Alexander van der Werff - Full CV
Comprehensive CV of Alexander van der Werff, Technical Lead & Founding Engineer. Includes professional summary, skills, experience, projects, and contact information.
Welcome
I'm Alexander van der Werff, a seasoned Technical Lead and Founding Engineer based in Hamburg, Germany. I specialize in building robust, scalable software and leading teams to deliver high-impact products. My experience spans full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, mobile apps, and technical leadership across startups and established companies.
👋About Me
I'm a seasoned Technical Lead and Founding Engineer with a knack for turning ambitious ideas into robust, scalable software. From building platforms from scratch (like SUBBD, hitting $10k revenue in 3 weeks) to leading critical migrations (3RM.co's AWS transition) and optimizing complex systems (MOIA's 30x speed boost with Rust), I thrive on technical challenges. My journey spans full-stack development, mobile apps (iOS/Android for FenSens, Litpic, Orgadata), backend systems, and cloud infrastructure across diverse industries, including fraud prevention (RISK IDENT) and retail analytics (Phlint, serving Google, AT&T, Nespresso). I'm passionate about crafting high-quality solutions and constantly exploring new tech. And yes, I'm always up for a good hackathon – especially if there's beer 🍺 and pizza 🍕 involved!
⚡Current Technologies
⚡TypeScript
▲Next.js
⚛️React.js
🟢Node.js
🐘PostgreSQL
☁️AWS
🌐GCP
🚀Apollo GraphQL
📊GraphQL
🔷Prisma
▲Vercel
🎨Tailwind CSS
⚡All Technologies
Programming Languages
⚡TypeScript / JavaScript
🎯Scala
☕Java
🔷C#
🍎Swift
🔧Delphi
🦀Rust
Frameworks & Libraries
⚛️React.js
▲Next.js
🅰️Angular
📱React Native
🟢Node.js
🎭Akka
⚡ZIO
🎮Unity
🔷.NET
📱iOS
🤖Android
Hosting & Infrastructure
☁️AWS
🌐GCP
▲Vercel
🌊Digital Ocean
🔥Firebase
⚙️Kubernetes
🐳Docker
🏗️Terraform
⚡Serverless
Databases & Data
🐘PostgreSQL
🍃MongoDB
⚡DynamoDB
🔥Firestore
📊GraphQL
📨Apache Kafka
📈Prometheus
💼Professional Experience
Lead Engineer / Founding Engineer
SUBBD
📍 Cyprus · Hybrid
May 2024 - Present
SUBBD is a next-generation AI- and blockchain-powered content creation platform designed to deepen engagement between creators and fans. It enables creators to monetize through subscriptions, pay-per-view content, premium messaging, livestreams, events and tokenized offerings, while offering fans immersive, gamified access to exclusive content and tools.
Key Highlights:
- Created the entire platform from scratch, including infrastructure on GCP, a Next.js web app, and a GraphQL backend connected to PostgreSQL
- Built up an office in Warsaw and grew the engineering team from 0 to 12 developers
- Platform successfully went live in June, generating $10k revenue in the first 3 weeks with over 3,000 users
GCPTypeScriptNext.jsGraphQLFirebasePostgreSQL
Technical Lead
3RM.co
📍 San Francisco, CA · Remote
Aug 2023 - May 2024
3Sum, formerly known as 3RM, is an AI‑powered CRM and relationship intelligence tool designed for professionals using Telegram, Google Calendar, and other messaging platforms. It automates contact management, meeting summaries, batch messaging, and analytics—processing data client‑side to maintain complete privacy and security while saving users over 25 hours weekly.
Key Highlights:
- Started as a Software Engineer and quickly became the Technical Lead for this web3 CRM for Telegram
- Served many web3 clients and was very hands-on
- Led the migration of the entire platform to AWS to enhance scalability and performance
ServerlessPostgreSQLAWSTypeScriptNode.jsReact.js
Software Engineer
MOIA
📍 Hamburg, Germany
Dec 2020 - Jul 2023
MOIA is a tech-driven mobility company (part of the Volkswagen Group) that operates in Hamburg and Hannover, offering fully electric ridepooling solutions designed to complement public transport and reduce urban emissions. Their mission is to make cities more livable through sustainable, flexible, and affordable shared mobility services, while advancing the use of autonomous electric vehicles integrated into smart city infrastructure.
Key Highlights:
- Worked in the Fleet Optimization team as a Scala developer, planning and calculating routes for a large fleet of vehicles (e.g., 1,000+ vehicles)
- Solved the Dial-a-Ride problem (a derivative of the Traveling Salesman Problem)
- Worked with TypeScript to serve a GraphQL interface within a big microservice architecture
- By switching to Rust for critical calculations, we improved the amount of calculation loops by 30x
ScalaServerlessAWSKubernetesPrometheusAkkaTypeScriptGraphQLRust
Technical Integration Manager / Scala Developer
RISK IDENT
📍 Hamburg, Germany
Jan 2019 - Nov 2020
RISK IDENT, founded in Hamburg in 2012 and fully backed by the Otto Group, is a leading German software company specializing in AI-driven fraud prevention. Their core solutions—FRIDA (fraud detection via machine learning) and DEVICE IDENT (device fingerprinting)—secure over €80 billion in customer revenue annually across e-commerce, telecommunications, finance, and mobility sectors.
