About me

Hi! I’m Mihai, a Software Engineer from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. I like to consider myself a generalist. Over the course of my career I've had the opportunity to work with a large number of technologies.

These days I mostly build Web products using ReactJS and NodeJS, and mobile applications for iOS.

Also, I'm a huge Pokémon nerd and coffee addict 😅

Ever since I was a child I had a passion for computers. Here's me at the age of 6, playing on my first computer, a Intel 80286.

Mihai Serban Intel 80286

If you want to learn more about projects I've been involved in, head over to Projects.

Education

Bachelor in Computer Science from Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca31 December 2007 - 31 July 2011

Platforms

Web
iOS
Desktop

Experience

Senior Software Engineer - Contractor - Flutter Entertainment

30 June 2019  - 06 November 2021

I joined Flutter Entertainment as a Contractor Senior Software Engineer, primarily working on iOS and frontend development.

Contributions:

  • Assisted the iOS team in migrating parts of existing web-based iOS applications into native iOS code, including feature implementation and code reviews for other contracting teams.
  • Migrated a large in-house frontend platform from AngularJS (Angular 1) to a modern ReactJS stack using Redux and React Hooks.
  • Rebuilt the Help & Support static website and improved the static site generation pipeline for Betfair Support.
  • Migrated Cash Card & Cash Card Plus frontend functionality to a new ReactJS-based frontend architecture.
  • Added new features to existing Vue.js and AngularJS applications, including authentication and role-based access control using Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL).

Independent Contractor

28 November 2017  - 30 June 2019

Specializing in development and consulting for modern web and cloud-based applications, including:

  • ReactJS front-end development
  • AWS-based architecture and solutions
  • Node.js back-end services
  • Microservices architecture
  • Mobile application development for iOS

Experienced in designing, building, and maintaining scalable applications across full-stack and cloud environments.

Projects

Mentorship Program - ITBrainiacs (Apex-Edu & Telenav collaboration)

31 October 2014  - 30 April 2015

ITBrainiacs is a program developed by Apex-Edu in collaboration with Telenav , designed to identify talented students and help them reach their full potential in software engineering.

The program pairs selected high-potential students with experienced software engineers in a structured 6-month one-on-one mentorship initiative.

Role & Contribution

  • Mentored students in software development fundamentals and best practices
  • Provided guidance on problem-solving, coding standards, and software engineering principles
  • Supported mentees through hands-on learning, feedback sessions, and continuous technical coaching
  • Helped bridge academic knowledge with real-world software development practices

Senior Software Engineer - Telenav Inc.

28 February 2014  - 29 November 2017

During my time at Telenav,

I worked primarily as an iOS developer on the Scout navigation client, with a strong focus on Objective-C development.

I led a team of five developers, providing technical leadership and mentorship, maintaining coding standards through code reviews and documentation, and participating in technical interviews and hiring processes.

My responsibilities included designing and implementing new features, improving application stability and performance, and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to deliver navigation and location-based functionality.

From mid-2016, I transitioned into a new team focused on developing a cross-platform desktop application using Qt, C++, QML, and JavaScript.

Projects

Senior iOS Developer - 3Pillar Global

31 December 2012  - 29 September 2013

While at 3Pillar Global I was part of a cross site team (Cluj, Timisoara and US) working on Geico's insurance mobile apps.

This was a complex and high-responsibility project involving sensitive data such as payments and personal user information, requiring strong focus on security, reliability, and compliance. I collaborated closely with distributed teams across multiple time zones to design, develop, and deliver features while maintaining consistent quality across releases.

Senior iOS Developer - Neosteq

31 July 2012  - 31 December 2012

I was part of a smaller iOS engineering team working on a companion application for portable navigation devices (PNDs). Focused on real-time device communication, mapping features, and performance-critical mobile rendering.

Contributions

  • Implemented communication between PND and iOS devices using Google Protocol Buffers for efficient data serialization.
  • Developed Bluetooth-based communication channels between devices.
  • Implemented and maintained In-App Purchase functionality.
  • Integrated multiple web services into the mobile application.
  • Implemented weather alert overlays on maps using OpenGL rendering.

iOS Developer - skobbler (aquired by Telenav Inc.)

31 May 2010  - 31 July 2012

At skobbler,

I was part of a large team of iOS and C++ developers building location-based applications powered by OpenStreetMap.

Some of the products I contributed to included GPS Navigation, ForeverMap, GeoBrain, and Blitzer.de.

Contributions

  • Contributed to the development and continuous improvement of mobile navigation applications used by millions of users.
  • Designed and implemented reusable components to support scalability and maintainability across projects.
  • Performed code reviews and helped maintain high engineering and code quality standards within the team.
  • Collaborated closely with the QA department to identify, track, and resolve software defects.
  • Participated in Scrum ceremonies and agile planning sessions as part of an iterative development process.
Projects

Quality Assurance Engineer - skobbler (acquired by Telenav Inc.)

30 June 2009  - 31 May 2010

QA / Mobile Testing Responsibilities

  • Performed testing across multiple handheld devices and platforms, including Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, and Nokia devices.
  • Automated manual test cases for mobile platforms, primarily Android and iOS.
  • Designed, created, and executed test cases for mobile applications and device-specific functionality.
  • Built testing environments to simulate real-world usage scenarios and operating conditions.
  • Collected diagnostic information and extracted relevant logs to investigate and troubleshoot issues identified during testing.
  • Reported and tracked defects using Jira.
  • Maintained and updated test cases based on evolving project requirements and test plans.
  • Worked independently with minimal supervision while managing testing responsibilities and delivery timelines.
  • Provided release assessments and quality sign-offs to support production deployments.

Technologies

D3.js
D3.js
Vue.js
Vue.js
SQLite
SQLite
Netlify
Netlify
docker
docker
OpenGL ES
OpenGL ES
AWS ElasticBeanstalk
AWS ElasticBeanstalk
AWS EC2
AWS EC2
AWS Lambda
AWS Lambda
AWS SES
AWS SES
AWS S3
AWS S3
CI/CD
CI/CD
BABEL
BABEL
CSS3
CSS3
AWS DynamoDB
AWS DynamoDB
GraphQL
GraphQL
Contentful
Contentful
Gatsby
Gatsby
HTML5
HTML5
Unit testing
Unit testing
Qt
Qt
NEXT.JS
NEXT.JS
mongoDB
mongoDB
Objective-C
Objective-C
NodeJS
NodeJS
Javascript
Javascript
Redux
Redux
ReactJS
ReactJS
Swift
Swift
Serverless
Serverless
Webpack
Webpack
C++
C++
gatsby  +  contentful  +  netlify  = ❤️[Source code]