Luca is available for hire

Luca Nioi

Verified Expert in Engineering

Scalability Developer

Location

Barcelona, Spain

Toptal Member Since

May 19, 2022

Experienced in a diverse range of startups and enterprise environments, Luca has worked on monolithic Rails applications and systems serving over 30+ million monthly users. As a senior engineer trained mainly in Ruby and JavaScript, Luca understands how clean, maintainable code benefits the business by enabling a consistent and sustainable development pace. He enjoys studying new languages and is currently learning Go.

Back-end Scalability Webhooks Web Development Payment Processing Full-stack Databases Node.js Ruby on Rails (RoR)Ruby JavaScript MySQL RSpec Git PostgreSQL NATS GrapesJS Payment Gateway

Portfolio

Badi

Amazon RDS, AWS ELB, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), AWS Lambda, Amazon API Gateway...

WebStreet, LLC

JavaScript, Ruby on Rails (RoR), jQuery, HTML, CSS, Bitbucket, PostgreSQL...

Invopop S.L.

Go, NATS, CouchDB, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microservices Architecture...

Experience

Scalability - 6 years Optimization - 6 years Ruby on Rails (RoR) - 6 years Ruby - 6 years Node.js - 6 years Test-driven Development (TDD) - 4 years Agile - 4 years Go - 2 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Node.js, Ruby, Kanban, Agile

The most amazing...

...thing I've done is design a cost-effective event-driven messaging system for handling large quantities of user data.

Work Experience

Technical Consultant

2022 - PRESENT

Badi

Assisted the client in maintaining and scaling down an application built on Ruby on Rails.
Helped cut costs by reviewing the infrastructure, identifying redundancies, and eliminating them where possible.
Laid out the maintenance strategy for the legacy back-end software to ensure long-term stability.
Identified and recruited qualified engineers with the necessary experience and qualifications.
Prioritized bug fixes to ensure optimal performance and user experience.

Technologies: Amazon RDS, AWS ELB, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), AWS Lambda, Amazon API Gateway, Elasticsearch, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Node.js, React, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS), Sidekiq, Redis, Technical Architecture, RSpec, Full-stack Development, Back-end, Front-end, Payment Gateways, Payment Processing, Card Payments, Docker, API Integration, Express.js, Git, Scalability, Performance, Amazon EKS, Webhooks, Stripe Payments, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, Microservices, APIs, Stripe API, Stripe, Web Development, HTML5, Architecture, Software Design, Technical Leadership, Kubernetes, Real Estate, Optimization, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Software Architecture, Databases, Ruby on Rails 7

Full-stack Developer

2023 - 2023

WebStreet, LLC

Helped maintain the platform during the handover from one team to an external agency.
Developed multiple features on a standalone Ruby on Rails application and advised the client on product and technical strategies.
Helped select the agency taking over the project, participating in multiple interviews with candidates and aiding with the final decision.

Technologies: JavaScript, Ruby on Rails (RoR), jQuery, HTML, CSS, Bitbucket, PostgreSQL, Heroku, RSpec, ActiveAdmin, Git, Full-stack, Scalability, Performance, Sidekiq, Webhooks, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, APIs, Web Development, HTML5, Architecture, Software Design, Technical Leadership, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Software Architecture, Databases, Ruby on Rails 7, Intuit QuickBooks

Senior Go Engineer

2023 - 2023

Invopop S.L.

Worked in a fast-paced Y Combinator startup company wearing many hats, including programmer, system architect, client liaison, and project manager.
Designed and implemented Go services that integrate with local tax agencies to submit electronic invoices.
Worked directly with customers, including a large hotel management system provider, to address local e-invoicing needs, which may be challenging for companies to comply with.
Contributed to an open-source GOBL project, writing a library extension that converts e-invoices in the GOBL JSON format into local XML formats. One example is FatturaPA, Italy's electronic invoicing format.

Technologies: Go, NATS, CouchDB, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microservices Architecture, Event-driven Architecture, GOBL, XML, Back-end, Front-end, Docker, API Integration, Git, Full-stack, Scalability, Performance, Webhooks, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, Microservices, APIs, Web Development, HTML5, Architecture, Software Design, Kubernetes, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Software Architecture, Databases, DigitalOcean

Back-end Developer

2022 - 2023

Popular Pays Inc

Improved the slow Ruby on Rails API endpoints by optimizing the database, refactoring the code, consolidating redundant requests, and reducing the response time by up to 60%.
Added new features to the application by working as a full-stack developer.
Worked with a team spread across the world in various time zones, making appropriate use of synchronous and asynchronous communication channels.

