Krzysztof Jamróz
Krakow, Poland
November 17, 1983
Summary
After twenty years in tech, my journey has taken me from writing code to leading teams. Moving from software engineer to engineering leader, I’ve seen the power of blending technology with business strategy. Now, my focus is on building strong teams that know how to harness tech effectively and creating a company culture that’s all about delivering products with big ideas behind them.
Career & Education Timeline
Director of Engineering
OLX
2024 - now
Key responsibilities- Define strategy, lead the team, and foster innovation.
- Oversee projects, ensure timely delivery, and align with roadmaps.
- Maintain quality, follow best practices, and stay updated on tech trends.
- Collaborate with teams, update senior management, and represent engineering.
- Work on the product, enhance features, and drive continuous improvement.
- Monitor and improve team performance, conduct reviews, and offer development opportunities.
- Manage budget, optimize costs, and allocate resources efficiently.
Machine Learning Online Courses
Coursera, Udacity, ...
2023During a sabbatical break, I explored the world of AI and delved into machine learning courses. My goal was to gain a deep understanding of the inner workings and truly comprehend how machine learning functions.
Details- Data processing in Python
- Deep Learning Fundamentals
- Regression and Classification Models
- Computer Vision and Convolutional Neural Networks
- Deep Reinforced Learning
- Large Language Models
Senior Director, Engineering
Guidewire Software
2021 - 2024I was responsible for developmet of the Guidewire Cloud Console, preparing it for larger scale as the number of customers rapidly grew. This involved increasing self-service features and reducing infrastructure costs. I built an SRE team that collaborated closely with product development teams. I introduced an on-call model to ensure quick resolution of incidents. To improve reliability, I incorporated error budgets into the development process, reducing issues from the product's initial immaturity. Additionally, I acted as site lead for the Kraków office, ensuring smooth operations and integration with the rest of the company.
Key responsibilities- Responsible for engineering delivery and operations
- Managing cross-site collaboration and ensuring alignment with other development centers of Guidewire
- Support in introduction globally scalable processes
- Work with the local HR, Finance, IT and Facilities team to help develop the center
- Cultivating top talent by driving technical and leadership development
Director, Engineering
Guidewire Software
2019 - 2021When I joined Guidewire, the company was initiating a cloud transformation, transitioning from on-premises to SaaS solutions. I led the Kraków engineering teams working on Guidewire Cloud Console, which enables customers to launch and manage their cloud services independently. After I joined, the Console went from an idea through prototype to a mainstream product. I restructured my team to handle growing demand, streamline priorities, and avoid bottlenecks. I also evolved the system's architecture to distribute work across the organization, allowing other teams to take ownership of specific components end-to-end.
Key responsibilities- Responsible for engineering delivery and operations
- Managing cross-site collaboration and ensuring alignment with other development centers of Guidewire
- Support in introduction globally scalable processes
- Work with the local HR, Finance, IT and Facilities team to help develop the center
- Cultivating top talent by driving technical and leadership development
Gynvael's GameDev Challenge
Sigma-18
2019I participated in Gynvael's Winter GameDev Challenge 2018/19, where I tested my coding skills and enjoyed designing and implementing my game, Sigma-18. My game won 1st place in the competition.
Rules of the Challenge- Hacking simulator, the player is a space marine's hacker that aids a squad of space marines while they explore an abandoned space station
- The game must render within the specified layout overlay
- Client-side web technology
- File size below 128000 bytes (without the layout overlay)
- Completed in one month
Senior Development Manager
Scientific Games
2018 - 2019After several acquisitions, the company became complex and diverse. The Krakow office I joined was not fully integrated with the wider organization, affecting local teams. My focus was on connecting this office with the rest of the company, ensuring efficient team operation. This involved facilitating knowledge transfer, improving communication, aligning goals, developing local leaders, addressing organizational obstacles, integrating processes, assigning projects, and fostering product ownership. I also engaged in critical projects to ensure their success amidst organizational challenges.
Key responsibilities- Shaping software engineering practices and processes
- Motivating and driving development teams with technical leadership and vision
- Supporting recruitment of technical staff
- Alignment with senior stakeholders in the organisation
Head of Delivery - Gaming
Yggdrasil Gaming
2017 - 2018At Yggdrasil, a growing start-up, my role as Head of Delivery was to develop and deliver online casino games. In the first year, I doubled the Gaming Department's staff and set up teams in various locations. The main challenge was scaling the department, maintaining our start-up culture, and ensuring our development teams met ambitious business goals.
