Professional work experience

Freelance

08/2021 - present ~ Software engineer, freelance

I currenly work as a freelance software engineer. A dedicated page for which can be found here.

Companion Group Ltd.

01/2025 - present ~ AI Bot Engineer, Unreal Engine (full-time) for [AA]

Details will be added in due time.

04/2024 - 12/2024 ~ Tech lead position (full-time) for [AAA]

Details will be added in due time.

08/2023 - 03/2024 ~ Senior game backend engineer (full-time) for [AAA, Amazon Games, unannounced]

• Containerization of game servers and integration with CI/CD (Docker, GitLab)
• Development of custom game server orchestration solution (C# .NET 6, Serverless (SAM), DynamoDB)
• Integration of game server orchestration into game server code (C++/Unreal Engine)
• Set-up of game server infrastructure (Terraform, AWS)
• Prototype of real-time back-end service to game server communication (MQTT, C++/Unreal Engine)
• Integration of Amazon GameLift into custom Online Subsystem (AWS, C++/Unreal Engine)
• Development of API server between players and GameLift (Golang, JWT, JWK, Kubernetes, Helm)
• Game server deployment automation (AWS, GitLab, Scripting)

08/2023 - 04/2024 ~ Development lead (part-time) for prototype of Project Dual

• Initial set-up of prototype in Unreal Engine 5.2
• Development of proof-of-concept of TeamManager subystem (C++/Unreal Engine)
• Configuration of game replication set-up for multiplayer elements
• Creation of various game elements and levels (Unreal Engine Blueprints)
• Involved with technical oversight and support, advice for production version of game

01/2023 - 08/2023 ~ Online game client engineer for VAIL VR (AEXLAB)

• Migrating to Armada game server orchestration; client, server and CI/CD side implementation
• Implementation of various SDKs into game client and server code (C++/Unreal Engine)
• Guiding adoption and implementation of AccelByte services into the game (C++/Unreal Engine)
• Zero-downtime migration of PlayFab to AccelByte for authentication and entitlements (Golang)
• Creation of custom game modules, RPC calls and tackling technical debt (C++/Unreal Engine)
• Implemented game server player progression: stats tracking/uploads, MMR, rewards (C++)
• Development lead for server browser, matchmaking, player progression and marketplace

01/2023 - present ~ Website developer

• Built company website companiongroup.io, (Next.JS/React, Typescript, SCSS)
• Automatic deployment set-up (GitHub Actions, Vercel)
• Maintenance and updates of dependencies
• Occasional small edits or new features

CoolGames B.V.

05/2022 - 10/2022 ~ Software and data engineer

• Responsible for migrating data for millions of players from multiple games to a new system
• Building custom export module into SaaS platform Gamesparks to save data to record server
• Building custom import module into CoolGames’ Nakama setup to consume data from record server
• Working with other teams to make sure there is no user impact after the migration
• Heavy use of PostgreSQL’s JSON(B) for performance and limiting possible downtime
• Work on multiple applications, using Golang and Typescript/Deno
• Involved with DevOps/SRE improvements (Docker, Terraform, Ansible, AWS)

Bytecode Digital Agency B.V.

08/2021 - 02/2022 ~ Co-founder and techlead, part-time

In August 2021, I announced my exit from Bytecode. As part of my exit, I have continued working for Bytecode part-time, to finish up loose ends and transfer knowledge to other team members.

05/2018 - 08/2021 ~ Co-founder and techlead

• Team of 6 people, with expertise in development, design, sales and marketing
• Development of custom software, mostly web/mobile applications with backed by an API server
• Setting up infrastructure (internally and for clients), provisioning and security hardening
• Developing internal tooling to make the software development process more efficient
• Automating manual tasks to reduce the amount of toil involved in the development process
• Leading client software projects on both front- and back-end and software consultancy
• Involved in multiple startup, including partnerships and investments

VNG Realisering, Team NLX

08/2021 - 12/2021 ~ Senior software engineer

• Open-source public project share data between organisations in a safe and privacy-proof way
• Hands-on development on the back-end (Go), front-end (React) and SRE (Kubernetes, Helm)
• Improvements in development and build setup to improve development experience and speed
• Implementation of custom network logic based on gRPC, including security and encryption
• Advisory role on technical improvements for the codebase for long-term roadmap
• Introduced Typescript into the React codebase and build systems
• Providing React and Typescript training to back-end developers
• Part of the contributions are public on GitLab

Airchip B.V.

