Publication
Case Study: Why I Use AWS Cloud Infrastructure for My Products
https://www.toptal.com/developers/aws/aws-cloud-infrastructure-benefits
Tomislav is available for hire
Hire TomislavTomislav Capan
Verified Expert in Engineering
Cloud Solution Architect and Lead Developer
Zagreb, Croatia
Toptal member since February 20, 2013
Bio
Tomislav is a seasoned software engineer, consultant, and solutions architect with over a decade of experience. Starting as a technical co-founder in an online media business, he grew it to over 100,000 monthly readers. He now provides technical leadership, designing scalable cloud solutions that drive business growth. Tomislav excels in guiding clients through technical challenges, refining complex architectures, optimizing cloud infrastructures, and enhancing remote team productivity.
Portfolio
Octobit
React, Node.js, CI/CD Pipelines, Software Architecture, Architecture, Git...
SchoolStatus
R&D, Data Architecture, Data Orchestration, Data Analytics, OLAP, Dagster...
Colgate-Palmolive - Main
Architecture, Solution Architecture, Technical Architecture
Experience
- Software Engineering - 20 years
- Software Architecture - 15 years
- Technical Leadership - 12 years
- JavaScript - 8 years
- Cloud Infrastructure - 7 years
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) - 7 years
- AWS Certified Solution Architect - 4 years
- AWS Cloud Architecture - 4 years
Preferred Environment
Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Technical Leadership, Cloud Architecture, Cloud Native, Cloud Migration, Software Engineering, JavaScript, Software Architecture
The most amazing...
...feats of mine: reducing operating costs by 80%, saving hundreds of thousands yearly for one client, and boosting system performance by over 10,000% for another.
Work Experience
Technical Lead for Hire – Software and Cloud
2013 - PRESENT
Octobit
- Brought expertise in technical leadership and advisory, software architecture, cloud solutions architecture, process optimization in remote teams, R&D, and concept development.
- Provided expert guidance and leadership on technical projects, ensuring optimal decision-making and strategic direction.
- Designed and implemented robust web-based software solutions, utilizing cutting-edge technologies and best practices.
- Designed and cost-optimized AWS infrastructures, enhancing efficiency and reducing operational costs.
- Organized and optimized processes for remote teams, fostering a strong remote culture and improving team productivity.
- Conducted research and development, assisting clients with technology and platform selection to drive innovation and success.
- Used key technologies, including JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js, React, SQL, NoSQL, AWS, Terraform, CI/CD, and Linux.
Technologies: React, Node.js, CI/CD Pipelines, Software Architecture, Architecture, Git, GitHub, MongoDB, Amazon Web Services (AWS), JavaScript, R&D, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Cloud Architecture, AWS Cloud Architecture, AWS Certified Developer, AWS Certified Solution Architect, REST APIs, Database Schema Design, Relational Database Design, Kanban, APIs, Agile Software Development, PostgreSQL, REST, Advisory, Technical Leadership, Software Development, Solution Architecture, Functional Requirements, Technical Requirements, Remix, Docker, Database Modeling, API Integration, Technical Consulting, Distributed Architecture, Business Requirements, Kubernetes, Shell Scripting, Software Engineering, Rust, Codex, Claude Code, Cursor AI, Gemini
Lead Software & Data Systems Architect
2025 - 2025
SchoolStatus
- Validated the technical direction for a next-generation analytics product, enabling leadership to move forward with a core strategic initiative.
- Owned the R&D initiative for a large-scale data ingestion and analytics platform, entering a greenfield environment and independently figuring out the complex orchestration, storage, and processing challenges.
- Designed the early system architecture for a next-generation analytics and insights platform, proving the viability of the end-to-end data pipeline.
- Navigated fragmented, siloed data domains and aligned cross-team inputs into a coherent architectural approach.
Technologies: R&D, Data Architecture, Data Orchestration, Data Analytics, OLAP, Dagster, Apache Airflow, ClickHouse, StarRocks, Metabase, Apache Superset, Superset, Python, Pandas, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Terraform, Docker Compose, Docker, Data Pipelines
Solutions Architect
2024 - 2024
Colgate-Palmolive - Main
- Led the architectural consolidation of multiple Colgate front-end applications into a PWA.
- Collaborated closely with engineering to ensure architectural solutions aligned with both current and future applications' needs.
