Software Engineering & Technical Leadership
Senior IT Consultant & Former Director of Engineering
I help startups and enterprises build scalable software systems with cloud-native architecture, automation, and refactoring. I transform technical challenges into business opportunities through proven engineering leadership, team scaling, and digital transformation expertise.
Core Services
Strategic consulting services based on 15+ years of proven experience in software development, engineering leadership, and digital transformation.
Software Development & Architecture
Full-stack development with Ruby on Rails, React, and modern cloud technologies. Scalable web applications, microservices architecture, and system design for enterprise-grade solutions. Experience with AWS, PostgreSQL, and payment integrations.
Digital Transformation & Modernization
Legacy system modernization, cloud migration to AWS, and digital transformation strategy. Database migrations (Oracle to PostgreSQL), infrastructure automation with Terraform, and technology adoption roadmaps for enterprise organizations.
Data & Analytics Solutions
Custom data visualization and analytics tools using R, Shiny, and modern BI technologies. Data warehouse design, reporting systems, and business intelligence solutions that drive informed decision-making and operational efficiency.
Process Optimization & DevOps
CI/CD pipeline implementation, infrastructure as code with Terraform, and DevOps best practices. Agile methodology optimization, automated testing, and deployment strategies that improve development velocity and system reliability.
Industry-Specific Expertise
Deep experience in EdTech, Healthcare/Research, and Contract Management platforms. Domain-specific solutions for complex business requirements, regulatory compliance, and industry best practices implementation.
Engineering Leadership & Team Scaling
Proven track record leading engineering teams from 2 to 20+ developers. Technical leadership, engineering management, and team building. Process optimization, agile implementation, and culture development for high-performing engineering organizations.
Recent Case Studies
Healthcare Data Platform
Challenge: Complex cancer research data visualization
Solution: Built data miner for better visualization of cancer research data using R, Shiny and Postgres in AWS
Result: Improved data processing efficiency and research capabilities
EdTech Platform Scaling
Challenge: Platform struggling with performance and scalability - scaling from hundreds to thousands of students
Solution: Built reliable LMS for students and refactored monolithic application
Result: Improved system performance and deployment efficiency
Contract Management System
Challenge: 100K+ customers with automated but unreliable contract system causing delays and errors
Solution: Automated workflow system with payment integration and microservices architecture
Result: Streamlined contract processing and reduced errors
"Florian, your work has been outstanding. You implemented everything exactly as we envisioned — both at Oncotest and 4HF. You understood our questions deeply, especially from a mathematical perspective, and developed excellent programs that brought us forward significantly. Thank you for the many years of exceptional collaboration. I'm confident you'll continue on a successful path."
"Florian Schmidt played a central role in shaping and leading our IT & Data Management department. He consistently impressed with his deep technical expertise, his ability to implement complex systems, and his commitment to quality and performance. His work on database systems, software development, and automation was instrumental to our success. Florian always delivered solutions that were innovative, reliable, and aligned with the needs of both our scientists and clients."
"Florian consistently delivered high-quality results and set a positive example for the team. His professional and driven attitude, along with his eagerness to improve and seek feedback, made him a respected and valued team member. I would recommend Florian for any endeavor he chooses to pursue."
"Florian is a passionate and talented software engineer with strong technical skills and a results-oriented mindset. He played a key role in planning and deploying projects involving AWS, Terraform, microservices, APIs, and databases. A friendly and collaborative team member, I highly recommend Florian to any company seeking an organized and driven professional."
Proven Track Record
From Software Developer to Director of Engineering, I've led technical teams of 2 to 20+ developers and delivered scalable solutions across multiple industries including EdTech, Healthcare, and Contract Management.
Career Timeline
Software Engineering & Consulting
IT Consultant
Freelance
Jul 2015 - Present
Providing software development, architecture consulting, and technical leadership services to startups and enterprises. Specializing in Ruby on Rails, AWS, and digital transformation projects. Recent projects include building data visualization tools for cancer research data analysis at 4HF Biotech.
Lead Software Engineer
CareerFoundry
Aug 2018 - Feb 2020
Led development of core platform features, optimized system performance, and mentored junior engineers. Contributed to architecture decisions and collaborated with product and design teams.
Senior Backend Engineer
CareerFoundry
Feb 2018 - Jul 2018
Refactored and enhanced the learning platform (Rails, React), optimized Stripe payment integration, and improved backend performance and scalability.
Senior Software Engineer
volders GmbH
Jun 2016 - Jan 2018
Developed Ruby and Elixir applications, led AWS migration, integrated Braintree payment solution, and optimized database performance for contract management platform. Implemented microservices architecture and CI/CD pipelines for improved deployment processes.
Software Developer
Oncotest GmbH
2009 - Dec 2012
Developed software solutions for oncology research data management and analysis. Built database systems, data processing pipelines, and research tools using various programming languages and technologies.
Leadership & Team Management
Co-Founder
Utterskills
Oct 2023 - Present
Training tech teams to master essential skills beyond code—communication, efficiency, collaboration, and business acumen. Developing software solutions and tools to support team development and skill assessment, including LLM development (AI) for building student evaluation tools.
Director of Engineering
CareerFoundry
Jul 2020 - Jun 2023
Led technical vision and strategy for a leading online education platform, scaling engineering teams and optimizing development processes. Oversaw full-stack development, architecture decisions, and system scaling for 100K+ user platform.
Head of Development
CareerFoundry
Feb 2020 - Jul 2020
Led the engineering team, redesigned development workflows, and enhanced system architecture for the online education platform. Implemented agile best practices and mentored developers.
Group Leader IT & Data Management
Oncotest GmbH
Jan 2013 - Jun 2015
Led software development team, migrated Oracle to PostgreSQL, and developed Oncotest Compendium for oncology research. Built custom data visualization tools using R and Shiny for research data analysis.
Technology Expertise
About Me
With over 15 years of experience in software development and engineering leadership, I've successfully led technical teams and delivered scalable solutions across multiple industries including EdTech, Healthcare, and Contract Management.
Currently serving as Co-Founder of Utterskills, I'm passionate about helping tech teams reach their full potential—not just through coding, but by mastering the essential skills beyond code that drive success: communication, efficiency, collaboration, and business acumen.
My consulting expertise spans full-stack development, technical leadership, and system architecture. I've successfully led engineering teams, scaled platforms, and modernized legacy systems using cutting-edge technologies from Ruby on Rails to React, and AWS.
Key Achievements
- Built and led engineering teams of 2 to 20+ developers at CareerFoundry
- Scaled platforms to serve 100K+ users
- Reduced technical debt by applying coding best practices and led cloud migration projects
- Led infrastructure automation and database modernization, improving performance and reducing costs
- As co-founder at Utterskills, built a training program for skills beyond code for engineering teams
Education
Diplom (Master equivalent), Computer Science
Universität Freiburg
Computer Science (major) & Bioinformatics (minor)
2003 - 2009
Thesis: "Development of linguistic comparative methods to analyse data from web forums"
Certifications
ThePowerMBA
ThePowerMBA
Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance
Let's Discuss Your Project
I'm here to listen and help. Let's talk about your technical challenges and explore how we can work together.
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linkedin.com/in/florian-schmidt-64b4645a
Business Address
Florian Schmidt
Freiburg, Germany
VAT: DE299949804
Website: fkschmidt.com