Key responsibilities- Setting and communicating the vision, mission and targets for Gaming Department
- Creating right environment and working culture of entire department
- Preparing project roadmaps for the department and making sure that there is enough capacity to deliver them
- Negotiate scope and manage trade-offs for delivery decisions
- Driving cross-departments projects
- Ultimate responsibility for delivery agreed roadmaps (project tracking and planning)
- Ultimate responsibility for the performance of the department
Head of Technology Department
Novomatic Technologies Poland
2016 - 2017The Technology Department I managed included more than 50 specialists with diverse expertise. The majority were software developers skilled in languages such as Java, .Net, C++, Ruby, and JavaScript. The team also comprised Quality Engineers, UX Specialists, and Graphic Designers. Our department was responsible for developing a wide range of products, including web applications, embedded systems, and video games. As the Head of the Department, my primary role was to ensure that all teams, despite their varied specializations, operated efficiently and adhered to the highest standards of engineering practices.
Key responsibilities- Managing Software Development Department (50+ employees)
- Contribute to the overall technology strategy of the company
- Leading, mentoring and growing engineering teams
- Establishing and maintaining solid software engineering practices (e.g. Continuous Delivery, Lean Software Development)
- Ensuring highest quality of developed software
- Continuously improving performance of teams
- Managing internal R&D projects (e.g. Game Framework Development)
Executive MBA
Cracow University of Economics
2015 - 2017I pursued an Executive MBA to boost my management skills and business acumen, alongside experienced executives and leaders. This experience, enriching my technical background, helped me effectively bridge business and IT.
Details- Strategic Planning
- Financial Analysis
- Leadership and Change Management
- International Business Negotiation
- Business Law
- Managing and Developing Human Capital
- Managerial Accounting
- International Marketing
- International Corporate Finance
- Managerial Economics
Head of Project and Product Management
Novomatic Technologies Poland
2015 - 2016As Head of Product & Project Management, I led a team of IT Project Managers, adjusting our structure and processes to handle larger, more complex projects. I also focused on expanding our team to manage the increased workload. These changes improved our project execution efficiency.
Key responsibilities- Development of Project Management team and hiring new team members
- Promoting and introducing Agile principles across the company
- Participate in making necessary decisions regarding staffing, process, procedures, and job duties for the Project Management Team
- Introducing changes in structure and processes within the department to improve efficiency of the team
- Ensure that all company project procedures are followed correctly at all times.
- Supervising projects on various phases of SDLC
- Act as point of contact for senior management, locally and globally
Head of Project Management Office
The company formed a PMO department to reinforce project management transparency, consistency, and quality. In my role as head, the goal was to maintain an agile approach using Scrum or Kanban while providing a comprehensive overview of company activities to all stakeholders, including C-level managers, project managers, and development teams. This balance was crucial in preserving agility and productivity while ensuring informed decision-making at all levels.
Key responsibilities- Assesses and improves project management processes
- Standardizes project management practices throughout the company
- Gathering data about project progress and status
- Improving communication so that senior executives and stakeholders know project status
Business and Management Online Courses
Coursera, edX, Udacity, Open2Study, ...
2014To enhance my business and management skills, I completed online courses from renowned institutions like Yale and MIT. These new competencies significantly boosted my workplace efficiency and laid a solid foundation for the MBA program I later graduated from.
Details- Strategic Management at Open Training Institute
- Competitive Strategy at LMU Munchen
- Advanced Competitive Strategy at LMU Munchen
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at MGSM
- Introduction to Public Speaking at University of Washington
- Entrepreneurship 101 at MIT
- Financial Markets at Yale University
- Diagnosing the Financial Health of a Business at MGSM
- An Introduction to Marketing at University of Pennsylvania
- How to Build a Startup by Steve Blank
- Introduction to Enterprise Architecture
Executive Manager - Enterprise Architecture
Novomatic Technologies Poland
2013 - 2014As an Executive Manager, I revamped our enterprise architecture to better integrate and unify our diverse tech product portfolio. This led to improved communication, enhanced staff skills, better system design, and more effective strategic planning.
Key responsibilities- Defining the strategy for systems development within the company
- Work with business and IT stakeholders to align architecture vision with business goals
- Coordinating technical aspects of projects carried out across the company (300 employees)
- Introducing standards and guidelines related to architecture governance
- Developing architecture capabilities of the company
- Supervising key R&D projects
Co-owner
www.e-ratownik.com.pl
2012 - 2015At E-ratownik, a startup providing legally recognized e-learning training for paramedics in Poland, I, as a co-owner, oversaw software development. Leveraging my understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and agile methodologies, I enhanced team efficiency. My involvement extended to product development, where I applied insights from my previous business and marketing courses. By prioritizing customer feedback and user experience, we were able to refine our product, resulting in increased sales.
Key responsibilities- Identifying and exploiting new technologies in order to increase profits and marketability
- Participating in creating of business strategy for the company
- Responsible for products optimization to increase user acquisition and improve conversion rates
- Establishing technical standards and ensuring adherence to them for product development
- Introduction of agile techniques and lean product development approach
IT Project Manager
Novomatic Technologies Poland
2011 - 2013In this role, I oversaw projects focused on developing an online casino platform and had the opportunity to engage in long-term strategic planning and shaping the product's vision. A critical aspect of my work involved meeting the diverse requirements of our B2B customers while ensuring alignment with our strategic goals. This comprehensive approach proved successful, culminating in the expansion of our product into a new market segment: server-based gaming.
