity
  • Proposed and introduced peer code reviewing and Agile practices (Kanban).
  • Recommended and implemented a simpler design and UX for the admin panel, proposed migration from AngularJS to React for a better mobile experience, and demonstrated how React works.
  • Delivered features for the company's core products and planned and executed incremental architectural changes.
Technologies: Docker, Git, Behat, Gherkin, DevOps, UX Design, REST, Kanban, React, MySQL, PHPUnit, Symfony, PHP, Back-end, Architecture, Scalable Application, Full-stack, SQL, Front-end, Laravel, Cron, APIs, Software Design, Scalability, Performance, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Google Cloud, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Software Engineering

Software Engineer

2013 - 2014
Owned it
  • Delivered new features to the core product and planned day-to-day development tasks.
  • Planned and executed integrations with additional eCommerce platforms.
  • Trained (and learned a lot from) a graduate programmer; together, we introduced better programming practices within the team.
  • Supported clients in integrating our service, both online and on-site.
Technologies: Git, MySQL, Java, CodeIgniter, PHP, Back-end, Full-stack, SQL, Front-end, APIs, Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web Scraping, Software Engineering

Web Developer

2010 - 2011
Lemon
  • Planned and delivered a systems integration for one of our biggest clients.
  • Delivered a project for The New York Times, using Flash for animation and ActionScript for the logic.
  • Delivered changes to our regular customers' websites.
  • Planned and executed server migrations, ensuring minimal downtime and usually during off-hours.
  • Developed in the pre-Git, almost-pre-framework era.
Technologies: Flash ActionScript, Flash, MySQL, CodeIgniter, PHP 5, Back-end, Full-stack, SQL, Front-end, APIs, Back-end Development, Back-end Architecture, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web Scraping, Software Engineering

SouthieMap

A hyperlocal, data-driven, real estate brokerage. I delivered some of the inner detail pages (e.g., the property details page) in React, liaising with the back-end developer on the best strategy for pulling data. Common REST patterns weren't always exactly suitable for some of the use cases.

Protema

https://protema.bg
A local PR and marketing agency in Varna, Bulgaria. I led the complete overhaul of their website. This was part of a series of pro bono projects where only expenses were covered. My idea was to help companies "with a heart" improve their online image. Protema was one of those companies because all the consultations and ideas were given away to organizations that were just getting started.

2U Kitchen

A Bulgarian brand focused on modular kitchens. I was in charge of planning and creating their website, and I also helped the owners formulate the copy and some of the imagery you see on the website. This budget-conscious solution was built on WordPress.

Hostel Musala

https://hostelmusala.com
A hostel in one of Varna's most iconic buildings. I led the creation of this website as part of a series of pro bono projects where only expenses were covered. My aim was to help businesses "with a heart" improve their online image. Hostel Musala was one of those businesses because they successfully resurrected a historical building in the heart of the city. The building had been dormant for years, but they brought function and life to it once again.

Lavanda Creations

An events company, focusing mainly on children's birthdays and parties for youngsters. I planned and built the website, reflecting this focus with its watercolor-style design that aims to be friendly and welcoming. This budget-conscious project was built in WordPress.

Nikolay Nikolov

An internationally renowned woodcarver from Bulgaria. Nikolay needed a website to showcase his work and provide a more convenient way for people to contact him. Collaborating on the design, we started by drawing out what "this site thing" would look like. Then I iteratively built the site, showing him the progress and getting his input at every step.
2011 - 2014

Bachelor of Science Degree (Hons) in Business Information Systems

Cardiff Metropolitan University - Cardiff, Wales

Libraries/APIs

React, Stripe, Protobuf, Thanos

Tools

Terraform, Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Git, Stripe Checkout, Cron, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), Amazon EKS, Jenkins, CircleCI, Behat, GitHub, Jira, Flash, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Vault, Grafana, Puppet

Languages

Go, PHP, SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, GraphQL, Python, TypeScript, PHP 7, Gherkin, Java, PHP 5, Flash ActionScript, Rust

Frameworks

Symfony, Laravel, gRPC, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Jest, Cypress, Lumen, PHPUnit, Codeception, CodeIgniter

Paradigms

Scalable Application, Back-end Architecture, DevOps, Microservices, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Management, Kanban, REST, Test-driven Development (TDD), Scrum, Behavior-driven Development (BDD), UX Design

Storage

PostgreSQL, MySQL, Google Cloud, Datadog

Platforms

Kubernetes, Docker, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Mapbox, WordPress, MacOS, Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

Industry Expertise

Marketing

Other

APIs, Back-end, Architecture, Full-stack, Software Design, Back-end Development, Google Tag Manager, CI/CD Pipelines, Software Engineering, Scalable Architecture, Cloud, Front-end, Scalability, Performance, Chatbots, Web Scraping, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Computer Science, Networking, Systems Analysis, System Design, System Development, Business Applications, Research, Statistics, Economics, Organizational Behavior (OB), Entrepreneurship, ThemeForest, SOAP, Google Pub/Sub, Artificial Intelligence (AI), RPC, Prometheus

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