Technologies: JavaScript, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Node.js, Ember.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Technical Architecture, React, Heroku, RSpec, ActiveAdmin, Back-end, Front-end, Payment Gateways, Payment Processing, API Integration, Git, Scalability, Performance, Sidekiq, Webhooks, Stripe Payments, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, APIs, Stripe API, Stripe, Web Development, HTML5, Architecture, Software Design, Optimization, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Social Media Apps, Software Architecture, Databases, Ruby on Rails 7

Senior Back-end Engineer

2021 - 2021

Cleo

Developed a robust Ruby on Rails API for handling subscription payments for a platform with 3 million users.
Introduced a more comprehensive framework for testing features before deployment to production.
Implemented the initiatives to improve software engineering principles and team processes to meet growing business needs.

Technologies: Ruby, Ruby on Rails (RoR), JavaScript, React Native, Heroku, User Interviews, SQL, Software Architecture, HTML, CSS, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end Development, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Back-end, APIs, TypeScript, MySQL, Technical Architecture, React, RSpec, jQuery, Payment Gateways, Payment Processing, Card Payments, API Integration, Git, Scalability, Performance, Sidekiq, Webhooks, Stripe Payments, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, Stripe API, Stripe, Web Development, Asana, HTML5, Architecture, Software Design, Optimization, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Databases

Back-end Engineer

2019 - 2021

Badi

Worked on a room-rental platform with over 3 million users in a fast-paced startup environment built on Ruby on Rails.
Led the effort to design and fully implement a recurring payments system integrated with Stripe.
Proposed, designed, and implemented an event-driven messaging system for processing data streams using AWS SMS and Amazon SQS upon performing a cost-benefit analysis of different tools at disposal.
Rewrote the legacy integration with third-party platforms into a scalable serverless AWS Lambda system.
Oversaw the effort to remove internal bottlenecks by improving the integration between tools used by sales, marketing, customer experience, and finance departments.
Designed and implemented an invoicing system for the application. The code generated sequential invoices sent to both the users and the tax authority through an integration with our accounting partner's system.
Participated in the recruitment process as a technical screener.
Collaborated closely with the performance marketing team as a growth engineer, building and overseeing the necessary technology for experiments to improve specific metrics like CTR and conversion rate.

Technologies: Ruby, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Node.js, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Amazon EC2, Amazon RDS, Redis, AWS Lambda, AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Stripe, Recurring Payments, GrapesJS, Sentry, Amazon CloudWatch, Continuous Delivery (CD), New Relic, Serverless, Interviewing, Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS), SQL, Software Architecture, SCSS, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end Development, OAuth, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Back-end, APIs, Growth, Engineering, AWS Server Migration Service (SMS), TypeScript, Firebase, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Technical Architecture, React, RSpec, ActiveAdmin, Microsoft Dynamics, Full-stack Development, Front-end, Payment Gateways, Payment Processing, Card Payments, Docker, API Integration, Express.js, Git, Full-stack, Scalability, Performance, Amazon EKS, Sidekiq, Webhooks, Stripe Payments, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, Microservices, Stripe API, Web Development, HTML5, Architecture, Software Design, Kubernetes, Real Estate, Optimization, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Databases

Consultant | Software Developer

2018 - 2019

ThoughtWorks

Worked with various clients in different industries as both a software developer and a consultant trained in Agile methodologies.
Acted as a Swift developer building an iOS app for a marketplace company with over 30 million monthly users.
Built and maintained a scalable back-end for the above app with Scala and Clojure deployed on AWS Lambda.
Worked closely with clients, helping not only with technical solutions but also by refining their business aims and translating broad objectives into actionable goals.
Owned the entire lifecycle of software we wrote in the team, from planning and execution to building and maintaining the deployment infrastructure.
Acted as a back-end Java and Scala developer for a client in the real estate industry with over 10 million monthly users.
Developed applications in an environment where maintainability, security, and reliability were of utmost importance.
Initiated and led a meetup centered around hardware experimentation with funding from the company.
Took an active part in company councils and working groups like the environmental council, ThoughtWorks Arts initiatives, and recruiting process improvements.
Interviewed candidates as a cultural fit screener.

Technologies: Scala, Swift, Java, JavaScript, Clojure, Ruby, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Amazon EC2, Amazon API Gateway, AWS Lambda, Amazon Kinesis, Selenium, Jenkins, CircleCI, Continuous Delivery (CD), Pair Programming, Test-driven Development (TDD), Agile, Kanban, Scrum, Scrumban, IT Consulting, Quality Assurance (QA), Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Event-driven Architecture, OWASP, Web Security, iOS, SQL, HTML, CSS, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end Development, Node.js, Back-end, APIs, NoSQL, TypeScript, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Technical Architecture, RSpec, jQuery, Bitbucket, Go, Full-stack Development, Front-end, Payment Gateways, Payment Processing, Docker, API Integration, Express.js, Git, Full-stack, Scalability, Performance, Amazon EKS, Webhooks, Stripe Payments, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, Microservices, Stripe API, Web Development, Architecture, Software Design, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Databases

Ruby Developer

2017 - 2018

Workshare (acquired by Litera)

Worked on an application that helped major law firms securely manage documents and perform legal transactions through a web platform.
Rewrote legacy Java applications into more maintainable Ruby services.
Worked with a back-end system comprising of a Rails monolith and numerous microservices communicating with each other via event streams and HTTP.

