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Jevgenijs Spruzs

AI Product Owner • Enterprise AI Transformation • Multi-Model LLM Ecosystems • Developer Productivity • Senior Application Engineer
Location: Barcelona, Spain / EU Email: j.spruzhs@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jevgenijsspruzs

Professional Profile

Senior Application Engineer, AI Product Owner, and technology leader with extensive experience driving enterprise AI transformation, developer productivity platforms, fintech delivery, and cross-functional technology leadership.

Currently leading strategic AI transformation initiatives at NZZ across two critical enterprise pillars: (1) internal user and employee support transformation via intelligent conversational assistance and workflow automation, and (2) developer productivity transformation orchestrating multi-model LLM toolchains across engineering squads (Google Cloud, Gemini Enterprise, Antigravity, ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, and GitHub Enterprise).

Responsible for enterprise collaboration and developer platform governance including Atlassian, GitHub Enterprise, Slack, Gemini Enterprise, and Sentry, managing vendor integrations, access security, and AI agent frameworks.

Combining hands-on Agile product ownership (Scrum/Kanban), multi-vendor AI ecosystem governance, and systems engineering discipline, with a focus on scalable, secure, and user-centered AI product adoption.

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 & AI Transformation Lead

NZZ
June 2025 – Present

Leading enterprise AI transformation strategy, product ownership, and platform engineering for developer tooling and internal operations across the organization.

🤖 Generative AI Product Ownership & Transformation

  • AI Strategy & Capability Roadmapping: Define the product vision, capability backlogs, and multi-phase rollout roadmaps for enterprise-wide Generative AI adoption across business units and engineering teams.
  • Internal User Support Transformation: Lead the design and deployment of AI-powered support assistants and automated service workflows (integrated with Slack and Atlassian/Jira Service Management), accelerating internal knowledge retrieval and ticket deflection.
  • Developer Productivity & Engineering AI: Spearhead the rollout and enablement of next-generation AI coding tools across development squads, standardizing workflows with Google Cloud, Gemini Enterprise, Antigravity (Advanced Agentic Coding), ChatGPT, Anthropic (Claude), and GitHub Enterprise / Copilot.
  • Multi-Model LLM Governance & Security: Establish enterprise policies, data privacy boundaries, security controls, and cost-governance tracking for multi-vendor AI ecosystems (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Cloud Vertex/Gemini).
  • Agile Delivery & Adoption Metrics: Manage feature prioritization using Scrum/Kanban, run developer enablement workshops, conduct user journey interviews, and track adoption KPIs (developer velocity, cycle times, support deflection, and user satisfaction).

🛠️ Enterprise Tooling & Platform Ownership

  • Own and administer enterprise tooling platforms including Atlassian (Jira/Confluence), GitHub Enterprise, Slack, Gemini Enterprise, and Sentry.
  • Design automated integrations and AI agent workflows that bridge collaboration channels, CI/CD pipelines, issue tracking, and error observability.
  • Support repository hygiene, permissions, release workflows, and developer productivity patterns across distributed application squads.

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