02/2021 - 11/2021 ~ CTO, ad interim

• Startup to revolutionize digital ordering of drinks at festivals, even without internet connection
• Hands-on development for the backend application (Golang) and admin applications (Vue, Javascript)
• Responsible for the site reliability engineering and automation (Kubernetes, Go, Gitlab)
• Advisory role for the three native applications (Kotlin, Swift) and the BLE-protocol
• Leading role in the implementation of new working methodologies and development guidelines
• Advisory role on how to tackle the existing technical debt
• Responsible for selecting/screening new developers and onboarding them

Dearly B.V.

06/2020 - 11/2021 ~ Partner and techlead (part-time)

• Startup for changing how society deals with mourning, investor through Bytecode
• Development of the custom backend application, written in Go, with PostgreSQL database
• Leading development of the mobile application in React/Typescript/Expo
• Software architecture and infrastructure setup, deployment automation
• Advisor for technical decisions and determining the feature roadmap

Youngpwr B.V.

02/2020 - 08/2021 ~ Partner and techlead (part-time)

• Startup for helping young people develop their entrepreneurial side, investor through Bytecode
• Development of custom backend application in Go and CMS
• Leading development of the frontend application in React/Typescript/NextJS
• Software architecture and infrastructure setup, deployment automation
• Part of the management team (MT) and advisor for technical decisions

Eneco / Dept Agency

05/2019 - 03/2020 ~ Software engineer, ad interim

• Leading frontend developer for De Omschakelaar project at Eneco, via Dept Agency
• Front-end development in React/Typescript with Redux connected to .NET Core for storage
• Creating code generation tools to convert different data formats to JSON for calculations
• Using automation to speed up the development process
• Creation of tooling to better tackle existing technical debt

Stager Software

12/2017 - 05/2018 ~ Full-stack software engineer

• Team with 9 people (4 developers), using SCRUM
• Working on the Stager ticketing software, built using Java Play! and ReactJS
• Development of custom email builder using ReactJS, Java Play! and AWS
• Integration of custom email builder within the rest of the application
• Email templating solution based on MJML

Nooijen Web Solutions

05/2015 - 05/2018 ~ Owner, founder and developer

• Team with 4 people, working in a SCRUM-like manner
• Development of websites and web applications
• Server administration and maintenance
• Involved in sales, marketing, project management and administrative tasks
• Discontinued at the start of Bytecode

Chemiewinkel.com

07/2014 - 12/2018 ~ Owner and founder

• Started out of a love for chemistry to support hobby chemists getting started
• Development of the webshop using WordPress/WooCommerce with custom additions
• Running and maintaining the webshop on all aspects (including administrative tasks)
• Marketing-related activities to promote the webshop and generate inbound traffic
• Discontinued so I could fully focus on Bytecode

Volunteer experience

Bookclub Philosophy

06-2021 - present ~ Reading group leader and moderator

Leading the reading groups on Stoicism, Aristotle and general book discussion group.

Other resonsibilities include Discord server administration, development and maintenance of the custom-made bot, helping out new members and automating tasks.

Gaga Animal Care

04/2017 - present ~ Board member, webmaster

Volunteer for the dog shelter in Greece. Involved with planning and executing multiple neutering programs each year. Other responsibilities include website creation and maintenance.

Pijnackerse Watervienden

2013 - 2015 ~ Swimming tutor assistant

Leading and assisting swimming lessons for young children.

Atlas Animal Project

10/2013 - 12/2015 ~ Volunteer and assisting where needed

Occasionally assisting Atlas-representative(s), usually at Schiphol airport with dogs that arrived or collecting dog benches and returning them to Kos via cargo.

Animal Rescue Kos

03/2013 ~ Documentary director

Assisting volunteers living on Kos and filming the activities. After filming I edited, released and promoted the film. Finished documentary: bit.ly/arkfilm or bit.ly/arkfilmgermany