Ricardo Casares

Full Stack Human

Software engineer with 15+ years of experience designing and building web applications, leading engineering teams, and crafting products with a strong focus on simplicity, performance, and developer experience. Passionate about the open web and continuously exploring new technologies.

Experience

May 2022
Kraków

Software Engineering Tech Lead

Cisco Systems

Working on highly distributed, high-traffic systems that provide worldwide key services, primarily with Node.js (60%), Python (20%), and React (20%) on a stack built on Kubernetes, MongoDB, and AWS.

  • Working on Intellectual Capital systems for TAC.
  • Won the AI Innovation Hackathon 2023 with an LLM-assisted configuration parser.
  • Migrated 35,000+ Python scripts with zero downtime.
  • Delivered 16+ workshops, remote and in person, for technical and non-technical audiences.
May 2021 - Mar 2022
Kraków

Software Development Manager

Tesco Technology & Services Europe

Led a cross-functional agile team of 20+ software engineers to deliver Tesco's first comprehensive frontend platform, working with Node.js (50%) and React (50%) on a stack built on PostgreSQL, Strapi CMS, and Azure.

  • Delivered Tesco's internal tooling design system and its reusable UI component library.
  • Owned Tesco's internal CMS platform, built on Strapi.
  • Delivered multiple micro-frontend applications.
  • Managed CI/CD following GitOps principles.
  • Public speaking: Building with Confidence (Dev.js Summit, Kraków, October 2021).
Nov 2018 - May 2021
Kraków

Software Engineering Team Lead

Grand Parade

Managed a cross-discipline team of 8 engineers with varying levels of experience, delivering mission-critical services and components with Node.js, React, GraphQL, and AWS.

  • Owned the customer first-deposit flow end to end.
  • Owned the federated GraphQL backend-for-frontends layer across multiple teams.
  • Owned the UK landing pages.
  • Owned PCI DSS-compliant services.
Jul 2017 - Oct 2018

Lead Software Engineer

EPAM Systems

Focused on research and development with team management responsibilities for one of EPAM's largest EU/US clients, working with Node.js, Angular, React, and AWS.

  • Led and trained a geo-distributed team of developers across the US, the Netherlands, Belarus, and Poland.
  • Implemented the client's design system and UI component library, and evangelized its adoption.
  • Delivered a consistent look and feel across all of the client's verticals.
  • Public speaking: Voice User Interfaces (Barka, Kraków, June 2018).
Jul 2015 - Jul 2017

Senior Software Engineer

EPAM Systems

Senior Software Engineer focused on research and development of UI libraries, working with Node.js, Angular, React, and AWS.

  • Owned and evangelized the UI web components library.
  • Developed Voice User Interfaces for clients using Alexa and Google Home.
  • Certified technical interviewer.
  • Member of the JavaScript Experts Internal Assessment Committee.
  • Public speaking: Web Components (Barka, Kraków, 2017).
  • Public speaking: Web Components (Sztuka Wyboru, Gdańsk, 2017).
Dec 2014 - May 2015

Senior Software Engineer

Globant

Worked on a project for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, one of the oldest and biggest accounts on the company, migrating from an legacy PHP based platform to AngularJS & Node.js

  • UI library contributor.
  • Troubleshooting UI performance issues.
  • Integration with REST API services.
Jan 2014 - Nov 2014

Senior Software Engineer

BHP Global S.A.

Worked at BHP Global on a internal product based on the MEAN stack: MongoDB, Express, AngularJS & Node.js

  • Development of REST API services.
  • Public speaking: HipChat integrations (Buenos Aires, 2014).
  • Jira plugins and extensions via REST API.
Apr 2013 - Jan 2014

Senior Software Engineer

Itexa S.R.L.

Worked at Itexa S.R.L. on several projects built on the LAMP stack: Linux, Apache, MySQL & PHP. Involved technologies were the CodeIgniter PHP framework, jQuery & Bootstrap.

  • Development of learning management system for Alliance Française.
  • Development of an accounting system for schools.
  • Development of a corporate newsletter web application for ESET Latin America.
Jan 2012 - Jan 2013

Senior Software Engineer

BHP Global S.A.

