Remote-first · Open to new opportunities

Nico
Nußbaum

Staff Software Engineer

13+ years of hands-on backend, full-stack, and platform engineering. I drive Agile transformations, modernise legacy codebases, and design service architectures end-to-end. Async-first. Ship clean code. Mentor teams. Thrive in flat, high-trust organisations.

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I started writing code because I loved building things — and that feeling has never left me. Over 13+ years I've worked across the full stack: from Android apps and multimedia installations to distributed backend systems and cloud-native platforms, always with a focus on craftsmanship and long-term maintainability.

At the Staff Engineer level, I operate at the intersection of architecture, process, and people. I care deeply about developer experience, clean APIs, and building a culture where quality is everyone's responsibility — not just a checklist item before release.

I work async-first and thrive in flat, high-trust organisations where engineers are treated as professionals. The curiosity that drives my tinkering with IoT and 3D printing at home is the same that fuels my best work.

  • Self-Reflection
    Continuously improving. Always open for constructive criticism.
  • Honesty
    Transparent about knowledge gaps. Willing to tackle critical issues head-on.
  • Team-Oriented
    Good teams elevate my work. I invest in the people around me.
  • Clean Coder
    No commit ships without tests, linting, and readability for colleagues.
  • Level-Headed
    Stays calm under pressure. Keeps focus on what matters.
  • Driven by Exploration
    Creativity and an open mindset guide every technical decision.
06/2023 — present
HomeCare· Remote / Cologne
Staff Engineer
Node.jsPostgreSQLIonicAngularTypeScriptNATSSCRUM
  • Driving the company-wide Agile transformation
  • Restructuring a legacy codebase and redesigning the service architecture
  • Integrating an ERP via event streaming with NATS
  • Expanding and automating QA and CI/CD pipelines
  • Mentoring engineers across teams
01/2022 — 05/2023
Cyber-Security Awareness· Remote / Cologne
Staff Engineer
Node.jsPostgreSQLReactTypeScriptSCRUMDevOps
  • Supported product teams with API and architecture design
  • Designed the SDLC and integrated external services
  • Led migration from monolithic backend to container-based microservices
  • Automated the CI/CD pipeline to improve QA and team collaboration
  • Drove cross-team knowledge transfer initiatives
Senior Backend Engineer
02/2021 — 01/2022
  • Synced user data via SCIM, Spreadsheet import, and REST API
  • Modularized backend components and removed coupling
  • Introduced unit testing, linting, and TypeScript across the codebase
  • Built CI pipelines on GitLab; mentored juniors; evaluated candidates
06/2020 — 02/2021
Sales Intelligence· Berlin / Remote
Software Developer
KotlinJVMElasticSvelteTypeScriptKubernetesDevOps
  • Built JVM-based backend services for sales intelligence collection and distribution
  • Developed Salesforce-integrated web frontends
  • Service orchestration via Kubernetes; CI pipelines on GitLab
12/2018 — 05/2020
Freelance Projects
Various Clients· Remote
Full-Stack Software Engineer
AngularKotlinAndroidNode.jsTypeScript
  • SmartJOURNALIST (SkyMineMedia) — Re-implemented a GWT frontend in Angular for a cloud video editor
  • Mobile Online Banking (Denkwerk) — Kotlin/Android app; coordinated UX, requirements & release management
  • B2B Insurance Portal (impac) — Full-stack with Node.js/Express + Angular
08/2017 — 05/2018
Project Agency· Rösrath
Software Developer
JavaSpring BootAngularKubernetesOAuth2 / OIDCSCRUM
  • Microservice development with Spring Boot; Angular frontends with Node.js/Express