- Delivered detailed specifications and architectural blueprints from technical requirements, enabling seamless implementation.
Technologies: Architecture, Solution Architecture, Technical Architecture
Software Architect
2023 - 2023
A Private Growth Equity Firm
- Achieved a projected 80% reduction in operating costs, resulting in annual savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars with the new system architecture.
- Led the architectural design of a new internal portfolio tracking application, ensuring alignment with best practices, scalability, and security standards.
- Collaborated closely with the team to translate complex business requirements into effective technical specifications and architectural blueprints.
- Optimized system performance by consolidating functionalities into a unified software platform, eliminating the need for three external SaaS services and their associated costs.
- Utilized key technologies, such as Payload CMS, Remix, and Next.js.
Technologies: R&D, Software Architecture, Technical Consulting, Content Management Systems (CMS), Remix, Payload CMS, JavaScript, TypeScript, Next.js, Requirements Analysis, Software Engineering, Distributed Systems, Consulting, Solution Architecture, Technical Leadership, Third-party Integration, Technical Architecture
Senior Enterprise Architect
2022 - 2023
Hospitality Digital GmbH - Main Hospitality Digital GmbH
- Improved the performance of a vital sales support system by over 10,000% by reducing a critical function's run-time from over 26 minutes to roughly 10 seconds.
- Partnered strategically with tech leadership to plan future architecture and technology advancements, ensuring the company's competitive edge.
- Enhanced company culture and communication by working closely with the leadership team, fostering a more collaborative and efficient work environment.
- Provided expert advice to development teams on architecture, technology choices, and software issue identification, leading to more efficient and effective solutions.
- Developed and implemented standardized guidelines for software project approaches, increasing consistency and quality across teams.
Technologies: SQL Performance, Technical Consulting, Business Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Software Architecture, Performance Tuning, Node.js, Next.js, PostgreSQL, PL/pgSQL, Consulting, Cloud Native, PL/SQL, Technical Architecture
Lead Developer
2021 - 2021
Vantage Pass LLC
- Guided company leaders strategically in making pivotal decisions that realigned the business, demonstrating rapid assessment and impactful action during a critical period.
- Identified underlying factors affecting team productivity, hired replacement engineers, and successfully brought the project back on track in approximately two months.
- Implemented best practice methodologies for work organization within a remote team, optimizing team structure and roles and enhancing efficiency and collaboration.
- Achieved significant improvements in project timelines and delivery by restructuring team processes and communication channels.
- Facilitated effective remote work strategies that improved overall team performance and morale during a challenging period.
Technologies: People Management, Change Management, Strategy, Technical Leadership, Consulting
Technical Solution Architect
2021 - 2021
Deliveroo
- Led the design and architecture of solutions for multimillion-dollar integration projects, ensuring timely and successful delivery while enhancing overall market reach.
- Supported enterprise partners in integrating with Deliveroo by managing technical communication, gathering and analyzing relevant data points, and aligning capabilities for successful integrations.
- Produced detailed technical specification documents, clearly outlining the integration implementation based on thorough analysis and discoveries.
- Collaborated with Deliveroo's internal teams—including commercial and integration project managers and engineers—to ensure seamless project roll-outs.
- Produced RFC documents recommending improvements and advancements in Deliveroo's integration systems and core product to support integration efforts.
Technologies: Technical Requirements, Functional Requirements, Distributed Systems, Solution Architecture, Distributed Architecture, Project Management, Data Modeling, Third-party Integration, Software Engineering, Technical Architecture
Head of Infrastructure | AWS Cloud Architect
2017 - 2021
LEVELS GmbH & Co. KG
- Led AWS cloud infrastructure design and implementation during product development, resulting in a stable and scalable infrastructure that ensured high availability, reliability, security, and cost-efficiency.
- Advised development teams on distributed software architecture and guided them to optimal cloud utilization, resulting in improved system design and efficiency.
- Built an auto-scalable, fault-tolerant, and secure AWS cloud infrastructure, supporting increased user load without downtime.
- Supported development teams by implementing automated CI/CD pipelines and on-demand background processing utility services.
- Used key technologies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Terraform.
Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), CircleCI, Linux, Docker, JavaScript, Terraform, DevOps, Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Security, Networking, Cloud, Amazon EC2, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), AWS Fargate, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Amazon CloudFront CDN, Amazon ElastiCache, Amazon Aurora, Amazon API Gateway, Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), AWS Lambda, Lambda Functions, Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS), AWS ALB, Cost Management, AWS IAM, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), System Architecture, AWS Certified Developer, AWS Certified Solution Architect, Cloud Platforms, GitHub, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), CI/CD Pipelines, AWS Cloud Architecture, Amazon CloudWatch, Web Application Firewall (WAF), Cloud Architecture, NGINX, Kanban, Containers, Datadog, Automation, MySQL, Solution Architecture, Bash, Amazon RDS, Distributed Systems, Functional Requirements, Technical Requirements, Performance, SQL Performance, Query Optimization, Load Balancers, Elastic Load Balancers, API Integration, Technical Consulting, Distributed Architecture, Shell Scripting, Coaching, Startups, Team Mentoring, Amazon DynamoDB, Cloud Native, AWS Deployment
Senior Software Architect
2014 - 2017
Scout Finance
- Led the development efforts that resulted in the company's successful acquisition.
- Made strategic technology choices, including Node.js, Hapi, React, and MobX, to optimize development efficiency and application performance.
- Implemented a robust REST API, web application, and data import functionality, enhancing overall system capabilities.
- Integrated external data providers such as Thomson-Reuters, Wall Street Horizon, and Xignite, enriching the platform's data offerings.
- Set up and managed the AWS-based cloud infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines, ensuring seamless deployment and high availability.
- Achieved a high user retention rate and system stability for over 30,000 registered customers, contributing to the company's successful acquisition.
- Utilized key technologies, such as Node.js, React, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Technologies: CircleCI, Git, React, RabbitMQ, Redis, Hapi.js, Node.js, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Software Architecture, System Architecture, GitHub, CI/CD Pipelines, Cloud Infrastructure, AWS DevOps, DevOps, APIs, REST APIs, MongoDB, Mocha, Agile Software Development, REST, Web Development, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Amazon EC2, Fintech, Amazon RDS, Functional Requirements, Technical Requirements, Software Development, API Integration, Data Modeling, Startups, Lean Startups, Software Engineering, Distributed Systems, Third-party Integration, Technical Architecture, AWS Deployment
JavaScript Developer
2012 - 2013
iVendi, Ltd.
- Introduced Kanban Agile practices and remote work processes, significantly improving team efficiency and workflow management.
- Developed a front-end application, a RESTful API, and enabled real-time WebSockets communication using RabbitMQ, enhancing the platform's functionality and user experience.
- Created responsive web designs using HTML5 and Less CSS, ensuring a seamless user experience across various devices.
- Established automated CI/CD processes and managed Joyent SmartOS server administration, streamlining deployments and ensuring system stability.
- Mentored a junior developer in Backbone.js, Marionette.js, and Git, contributing to their professional growth and the overall team's capability.
Technologies: Git, CQRS, RabbitMQ, MongoDB, Express.js, Marionette.js, Backbone.js, Node.js, JavaScript, GitHub, Kanban, CSS, Agile Software Development, Web Development, Functional Requirements, Technical Requirements, Software Development, Software Engineering, WebSockets
Technical Co-founder
2002 - 2013
Muzika.Hr Magazine
- Pioneered the online media industry in its early days, growing the readership to over 100,000 regular monthly readers.
- Directed the company's technical operations, contributed to defining content strategies, and played a key role in growing Muzika.hr into the largest and most relevant music media outlet in Croatia.
- Led a small engineering team for CMS development and 3rd-party solutions integrations, ensuring robust and scalable technical solutions.
- Founded and led a team of a dozen photographers, coordinating their assignments and ensuring high-quality photographic content.
- Managed the web photo gallery and other photography-related projects, enhancing the platform's visual appeal and user engagement.
- Photographed live concerts, capturing key moments and providing engaging visual content for the audience.
Technologies: Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, C#, IIS, ASP.NET, CSS, HTML, Software Architecture, System Architecture, Git, Architecture, SQL, REST APIs, Database Schema Design, CTO, REST, Web Development, Solution Architecture, Functional Requirements, Technical Requirements, Technical Leadership, Software Development, IT Infrastructure, .NET, Database Modeling, Business Requirements, Content Management Systems (CMS), Data Modeling, Startups, People Management, Leadership, Software Engineering, Third-party Integration, Technical Architecture
JavaScript Developer
2011 - 2012
CANDDi
- Developed and enhanced a client-side Backbone.js single-page application, improving user interaction and performance.
