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Cristian E. Caroli
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role ~ Software Engineer & Manager
loc ~ Barcelona, Spain
mail ~ hi@cristiancaroli.com
linkedin ~ linkedin.com/in/cristiancaroli
newsletter ~ Hammerspace · 2,000+ subscribers
cv ~ cristian_caroli_cv.pdf
digitalization / ai consulting ~ cristiancaroli.com/ai
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Engineering leader with 15+ years of experience delivering scalable systems, building high-performing teams, and driving product-led innovation.

Passionate about developer culture, platform strategy, and educational technology. Among others, I've spent time at Twitter, Chess.com, and ThoughtWorks.

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distributed-systems/ microservices/ event-driven-design/ high-availability/ observability/ cloud-architecture/ containerization/ infrastructure-automation/ deployment-pipelines/ team-scaling/ technical-strategy/ hiring-and-mentorship/ edtech/ gaming/ advertising-platforms/ logistics/
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## Director of Engineering @ ChessKid (Chess.com)
-- Mar 2025 - Present | Remote

Leading engineering at ChessKid, part of Chess.com, the world's number one kid-safe chess platform with over 13 million global users and more than 600K monthly actives.

- Hands-on with backend, mobile, and web systems while driving architecture, reliability, and product delivery.
- Partnering directly with the CTO and VPs, TLs and PMs across Chess.com to align technical execution, product strategy, and long-term platform growth.
- Driving the adoption of agentic coding practices across the team, integrating AI-assisted development into daily workflows.
- Focused on building high-performing teams and ensuring our little users have as much fun as possible without any downtime other than early bed times.
## Director of Engineering @ Stuart
-- Aug 2024 - Mar 2025 | Remote

Head of engineering for Delivery Network Optimization at a platform handling millions of deliveries per month across 100+ European cities.

- Led 8 teams comprising approximately 40 engineers and managers, working with analysts, data scientists, and product and program managers.
- Led teams building routing and optimization systems to meet customer service-level agreements (SLAs).
- Oversaw estimated delivery and preparation-time models, mapping infrastructure, and administration interfaces for clients and internal operations.
- Helped guide teams through acquisition-related restructuring as Stuart reduced its company-wide workforce to 30% of its previous size.
## Senior Engineering Manager @ Stuart
-- Feb 2023 - Aug 2024 | Remote

Led engineering teams in Supply & Demand, responsible for courier incentives and demand management within Stuart's delivery network.

- Aligned operational stakeholders and engineering teams on supply-and-demand performance and customer SLA requirements.
## Engineering Manager @ Twitter
-- Aug 2021 - Feb 2023 | Remote

- Led 2 small-business advertising teams comprising approximately 12 engineers, delivering Simple Ads and Quick Promote.
- Simple Ads reached 9,000+ advertising accounts and 12,000+ campaigns, acquiring 4,400+ first-time advertisers between July and November 2022.
- Simple Ads rollout results showed a 14% ad revenue uplift after 50% rollout.
- Led the iOS Boost launch for Quick Promote, with a reported 30–40% annual revenue uplift attributed to the iOS relaunch.
- Managed hiring, career development, and engineering delivery across both teams.
## Tech Lead @ ThoughtWorks
-- Apr 2019 - Jul 2021 | Barcelona, Spain

- Led consulting teams and technical delivery for clients including ImmoScout, AutoScout, and Zalando's warehouse operations.
- Facilitated React/TypeScript trainings and tech leadership workshops.
## Senior Consultant @ ThoughtWorks
-- Jan 2017 - Apr 2019 | Barcelona, Spain

- Delivered and maintained critical services.
- Built client relationships and aligned strategy.
- Contributed to internal and external events.
## Head of Product Design @ Chalk
-- Aug 2015 - Jan 2017 | Barcelona, Spain

- Co-founded Chalk, a fantasy sports site.
- Led product design and frontend development, brand identity, and UI.
## API Solutions Engineer @ 3scale
-- May 2015 - Aug 2015 | Barcelona, Spain

- Led API implementations for high-profile launches using the 3Scale API Gateway.
- Managed inductions of external teams into our architecture, code, support, and training for integrations.
## Game Developer @ Akamon Entertainment
-- May 2013 - May 2015 | Barcelona, Spain

- Built social games in mundijuegos.com where we had a daily revenue of ~$50k in a platform of +11M users.
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## Standing Desk
Free, open-source iPhone app and Raycast extension for IKEA IDÅSEN standing desks. Local Bluetooth control, saved sitting and standing heights, and Siri and Shortcuts integration. Available on the App Store, with no account, cloud service, or tracking.
## Mana
Free, open-source AI subscription usage tracker for macOS and iPhone. The Mac menu-bar app and CLI track Codex, OpenCode Go, and Antigravity quotas; the iPhone app brings Codex and OpenCode Go usage to Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets. Distributed through Homebrew and the App Store.
## Hammerspace
Creator and author of a Spanish-language newsletter with 2,000+ subscribers, covering curiosities, internet culture, and humor.
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- Freelance developer and Adobe Flash instructor in Venezuela, delivering advergames and branded web experiences for local and regional clients.
- Built interactive marketing tools and Flash-based games for educational and commercial campaigns before transitioning to full-time software development.
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## Master in Cinematographic Direction
-- ESCAC, 2012

## Computer Science
-- Universidad Simón Bolívar, 2009
-- Thesis: Adaptive game environments based on player behavior. Exceptionally Good Mention
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- Siggraph Volunteer
- GIA USB (AI Group)
- CEIC USB
- JOINCIC Founder (Head of Image)
- Global Game Jam 2011 — Game Designer
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- Gamexpo, Caracas 2009 — Chester: Adaptive Storytelling
- JOINCIC, Caracas 2009 — Intelligent Environments for Videogames
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## AI Enablement & Consulting
-- Available for sessions and projects

I help teams and small businesses find where AI saves them time, then set it up so it holds.

- Intro session: 2 hours, remote
- Optimization proposal for your business
- Project-based implementation

Details and booking: cristiancaroli.com/ai
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Weight Lifting Video Game Development AI Cinema Sriracha
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