Key responsibilities- Managing of IT projects related to development of online gaming platform
- Responsible for setting out a long-term vision of product family developed during realized projects
- Requirements gathering and analysis (B2B projects for international customers)
- Time and budget management (6 - 12 months projects)
- Human Resources Management (25+ members of project team)
- Communication Management
- Quality Management
- Risk Management
- Using PMBOK or agile (SCRUM and Kanban) approach depending on project needs
Founder
Limex Games
2009 - 2013My passion for technology and a continuous drive to learn led me to develop casual games in my spare time. What began as a hobby soon evolved into a successful business venture. As the founder of Limex Games, my role transitioned from developer to entrepreneur. We have released twelve casual games for mobile and web platforms, amassing over 100 million plays globally. Our titles have been featured on prominent portals such as Google Chrome WebStore, Kongregate, and ArmorGames.
Details- Founder of independent, game development studio
- Casual games for the web and mobile devices
- Responsible for whole product life cycle (from the idea, through development, to the release, marketing, sales, etc...)
- 12 game titles released (100M game plays worldwide)
Software Developer
Novomatic Technologies Poland
2005 - 2011As a software developer, I joined a team tasked with creating internal tools to support our HR department, focusing on client-side development. The product we developed gained significant success, leading to team expansion. During this period, my role evolved into a Team Leader. A key achievement was implementing a software architecture that facilitated easier product customization. This innovation drastically cut down on integration time and costs, proving vital for our B2B customers within the company group
Key responsibilities- Responsible for design and implementation of in-house, software framework to reduce development time of product family
- Responsible for technical vision and architecture decisions
- Coordination of software development team (web application)
School of Project Management
Tischner European University
2007 - 2008My interest in the wider aspects of software development led me to pursue studies in Project Management. Learning from seasoned professionals, I gained valuable skills that have been instrumental in my career progression
Details- Integration Management
- Scope Management
- Time Management
- Cost Management
- Quality Management
- Human Resources Management
- Communication Management
- Risk Management
- Procurement Management
Software Engineering
Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza w Krakowie
2006 - 2008My Software Engineering studies enabled me to broaden my knowledge, which I could directly apply in my work for immediate, practical use.
Details- IT project management
- Requirements management
- UML
- Design patterns
- Web technologies
- UNIX/LINUX
- Databases
Software Developer
Freelancer
2003 - 2005As a freelancer, I primarily worked on small, web-based projects for a diverse range of international clients. This experience significantly enhanced my technical and communication skills. Gradually, the projects grew in size, leading to an opportunity where I managed a small development team.
Key responsibilities- Web development (PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, HTML)
- Adobe Flash applications (Action Script 3.0)
- Graphic design (layouts, photomontages)
- Coordination of small, software development team
Automatics and Robotics
Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza w Krakowie
2002 - 2007My studies in engineering and software development at the University of Science and Technology in Krakow (AGH) have provided a solid foundation for my professional development.
Details- C/C++, Java, PHP, UML, Web technologies, relational database, Design patterns, Unix/Linux, security of web applications, IT networks
Strengths
Achiever
(Executing)
Responsibility
(Executing)
Restorative
(Executing)
Learner
(Strategic)
Analytical
(Strategic)
Individualization
(Relationship)
Skills & Experience
Certificates
Project Management Professional
2011 - 2014PMI Project Management Professional credential is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers. Globally recognized and demanded, the PMP demonstrates the experience, education and competency to lead and direct projects.
Professional Scrum Master
2014People who have passed PSM and achieved certification demonstrate an understanding of the Scrum framework. They exhibit a dedication to continued professional development and a high level of commitment to their field of practice.
Technologies
Some of tools that I've worked with over last years:
Articles
A few highlights from my writing.
8 Hacks for Staying Technical as an Engineering Leader
Keep your technical skills fresh and your team inspired.
Forget the Buzzwords: Here's What Organisational Culture Really Is
From Theory to Practice.
Chess Moves for Engineering Leadership
How strategic positioning beats long-term prediction.
7 Myths About Inner-Source That Are Holding You Back
Why not move your company project to a higher level
Level Up Your Inbox: Gamifying Zero Email with Apps Script
How I stayed motivated by turning email clean-up into a game.
M-Shaped Engineers: The Future of Software
Why Engineers With Diverse Skills Will Lead the Future of Tech
Building a Personal Data Toolbox
Engineering Leadership in the Data-Driven Era
7 Public Speaking Hacks from a Introvert
Why Public Speaking Doesn’t Have to Be Terrifying
Projects
Some of tech stuff that I did for fun:
Air Sensor
2015Arduino-based air quality sensor. The device detects PM2.5 particles and keeps the history of records. It is a simple and effective way to be aware of air quality in a polluted city.
Monsters in Bunnyland
2011It's a fun, physics-based puzzle game. Two monsters have found themselves in the wrong place. Use your brain and help them getting out.