Worked at BHP Global on an integration project between two project management tools, JIRA & TestLink, for the Q&A area of Banco Hipotecario S.A.

  • Extended TestLink API capabilities.
  • Extended TestLink reporting capabilities.
  • Jira extension and integration with TestLink.
Feb 2010 - Jan 2012

Instructor

ISRI - TecnoConsulta S.R.L.

Worked together with ISRI (a private tech-related education center) to bring new topics to the classrooms in order to achieve innovation goals.

  • Cisco CCNA I Instructor
  • Cisco CCNA II Instructor
  • Cisco CCNA III Instructor
  • Cisco CCNA IV Instructor
  • Mikrotik RouterOS Instructor
  • Introduction to CodeIgniter Instructor
Mar 2007 - Jun 2010

Senior Network Services Manager

Interredes S.A.

Worked at Interredes S.A., a San Juan based ISP provider, from Tech Support to Network Services Manager, and on many different projects.

  • Implemented our first BGP Autonomous System.
  • Modernization of DNS services.
  • Launched a hosting service with PHP scripting & MySQL capabilities.
  • Development of an internal support ticketing system with embeded network diagnostics.

Education

Jan 2009 - Jan 2011
Networking

Proydesa Foundation

CCNA Course Instructor in Networking
  • Network Fundamentals
  • Routing Protocols and Concepts
  • LAN Switching & Wireless
  • Accesing the WAN
Jan 2002 - Jan 2004
Networking

Instituto Superior en Redes & Informática

Cisco Certified Network Associate in Networking
  • Network Fundamentals
  • Routing Protocols and Concepts
  • LAN Switching & Wireless
  • Accesing the WAN
Jan 2004 - Jan 2007
Facultad de Igeniería

Universidad Nacional de San Juan

Electronic Engeneering (Incomplete) in Facultad de Igeniería
  • Mathematical Analysis I
  • Mathematical Analysis II
  • Algebra and Analytic Geometry
  • Physics I
  • Physics II
  • Electromagnetism
  • Computing I
  • Computing II
  • English I
  • English II
  • Economics
Feb 2012 - Jun 2012
Facultad Regional Buenos Aires

Universidad Tecnológica Nacional

Advanced Java Programming in Facultad Regional Buenos Aires

Skills

Node.js

StreamsGeneratorsHTTPMicroservices

Python

AsyncTypingUV

Go

GoroutinesChannelsGenerics

PostgreSQL

PerformanceVectorNotifications

MongoDB

PerformanceQuery OptimizationPipelines

Frameworks

ReactNext.jsExpressTailwindPlaywrightJest

Web APIs

WorkersWakeLockMotionWebAuthnGeoLocationWebSockets

Cloud

AWSAzureGCP

DevOps

CI/CDGitHubGitLabHelmKubernetes

Agile

ScrumKanbanValue Stream Mapping

Databases

PostgreSQLMySQLMongoDB

Networking

Cisco IOSTCP/IPACLBGPObservability

Languages

English — C1 LevelSpanish — NativePolish — B1 Level

Interests

Music

Guitar, Funk, Blues

Sports

Hiking, Climbing, Snowboarding

Programming

Language design, Functional programming, Distributed systems

References

Vadzim Yakushau, Chief Software Engineer, EPAM Systems

Ricardo is technically skilled, team builder, coach and mentor. I've had this chance and enjoyed working with Ricardo the last 3 years at EPAM. Keep the good work!

Nick Osiunin, Staff Software Engineer, Equinix

Ricardo's superpower is the ability to establish productive teams and organize the development process in the most effective way. He is really good with people and always ready to share the expertise with teammates.

Ernesto Corona, CEO, BHP Global

It is my pleasure to recommend Ricardo, his performance working as a consultant for BHP Global proved that he will be a valuable addition to any company.

Martín Fonzo, CEO, Communi Technologies

Ricardo is a team player, detail-oriented person who's always looking for new challenges, committed to the projects he works on. It is always a pleasure to work with him.