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Jevgenijs Spruzs

Senior Application Engineer • Enterprise Tooling • AI Automation • Linux Infrastructure • DevOps Foundations
Location: Barcelona, Spain / EU Email: j.spruzhs@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jevgenijsspruzs

Professional Profile

Senior Application Engineer and technology leader with extensive experience in application engineering, enterprise tooling, fintech platforms, product delivery, integration architecture, and cross-functional technology leadership.

Currently working as a Senior Application Engineer at NZZ, responsible for enterprise platforms and developer/productivity tooling including Atlassian, GitHub Enterprise, Slack, Gemini Enterprise, Sentry, AI agent integrations, and automation workflows.

In parallel, building a focused Linux Infrastructure and DevOps track through the Darkstar Homelab Infrastructure project: a Docker-based Linux home server environment used to practice service operations, private networking, internal DNS, reverse proxying, Git-based deployment, monitoring, documentation, and reliability habits.

Combining senior application engineering, enterprise tooling ownership, AI automation, and hands-on infrastructure practice, with a long-term interest in Linux infrastructure, research computing, and scientific infrastructure environments.

Darkstar Homelab Infrastructure

A Docker-based Linux home server environment used to practice service operations, private networking, internal DNS, reverse proxying, Git workflows, monitoring, documentation, and deployment discipline.

Environment Parameters

  • Linux Host: Dedicated server node running under hostname darkstar.
  • Main Service Root: Structured directories mapped at /home/xaljava/docker-services.
  • Container Platform: Managed service containers deploying through Docker Compose.
  • Network Resolution: Private Tailscale VPN overlay and local recursive AdGuard Home DNS (.home.arpa).
  • Reverse Proxy Edge: Local HTTP/HTTPS hostname routing through Nginx Proxy Manager.
  • Staging Revision: Private Git repositories hosted locally on Gitea.
  • Verification Telemetry: Continuous health checks via Uptime Kuma and live logs using Dozzle.

Infrastructure Practices

  • Organizing Docker services into structured service directories and avoiding direct edits to live website folders.
  • Separating source repositories from deployed static files and deploying with a repeatable server-side script.
  • Using private access networks instead of unnecessary public exposure.
  • Creating internal service names through DNS rewrites and routing internal services through a reverse proxy layer.
  • Checking service status, logs, and availability after changes, and maintaining rigorous documentation.

Portfolio Case Studies

1. Darkstar Homelab Infrastructure

A Docker-based Linux home server used to practice service operations, private networking, monitoring, documentation, and infrastructure reliability.

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2. Git-Based Website Deployment Workflow

A local-to-server deployment workflow for developing a static website on a MacBook, pushing changes to Gitea, pulling them on the Linux server, and deploying through a controlled script.

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3. Private Access with Tailscale and Internal DNS

A homelab networking case study using Tailscale, AdGuard Home DNS rewrites, home.arpa hostnames, and Nginx Proxy Manager to access Docker services through private/internal paths.

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4. Scientific Computing Practice Lab

A planned learning environment for research-computing foundations, including scheduler concepts, reproducible workflows, batch-style jobs, logs, monitoring, and documentation.

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Professional Experience

Senior Application Engineer

NZZ
June 2025 – Present

Working as a Senior Application Engineer responsible for enterprise application platforms, developer tooling, collaboration systems, AI-enabled workflows, and automation.

  • Responsible for enterprise tooling platforms including Atlassian, GitHub Enterprise, Slack, Gemini Enterprise, and Sentry.
  • Support and improve internal application engineering workflows across collaboration, source control, observability, automation, and AI-assisted development.
  • Develop and maintain automations that reduce manual operational work and improve reliability of internal processes.
  • Work with multiple AI agent integrations and AI-assisted engineering workflows.
  • Support GitHub Enterprise usage, repository workflows, permissions, and developer productivity patterns.
  • Support Atlassian workflows, project structures, application configuration, and automation use cases.
  • Support Slack-based collaboration workflows and integrations.
  • Support Sentry as part of application observability and error-tracking workflows.
  • Help connect application engineering, platform tooling, automation, and operational reliability.

Senior Product Manager

Blackcatcard
July 2023 – May 2025
  • Led cross-functional delivery across IT, Finance, Risk, and Data departments.
  • Coordinated planning, execution, and delivery of fintech product and operational projects.
  • Troubleshot and resolved critical production issues, contributing to reduced downtime and improved service continuity.
  • Used Scrum and Kanban practices to improve project workflows and delivery predictability.
  • Identified and implemented process improvements with measurable cost-saving impact.

CEO

GLC KODEX
April 2013 – Present
  • Lead custom software delivery for fintech and business platforms.
  • Coordinate product, technical, and stakeholder priorities.
  • Build and manage delivery capabilities across technology and business functions.
  • Support client-facing solution design, implementation planning, and delivery execution.
  • Maintain focus on reliable, secure, and business-aligned software systems.

Chief Technology Officer

BAS World
January 2012 – July 2023
  • Built and managed a remote development team of 16 developers.
  • Designed and implemented an internal ERP system covering finance, HR, workshops, fixed assets, invoicing, and warehouse management.
  • Led digital transformation from offline operations to online platform-based business processes.
  • Improved technology delivery, stakeholder communication, and operational alignment.
  • Supported systems that enabled marketplace operations, inspections, media, logistics, and customer-facing workflows.

Chief Technology Officer

TGR Payments
January 2019 – January 2022
  • Improved transparency and delivery processes across IT and business departments.
  • Established a more stable and predictable delivery model for technology teams.
  • Coordinated external vendor relationships and technology partnerships.
  • Supported payment platform execution and operational delivery improvements.

Owner

Era Solutions
January 2012 – January 2022
  • Founded and led a web development business.
  • Managed developers and customer relationships.
  • Delivered custom web systems and business applications.
  • Supported company growth and client delivery.

Chief Technology Officer / Co-Founder

Car Guru
May 2017 – December 2019
  • Established a lean development team.
  • Supported product launch and technology direction.
  • Balanced delivery speed, cost efficiency, and product quality.
  • Contributed to building a technology platform for urban mobility services.

Chief Information Officer

Sun Finance
December 2016 – June 2018
  • Built and led an IT department of 100+ professionals from the ground up.
  • Partnered with Risk, Data, Marketing, and HR teams.
  • Supported rapid product launches across multiple countries.
  • Helped establish technology delivery capacity for fast-growing lending operations.

Chief Technology Officer

eFaqt / StudySmart
August 2011 – January 2018
  • Built and led a development team of 9.
  • Improved engineering productivity and feature delivery.
  • Supported scalable technology development for learning products.
  • Coordinated product and engineering priorities.

Chief Technology Officer

Albrecht Solutions
March 2010 – December 2011
  • Designed and implemented customized ERP systems.
  • Analyzed and optimized business processes.
  • Improved development cost efficiency through team building, onboarding, and Agile methods.
  • Supported timely delivery of business software systems.

Earlier Experience

  • Decode Car Hire LTD • Chief Technology Officer • Feb 2009 – Mar 2010
  • Publishing House "DIENA" • Web Development Team Leader / Project Manager • Aug 2008 – Apr 2009
  • SIA ADMI RIGA • Agile Consultant • Apr 2008 – Aug 2008
  • IQLabs • Developer • 2007 – 2008
  • Interneta Pasaule • Developer • 2005 – 2007
  • Lines • Developer • 2003 – 2005