- Prototyped and implemented Node.js and Socket.IO communication, enabling real-time application capabilities and enhancing user engagement.
- Restyled front-end implementations to meet modern standards, resulting in a more polished and user-friendly interface.
Technologies: Git, MongoDB, Node.js, Backbone.js, CSS, Agile Software Development, REST, Web Development, Software Development, API Integration, Software Engineering, WebSockets
Software Engineer
2006 - 2008
TEB Informatika
- Delivered robust applications in C#, Java, and Oracle PL/SQL to meet client requirements.
- Contributed to developing GIS systems on Intergraph's platform, improving spatial data analysis and visualization.
- Introduced version control systems for source code management, significantly improving code management and collaboration.
- Implemented Wiki platforms for documentation, facilitating the company's successful ISO certification by ensuring a comprehensive change history.
Technologies: Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, C#, SQL, REST, Web Development, PL/SQL, Functional Requirements, Technical Requirements, Software Development, .NET, ASP.NET, Database Modeling, Data Modeling, Java, Software Engineering
Experience
WebCamp Zagreb Conference | Co-organizer, 2013-2019
https://www.linkedin.com/company/webcamp-zagreb/As a co-organizer of the community-driven WebCamp Zagreb Conference, I held various roles over the years. My primary contribution was as a core team member during planning and preparation, where I acquired and coordinated volunteers. Additionally, I served on the talk committee, selecting conference content and assisting with workshops and general activities. Organizing an event for over 900 attendees has been a rewarding experience, positively impacting the tech community in Zagreb and Croatia.
JavaScript Zagreb Meetup | Co-founder, 2013-2017
http://www.meetup.com/JavaScript-Zagreb/I co-founded the JavaScript Zagreb meetup in 2013, growing it from zero to over 550 members in three years before passing it on to younger generations. Regular monthly event organization tasks included finding speakers with engaging topics, promoting the events, and securing occasional sponsors for after-meetup socializing. I also occasionally gave talks on JavaScript-related topics.
Muzika.hr | Technical Co-founder, 2002-2013
http://www.muzika.hr/My role at Muzika.hr extended beyond technical responsibilities. In addition to managing all IT aspects, I collaborated closely with the editor-in-chief on strategy and content, contributed as an author, and founded the concert photography section. I coordinated a team of about a dozen photographers and managed an online photo gallery. To mark the 10th anniversary, I organized a physical exhibition of concert photographs, initially hosted in a prominent Zagreb art gallery and later traveling to several cities across Croatia.
"Cutting Costs with AWS Lambda for Highly Scalable Image Processing" | Publication
https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/apn/cutting-costs-with-aws-lambda-for-highly-scalable-image-processing/I wrote this article describing a horizontally scalable solution for a customer's image upload processing. This type of serverless solution can reduce the strain on API servers and eliminate the need for running separate servers to handle spikes without crashing.
A serverless computing model with AWS Lambda is a natural fit for utility classes of tasks, such as preparing and sending transactional emails and push notifications.
A serverless computing model with AWS Lambda is a natural fit for utility classes of tasks, such as preparing and sending transactional emails and push notifications.
Supply Chain Analytics Application
Served as a technical consultant on a supply chain analytics application hired to set up the client's team and lead them to release the 1st functional version. The engagement included an architecture setup, technical leadership, team training at the chosen technology stack, code management, and continuous delivery. The assembled team met their delivery target under my supervision and continued improving the application afterward.
KEY TECHNOLOGIES
Node.js, Angular, PostgreSQL, Git
KEY TECHNOLOGIES
Node.js, Angular, PostgreSQL, Git
High-end Second-hand Designer Clothes Retailer
I was brought in four weeks before the MVP launch to address a delayed development schedule and unclear feature boundaries. I collaborated with the tech lead and business owners to identify feasible tasks, prioritize essential functionalities, and refine or eliminate inadequately defined features. Despite the tight timeline, we scoped doable functionalities, ensured all agreed-upon features were correctly implemented, fixed bugs, and polished the UI, leading to a successful MVP launch.
