Ali Zhdanov

Ali Zhdanov

Software Engineer at Canva

Prague, CZ
alizhdanov.dev
[email protected]
+420 775 370 054
I am T-shaped developer with a strong focus on frontend technologies and extensive full-stack experience, I excel in React, TypeScript, and Node.js, while continuously expanding my expertise to embrace new and emerging technologies. My approach is characterized by a sense of ownership and a readiness to tackle complex challenges head-on, ensuring that every project not only meets but exceeds expectations. A dedicated team player, I am committed to supporting my colleagues, valuing open communication and the sharing of knowledge to achieve collective success. My work is driven by results, with a keen emphasis on delivering high-quality, efficient solutions within set timeframes. Balancing technical proficiency with a customer-oriented mindset, I strive to create products that are not only technically sound but also closely aligned with user needs and business goals. Confident and adaptable, I thrive in dynamic environments, leveraging my skills and experience to drive innovation and deliver tangible results

Work Experience

Canva

Senior Software Engineer Jul 2024 - Present Prague, Czechia
  • Leading the development of critical Import features that serve as key components of our product cycles, ensuring seamless data integration and user experience across the platform.
  • Spearheading the migration of our architecture to modern technologies, driving technical improvements that enhance system performance, scalability, and maintainability.
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams to design and implement robust solutions that align with business objectives while maintaining high code quality and best practices.

Outreach

Staff Software Engineer Aug 2021 - Jun 2024 Prague, Czechia
  • Managed a high-traffic domain within the platform, focusing on speed and reliability to maintain peak performance for the most frequented section of the website.
  • Played a pivotal role in developing and refining a key data grid component widely adopted by all front-end teams. This component enhanced data fetching, pagination, and caching processes, significantly boosting performance and operational efficiency.
  • Led the end-to-end development of significant team/cross-team features, overseeing everything from design review and task creation to coding, testing, and release. My role required effective coordination and communication across various team members and teams, ensuring seamless integration and a unified effort.
  • Mentored junior engineers and advised senior colleagues on architectural decisions, project scoping, and planning. Led initiatives for task creation, estimation, and bug bashing, culminating in successful project releases.
  • Worked on migrating legacy services into a new technology stack, focusing on improving user experience (UX) and performance.
  • Involved in the hiring process for new team members, participating in interviews and selection.
  • Most used technologies: React, Typescript, GraphQL, Node.js, Jest, Cypress, Laucnhdarkly

OAK'S LAB

Senior Full Stack Developer Sep 2019 - Jun 2021 Prague, Czechia
  • On the smaller projects led the development of startups from conception to launch, overseeing project scoping, architectural design, and roadmap creation. On the bigger projects, I was responsible for the development of the most complex/important features, ensuring the highest quality of the code and the best practices.
  • Acted as Guild Lead and Chapter Lead, standardizing programming practices across the company and mentoring junior team members to foster skill growth.
  • Led initiatives of exploring and adopting new technologies for the whole company, including lightning talks, documentations and internal workshops for instance for a tool like Prisma.
  • Directly engaged with clients to enhance understanding and involvement in the development process, ensuring clear and effective communication.
  • Most used technologies: React, Typescript, GraphQL, Node.js, Jest, Cypress, Prisma, PostgreSQL, Firebase, GCP

Kiwi.com

Full Stack Javascript Developer Apr 2018 - Sep 2019 Prague, Czechia
  • Developed a data-intensive internal tool for customer support using a modern tech stack, successfully transitioning internal teams to this new, more efficient system.
  • Worked closely with backend teams, focusing on delivering top-notch UI/UX for their backend functionalities, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly integration.
  • Most used technologies: React, GraphQL, Next.js, Relay/Apollo client, Typescript/Flow, Jest, Cypress

Bohemia Interactive

Frontend Developer Nov 2016 - Mar 2018 Prague, The Capital, Czech Republic
  • Collaborated with design teams to create visually appealing and user-friendly websites for external audiences, ensuring a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
  • Focused on developing fast and reliable web services, catering to specific requirements of different teams within the company.
  • Facilitated the end-to-end process of website creation, from initial design discussions to the deployment of live sites, focusing on optimal performance and user experience.
  • Most used technologies: React, Vue.js, Expess, Node.js, PHP

Freelance Web Developer Dec 2015 - Oct 2016
  • Developed a range of web solutions from simple static pages to complex portals, adapting to diverse client needs and project scopes.
  • Employed diverse technologies to craft engaging and intuitive web interfaces, focusing on optimal user experience and performance for each unique project.
  • Balanced frontend development with backend tasks, providing comprehensive web services that included both client-facing features and server-side functionalities.
  • Most used technologies: Angular.js, Javascript, CoffeeScript, HTML/CSS, SCSS, Ruby

Certifications

JSNAD: OpenJS Node.js Application Developer

The Linux Foundation
Validity: Dec 2020 - Dec 2023. Show Credentials

Google Developer Challenge Scholarship

Udacity
Validity: Nov 2017 - Feb 2018. Show Credentials

Education

Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Master's degree Civil Engineering Dec 2010 - Dec 2015

Skills

Main skills

React
Typescript
Node.js
GraphQL

Other skills

Next.js
Express
Prisma
Firebase
GCP
PostgreSQL
Docker
Jest
Cypress
Git
Agile

Languages

English (Professional Working)
Ukrainian (Native Speaker)
Russian (Native Speaker)
Czech (Limited Working)