Key Highlights:
- Initially worked as a Technical Integration Manager, supporting customers with custom integrations
- Later transitioned to a Scala Developer role, building high-performance backend systems
- Designed and implemented a system capable of processing millions of transactions within minutes
- Utilized technologies like Apache Kafka and provided deep insights into fraud mechanisms
ScalaAkkaZIOMongoDBApache KafkaKubernetes
Lead Software Engineer / CTO
Phlint
📍 San Francisco Bay Area
Sep 2014 - Nov 2020
Phlint is an agency specializing in various small to medium-sized projects, serving diverse clients including Google (for the Pixel/Nexus Retail Demo), AT&T, and Nespresso. The agency focuses on building scalable web and mobile applications, often involving IoT device integration and data processing for retail and other sectors.
Key Highlights:
- Started as a Software Developer and progressed to CTO at Phlint
- Led full-stack development, product strategy, and the engineering team
- Built scalable web and mobile applications, often involving IoT device integration and data processing for retail and other sectors
AngularFirebaseAWSGCPTypeScriptNode.jsReact NativeIoTData Analytics
Fullstack Developer
Fashion Cloud
📍 Hamburg, Germany
Jul 2018 - Dec 2018
Fashion Cloud is a European all‑in‑one B2B platform—founded in Hamburg in 2015 with offices also in Amsterdam—that connects over 700 fashion brands with more than 25,000 retailers. Its intelligent platform simplifies wholesale operations by seamlessly integrating digital content exchange, product data management, order processing, digital showrooms and smart replenishment.
Key Highlights:
- Contributed to Fashion Cloud, a platform serving retail material for major customers like Hugo Boss, Gant, and Zalando
- Primarily used Node.js, Angular, and AWS with TypeScript
- Worked on their React Native app, 'Clara,' which enabled efficient stock reordering for retailers
AngularNode.jsAWSTypeScriptPostgreSQLMongoDBReact Native
Developer
Orgadata AG
📍 Hamburg, Germany
Aug 2010 - Sep 2014
Orgadata AG is a company building window calculation software for the construction industry, providing specialized tools for window manufacturers and construction professionals to streamline their design and calculation processes.
Key Highlights:
- Gained hands-on experience in app development during apprenticeship
- Started by working on their main application using Delphi (Object Pascal)
- Later transitioned to building their Android and iOS mobile applications with Xamarin (C#)
- Built 'Smart-Measures' and 'Smart-Calc' apps designed to support construction workers with on-site measurements
C#JavaSwiftDelphiXamarinAndroidiOS
🚀Selected Projects
Google Pixel/Nexus Retail Demo
Phlint
As the leading engineer and a direct contractor for Google, I built the Google Pixel and Nexus Demo and Data Population service, deployed to over 5,000 retail stores worldwide. This initiative directly contributed to the sale of over 10 million devices.
Key Features:
- Built demo and data population service for Google Pixel and Nexus devices
- Deployed to over 5,000 retail stores worldwide
- Directly contributed to the sale of over 10 million devices
AndroidBackendRetail
Litpic - Social Media App
LitPic Inc.
As the Lead Engineer, I built this React Native social media application, which achieved about 1,000 daily active users and generated over $5k MRR through its running payment system. The app included a custom camera SDK to apply visual effects to images and videos.
Key Features:
- Built React Native social media application
- Achieved about 1,000 daily active users
- Generated over $5k MRR through payment system
- Included custom camera SDK for visual effects
React NativeiOSSocial MediaMobileCamera SDKPayments
FenSens - Car Sensor & Backup Camera
FenSens
As the Lead Engineer, I built the native iOS and Android applications for this car sensor and backup parking system, which sold over 10,000 units on Amazon. I also developed the backend using a simple Parse dashboard and implemented livestreaming capabilities for backup cameras via Wi-Fi.
Key Features:
- Built native iOS and Android applications for car sensor and backup parking system
- Sold over 10,000 units on Amazon
- Developed backend using Parse dashboard
- Implemented livestreaming capabilities for backup cameras via Wi-Fi
iOS DevelopmentAndroid DevelopmentJavaNode.jsFirebaseIoTLivestreaming
Graph Retail Analytics
Phlint
As Co-founder and CTO of this startup, I led the development of a comprehensive Retail Analytics platform. We tracked thousands of devices and provided in-store analytics, powered by Android devices and beacons for optimal results. Our work led to an interview with Sam Altman for YCombinator.
Key Features:
- Led development of comprehensive Retail Analytics platform
- Tracked thousands of devices and provided in-store analytics
- Powered by Android devices and beacons for optimal results
- Work led to an interview with Sam Altman for YCombinator
Node.jsAWSAndroidBeaconsIoTData Analytics
60 Seconds Feedback
Self-employed
As Co-founder and CTO, I created this platform with a UX designer friend to gather user experience feedback by rating many websites. The platform was built using plain JavaScript (jQuery) for the frontend and a PHP backend.
Key Features:
- Created platform to gather user experience feedback by rating websites
- Built with plain JavaScript (jQuery) for the frontend
- PHP backend for data processing
JavaScriptjQueryPHPWeb AppUX Feedback