Alex.
Bănică

Engineer at Heart

AI & Automation Builder

Mentor & Technical Leader

Computer Vision Tinkerer

Maker Beyond the Keyboard

Hey! I’m Alex — a Senior Software Engineer based in the Netherlands.

I build scalable systems at work and solder tiny ones at home. My work brings together backend engineering, mentoring, and practical AI—from automating security fixes to building tools that make development easier. I use clear specifications to guide AI-assisted development and enjoy finding ways to improve quality, efficiency, and cost.

At home, that curiosity continues with computer vision, Raspberry Pis, custom electronics, and home automation. I love making things come alive with code—and sometimes a soldering iron.

When I’m not coding or wiring circuits, I’m probably gaming, reading mythology books, or hanging out with my little one.

Contact Me

About Me

My story

I’m originally from Romania and now happily living in the Netherlands with my family. I came here for the culture and the people—and found a place that inspires both my work and my curiosity.

I’ve spent over a decade building software across e-commerce, fintech, and large-scale platforms. Along the way, I’ve found that I enjoy helping engineers grow just as much as solving technical problems. Clean architecture matters to me, but so do clear communication, shared understanding, and making everyday development easier.

That same mindset shapes how I work with AI. I’m interested in where it can make a practical difference: automating repetitive work, supporting development through clear specifications, and coordinating agents around well-defined tasks. I enjoy experimenting, questioning the results, and finding approaches that balance quality, complexity, and cost.

Beyond work, I’m a maker at heart. I enjoy soldering, building electronics, and exploring computer vision and home automation with Raspberry Pis. For me, technology is both a profession and a way to stay curious—there’s always something to build, understand, or improve.

Residence: Netherlands
Address: Apeldoorn
e-Mail: alex@alexlab.nl

Services

What I Do

Software Engineering & Architecture

I design and build scalable backend systems with Java, Spring Boot, PHP, and Symfony. My focus is on clear architecture, reliable services, and practical solutions that balance maintainability, performance, and cost.

Technical Leadership & Mentoring

I help engineers grow through onboarding, one-to-one coaching, and knowledge sharing. I also contribute architectural direction, align teams around technical decisions, and step in as acting Team Lead when needed.

AI-Assisted Development & Agent Orchestration

I use clear specifications to guide AI-assisted development and coordinate agents around well-defined tasks. I explore ways to make these workflows more useful and cost-efficient, reviewing their output with the same engineering judgement I apply to any implementation.

Computer Vision & Edge AI

In personal experiments, I work with YOLO, PyTorch, and ONNX, exploring computer vision and inference on Raspberry Pi and Hailo hardware. I enjoy connecting AI models to physical devices and understanding the constraints of running them locally.

Custom Integrations & Tooling

I develop tailored integrations and internal tools to simplify complex workflows. From custom scripts to service orchestration, I enjoy creating solutions that make development faster, smarter, and more enjoyable.

Electronics & Home Automation

My home laboratory is where software meets solder. I experiment with Raspberry Pis, sensors, custom electronics, and scripts to connect devices, automate everyday tasks, and learn by building.

Experience

Working with

2020 - Present

Just Eat
Takeaway.com
Senior Software Engineer

I build scalable, reliable systems at Just Eat Takeaway.com, combining backend engineering with technical leadership and mentoring.

My work increasingly includes AI-assisted development, agent orchestration, and internal tooling. I use clear specifications to guide development and explore practical ways to improve quality, simplify workflows, and make efficient use of resources.

Alongside hands-on engineering, I coach colleagues, contribute to architectural decisions, and collaborate across teams. I enjoy finding opportunities to improve how we build software and step in as acting Team Lead when needed.

2018-2020

Axsys
Romania
Tech. Development Lead

I helped build financial software at Axsys Romania, contributing to backend architecture, service design, and integrations with external financial institutions.

As I moved into the Technical Development Lead role, my focus expanded to guiding the team’s technical work, supporting code quality, and helping colleagues follow shared engineering practices.

I provided constructive feedback, worked with the team to address technical debt, and contributed technical guidance in business discussions—connecting implementation decisions with the needs of the product.

2016-2018

eMag
Software Developer

At eMAG, one of Eastern Europe’s largest e-commerce platforms, I played a key role in modernizing the backend system — migrating the platform from Sillex 2.0 to Symfony 4.1 and developing RESTful APIs to support mobile applications.
I contributed to the shift from monolith to microservices, led unit testing initiatives, and became a go-to engineer for performance optimization during high-load events like Black Friday.

2013-2016

Optaros
Software Developer

At Optaros, I worked on large-scale Magento Enterprise projects for major US and Swiss retailers. I developed full-stack e-commerce solutions with a focus on performance, clean architecture, and long-term scalability.

I also ran internal PHP and OOP trainings, sharing best practices and mentoring new developers — something that helped shape my future passion for coaching and team growth.

Education

Studied at

2013-2015

Master’s Degree in Advanced Software Systems

Polytechnic University
of Bucharest

Focused on advanced software engineering, system design, and scalable architectures. During my master’s, I deepened my knowledge of complex software systems, architectural patterns, and modern development methodologies, preparing me for large-scale, high-performance projects in professional environments.

2014

Zend PHP Certified Developer
(ZEND026695)

Validated expertise in PHP development, object-oriented programming, and best practices for building maintainable, high-quality web applications.