  • Multi-IDP platform connecting to multiple identity providers via OAuth & OpenID Connect
  • CI pipelines on Atlassian Bamboo
02/2017 — 08/2017
IT Consultancy· Frechen / Frankfurt
Senior Mobile Developer
TypeScriptAngularD3.jsJavaAndroid
  • Data visualization with D3.js
  • Release management for Java backend & Angular frontend applications
  • Designed a customer self-service architecture using Android Wear devices in retail
04/2015 — 12/2016
FinTech Startup· Cologne
Mobile Application Developer
JavaAndroidTDD
  • Built and architected a white-label social trading Android app
  • Developed a curated trading app with an in-house real-time data visualization library
  • Established TDD practices across the team
02/2012 — 04/2015
Multimedia Exhibitions· Berlin / Cologne
Software Developer
JavaAndroidRuby on RailsJavaScriptKanbanXPDevOps
  • Full-stack development of the interactive T-Gallery multimedia showroom
  • Multiple Android apps and a custom distribution infrastructure
  • Ruby on Rails services linking different exhibits narratively
  • Exhibits built with an in-house JavaScript-controlled 2D/3D engine
  • Built an E2E-encrypted anonymous messenger for Android & iOS
1st & 2nd Level Support-Engineer
03/2011 — 01/2012
  • System support and operations for an interactive showroom
  • Supported the development team with deployments and integration tests
  • First step into the dev organisation — transitioned into the Software Developer role
01/2008 — 12/2009
Internships
Early Career
Intern — Web & Software Development
ASP.NETVisualBasic.NET
  • dawin GmbH (02–08/2009, Troisdorf) — Built a web platform for evaluating data from in-house PDA field software
  • Cross Media Productions Ltd. (04–11/2008, Hennef) — Developed a desktop app for seminar organisation with participant management
Languages / Runtimes
TypeScriptJavaScriptNode.jsDenoKotlinJavaJVMLuaPythonRubyC/C++
Backend
FastifyNestJSExpressFeathersSpring Boot
Frontend / Mobile
SvelteAngularReactVueCapacitorIonicJetpackRetrofitKoinDagger2RxJavaRxKotlinRxJSD3.js
APIs & IAM
REST/HATEOASOpenAPIJSONSchemaOAuth2OIDCSCIMJWTNATSAMQPMQTT
Data
PostgreSQLMongoDBSQLiteMySQLRedisElasticPrismaCubeJSGraphQL
Methodologies
AgileSCRUMKanbanXPDevOpsTDDInfrastructure as CodeContinuous IntegrationContinuous DeliveryCI/CDMob Programming
Infrastructure
DockerKubernetesAzureGitLabSentryGrafanaPrometheusAnsibleTerraformOpenTofu
Architecture
Domain-Driven DesignEvent-Driven ArchitectureMicroservicesClean Architecture12-Factor
2009 — 2011
BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development (Incomplete)
  • 3D Programming
  • Game Design
  • Software Systems Development
2008 — 2009
Staatl. gepr. Informatiker — Softwaretechnologie(State-certified IT Specialist — Software Technology)
b.i.b. International College · Bergisch Gladbach, DE
  • Software Engineering
  • Computer & Systems Technology
  • Microprocessor Programming
2005 — 2008
Staatl. gepr. Informationstechnischer Assistent inkl. Fachhochschulreife(State-certified IT Assistant)
b.i.b. International College · Bergisch Gladbach, DE
  • Software Development
  • Database Management
  • Media Design (2D, 3D, A/V)
  • System Integration
// languages
  • Deutsch Native
  • English IELTS 7.5
  • Français Basic
  • Español Basic

// voluntary activities
  • Jugendkulturcafé e.V. — Member since 2007; Managing Director 2009; Event Coordinator 2010–2011 (concerts, exhibitions, theatre). Stage sound & lighting.
  • Volksbühne Dilettantenverein Neuhonrath e.V. — Member 1996–2018. Acting, stage sound & lighting.
// interests & hobbies
  • Tabletop, board & roleplaying games
  • Home lab & home automation (IoT)
  • 3D printing
  • Scale modelling
  • Gardening
  • Mountain biking