Technologies: Ruby, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Java, JavaScript, Kafka Streams, Jenkins, Amazon EC2, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Event-driven Architecture, Microservices Architecture, Kanban, Test-driven Development (TDD), Capybara, SQL, HTML, CSS, SCSS, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end Development, OAuth, Node.js, Back-end, APIs, NoSQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL, RSpec, jQuery, Docker, API Integration, Express.js, Git, Performance, Sidekiq, Webhooks, Design Principles, CI/CD Pipelines, Microservices, Web Development, HTML5, Software Design, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Databases

Experience

Recurring Payments System Serving a Million Users

At Badi, I spearheaded the initiative to design and build a recurring payment system for users subscribed to premium plans. The system was integrated with Stripe Billing. The project's scope included full integration with existing back-end systems and internal tools used by finance and sales. I led a team of three engineers to complete this task, overseeing the project's entire lifecycle.

Designing an Event-driven Messaging System

At Badi, we struggled to maintain a complex integration between our back-end systems, over a dozen external partner platforms, and tools used internally like Salesforce and Zendesk. These intra-service communications were performed through conventional synchronous HTTP calls.

As a result, a decision was made to introduce an event-driven system, and I was tasked with researching, proposing, designing, and implementing a solution. I performed a cost-benefit analysis of different available tools. In addition, I chose a combination of AWS Simple Queue Service (SQS) and AWS Simple Notification System (SNS) based on the projected growth of the company, available budget, team capabilities, and current data load. With the help of two other engineers, I then developed an event bus that is still in use by the platform today.

Optimizing the Performance of a Back-end API

Many of the client's website pages took a painfully long time to load and negatively impacted the users' workflow. I was tasked with optimizing the Ruby on Rails API. I implemented the following: database query optimizations, database index optimizations, code refactors, and consolidations of API requests from front-end applications, and introduced a more efficient data serialization library.

As a result, we were able to decrease the response time by more than half and achieve a significant reduction in memory allocation.

Open Source Contribution for Business Language Standardisation

https://gobl.org/

In my collaboration with Invopop, I played a crucial role in enhancing GOBL, a JSON-based document format designed to precisely represent business records like invoices and purchase orders across diverse international tax regimes. More than just a format, GOBL encompasses a toolkit, including a Go language library, which aids in calculating totals and taxes and ensures document compliance with local tax laws. This technology underpins Invopop's global invoicing platform. I led the initiative to adapt GOBL to the Italian tax system, which required a deep understanding of Italy's intricate invoicing regulations and their integration into GOBL.

Skills

Libraries/APIs

Node.js, Stripe, Sidekiq, Stripe API, jQuery, React

Tools

RSpec, Git, Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS), Bitbucket, Microsoft Dynamics, Kafka Streams, Jenkins, CircleCI, AWS CloudFormation, Sentry, Amazon CloudWatch, Cron, AWS ELB, Amazon EKS, Asana

Frameworks

Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby on Rails 7, Express.js, Capybara, Selenium, GrapesJS, React Native, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Ember.js

Languages

Ruby, JavaScript, Go, SQL, HTML, CSS, TypeScript, HTML5, Java, Scala, Swift, Clojure, SCSS, XML

Paradigms

Microservices, Requirements Analysis, Scrum, Test-driven Development (TDD), Agile, Refactoring, Event-driven Architecture, Microservices Architecture, Kanban, Continuous Delivery (CD), Pair Programming, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs)

Storage

MySQL, PostgreSQL, Databases, RDBMS, NoSQL, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Redis, MongoDB, Elasticsearch, CouchDB, JSON

Platforms

Heroku, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Docker, DigitalOcean, AWS Lambda, Amazon EC2, iOS, New Relic, Firebase, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Kubernetes

Other

Software Architecture, Back-end, APIs, Technical Architecture, ActiveAdmin, Payment Gateways, Payment Processing, API Integration, Full-stack, Scalability, Performance, Optimization, Webhooks, Stripe Payments, Design Principles, Web Development, Software Design, Business Requirements, Technical Requirements, Web Security, Back-end Development, Full-stack Development, Card Payments, CI/CD Pipelines, Architecture, Technical Leadership, Real Estate, Social Media Apps, Intuit QuickBooks, Amazon API Gateway, Amazon Kinesis, Scrumban, IT Consulting, Quality Assurance (QA), OWASP, Amazon RDS, AWS Server Migration Service (SMS), Recurring Payments, Serverless, Interviewing, User Interviews, OAuth, Engineering, Growth, NATS, GOBL, Front-end

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