2009-2013

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science

Polytechnic University
of Bucharest

Built a strong foundation in computer science, studying compilers, low-level programming, operating system kernel development, and object-oriented programming. This period was crucial for developing problem-solving skills, understanding system internals, and gaining hands-on experience with algorithms, data structures, and software design principles.

Skills

Creative ability

Backend Engineering & Architecture

Java, Spring Boot, PHP, and Symfony. Building reliable backend systems, APIs, and microservices, with experience in modernising applications and integrating services. Focused on clear architecture, maintainability, performance, and cost efficiency.

Extensive experience
AI-Assisted Development & Agent Orchestration

Using clear specifications to guide AI-assisted development and coordinate agents around defined tasks. Exploring effective workflows while reviewing generated output and considering quality, complexity, and cost.

Professional Practice
Developer Tooling & Automation

Building internal tools and automating repetitive engineering work, including contributions to AI-powered security fixes and development environment generation. Always looking for ways to make development simpler and more efficient.

Professional Practice
Computer Vision & Edge AI

Personal experimentation with YOLO, PyTorch, and ONNX, alongside Raspberry Pi and Hailo hardware. Exploring how computer vision models work and how to run them on resource-constrained devices.

Personal Experimentation
Cloud & Platform Engineering

Working with AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD workflows to support scalable services and reliable delivery. Collaborating with platform teams and considering resilience, operational complexity, and resource efficiency

Professional Experience
Testing & Software Quality

Unit testing, integration testing, code reviews, and SonarQube. Improving confidence in changes, managing technical debt, and helping teams maintain consistent engineering standards.

Extensive Experience
Technical Leadership & Mentoring

Onboarding, one-to-one coaching, knowledge sharing, and acting Team Lead responsibilities. Helping engineers develop their skills, aligning technical decisions, and working across teams to resolve challenges.

Leadership Experience
Electronics & Home Automation

Hands-on experimentation with Raspberry Pis, sensors, custom electronics, Python, and shell scripts. Connecting software and hardware to automate everyday tasks and learn through building.

Hands-on Hobby Experience

Language Skills

Reading and writing

English
C2 (Fluent / Professional)

Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking; comfortable in technical, professional, and casual contexts.

100%
Dutch
A2 (DUO Certification)

Basic conversational and written skills, improving through daily practice and immersion in the Netherlands.

35%
Romanian
(Native)

My mother tongue, used daily for personal and professional communication.

100%

Engineering

Practices & Technologies

Backend & Domain-Driven Design

Java, Spring Boot, PHP, and Symfony. Building services around clear domain boundaries and maintainable architecture.

Extensive Experience
AI & Specification-Driven Development

Using clear specifications to guide AI-assisted coding and agent orchestration, with attention to quality and cost efficiency.

Professional Practice
Python & Automation

Python and shell scripting for development tooling, workflow automation, and hardware integration.

Hands-on Experience
Computer Vision & Edge AI

Personal experiments with YOLO, PyTorch, and ONNX on Raspberry Pi and Hailo hardware.

Personal Experimentation
Cloud & Data

AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and NoSQL for running services and managing application data.

Professional Experience
Vue.js & TypeScript

Frontend interfaces, backend integration, and interactive tools.

Working Knowledge

Reviews

What co-workers say

Gabriel Martin

Principal Software Engineer / Technical Lead

Alex is a very reliable software engineer with in-depth knowledge on web development and it's associated technologies. He is always interested in choosing the best tech stack and always analyses his options before choosing a decision - this decision will frequently be the most optimal one due to these traits that describe his above standard quality as an engineer. When it comes to his team, he's always reliable and looking to help others so deadlines are met.

Adrian Floarea

Technical Coordinator

I had the pleasure to work closely with Alex for almost two years on the same projects, and I witnessed him go from Associate Software Engineer to Senior Software Engineer. In this regard I must say that it was a great opportunity to have worked with such a skilled and dedicated developer. Alex is one of the most passionate individual I have ever worked with, has a high level of perseverance and drive than most anyone else, and he can be counted on to get things done. He is very professional when it comes to his work, offering a huge amount of attention to details. He is also one of the best developers I have worked with, with very good technical skills that include PHP, Magento, Drupal, as well as client facing and communication skills.As a team member Alex would be a great asset in any project or company.

Daniel Uta

Senior Backend Developer

Alex displayed great team integration skills as well as flexibility in thinking and adaptability to intense situations.
We worked together as part of the performance & security team where we were able to implement a fast scalable solutions for app related APIs as well as web app related features.
I would recommend Alex not only for his curiosity towards coding but also for his witty but polite sense of humor.

Andrei Pirvulescu

CEO & Co-Founder

I had the great pleasure to work with Alex more than one year on the same project. I would like to say it that it was amazing to see him grow from an intern position when he started, to a fully grown and mature Senior Software Developer. Since the beginning when he joined the project, it was easy to see that Alex was a "magnet" of information, being able to absorb huge amount of information in regards to the new technologies that he encountered: from development frameworks to automation frameworks.
Alex is the colleague that always has a smile on his face, having a positive attitude towards everything that he does and sees everything as an opportunity to learn.

In my opinion, Alex is a must have in any team, successfully combining professional attitude with dedication and wanting to learn as much he can from every thing that he does.

Contact

Let's talk

Alex. Banica

Senior Software Engineer

Age: 35
Residence: Netherlands
Address: Apeldoorn
E-mail: alex@alexlab.com

ABanica

Alex. Bănică