Web-based Phone Solution with Extra Functionalities
https://www.bettervoice.com/Verified an experimental client-side JavaScript framework for developing web and mobile solutions, concluding it was a highly risky choice due to vendor issues. Recommended and transitioned to a proven client-side framework with Apache Cordova for mobile deployment. Designed the application architecture, built initial functionalities, and configured deployment pipelines before transferring to the in-house team.
Employee-sourced Problem-solving and Idea Generation Application
https://getspeakup.com/Supported the MVP release by refining the required feature set and improving the existing codebase. Organized a seamless CoffeeScript to JavaScript migration, necessitated by CoffeeScript becoming obsolete, ensuring ongoing development remained unaffected. Advised on the transition from Marionette.js to AngularJS, which the company later adopted.
Education
2000 - 2006
Master's Degree in Computing
University of Zagreb - Zagreb, Croatia
Certifications
APRIL 2025 - PRESENT
Dagster Essentials
Dagster
AUGUST 2024 - PRESENT
Learn Go for Beginners Crash Course (Golang)
Udemy
JUNE 2024 - PRESENT
Generative AI Fundamentals Specialization
IBM | via Coursera
JANUARY 2024 - PRESENT
Kubernetes Certified Application Developer Course (in Progress)
Udemy
DECEMBER 2023 - PRESENT
Kubernetes for the Absolute Beginners – Hands-on
Udemy
DECEMBER 2017 - DECEMBER 2020
AWS Certified Developer Associate
AWS
NOVEMBER 2017 - NOVEMBER 2020
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
AWS
Skills
Libraries/APIs
React, Node.js, REST APIs, Backbone.js, Marionette.js, Pandas
Tools
Amazon CloudFront CDN, Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS), GitHub, Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), Terraform, CircleCI, AWS IAM, Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), NGINX, Git, AWS Deployment, Amazon ElastiCache, Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), Amazon CloudWatch, RabbitMQ, Mocha, AWS Fargate, Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS), Apache Airflow, Superset, Docker Compose, Codex, Claude Code
Languages
JavaScript, SQL, HTML, C#, Bash, TypeScript, PL/pgSQL, CSS, Java, Go, Rust, Python
Frameworks
Express.js, Hapi.js, ASP.NET, Remix, .NET, Angular, Payload CMS, Next.js
Paradigms
DevOps, REST, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), Kanban, Agile Software Development, Automation, Management, Requirements Analysis, Change Management, CQRS, OLAP
Platforms
Linux, AWS ALB, Amazon EC2, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cloud Native, Windows Server, Oracle, Docker, AWS Lambda, Kubernetes, StarRocks
Storage
Redis, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon Aurora, Database Modeling, Redis Cache, Microsoft SQL Server, PL/SQL, SQL Performance, Datadog, Amazon DynamoDB, ClickHouse, Data Pipelines
Industry Expertise
Project Management, Photography
Other
APIs, Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Software Architecture, System Architecture, AWS Certified Developer, AWS Certified Solution Architect, Cloud Platforms, Architecture, Relational Database Design, AWS Cloud Architecture, Cloud Architecture, CTO, Web Development, Cloud, AWS DevOps, Database Schema Design, Technical Requirements, Functional Requirements, Distributed Systems, Solution Architecture, Consulting, Technical Leadership, Software Development, Technical Consulting, Amazon RDS, Load Balancers, Elastic Load Balancers, API Integration, Data Structures, Distributed Architecture, Business Requirements, Data Modeling, Software Engineering, Third-party Integration, Technical Architecture, WebSockets, Security, Networking, IIS, Cost Management, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), CI/CD Pipelines, Organization, R&D, Knowledge Transfer, Containers, Amazon API Gateway, Advisory, Fintech, Team Leadership, IT Infrastructure, Performance, Query Optimization, Shell Scripting, Coaching, Startups, Lean Startups, Leadership, Performance Tuning, Strategy, Serverless, Lambda Functions, People Management, Business, Business Planning, Media, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Web Application Firewall (WAF), Training, Content Management Systems (CMS), Software QA, Cloud Migration, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Large Language Models (LLMs), Team Mentoring, Dagster, Data Architecture, Data Orchestration, Data Analytics, Metabase, Apache Superset, Cursor AI, Gemini
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