Julanda Ndoj

Software developer · Founder · Product builder

Julanda Ndoj

I build reliable systems—from the first API to production.

Software developer working across backend architecture, APIs, data, asynchronous processing, automated testing, security, and cloud infrastructure.

I build web applications and backend systems with a focus on maintainable architecture, explicit boundaries, reliable integrations, and software that can be tested, deployed, and operated with confidence.

Software Developer
Backend · APIs · Architecture
Founder
Product · Ownership · Execution
Co-Founder
Malesoret.com
Explore my engineering flow Contact meJudo →

Italy · Albanian · Italian · English

About

I build software as systems — not isolated features.

Good software is more than a working interface.

It is the interaction between application code, APIs, data, asynchronous processes, authentication, testing, infrastructure, and the people who operate it.

My work spans that full path: from designing backend services and API contracts to working with databases, event-driven systems, automated testing, security boundaries, and cloud infrastructure.

I also build products of my own, bringing the same engineering discipline into product ownership and execution.

Engineering map

How I build software

A software system is a chain of decisions.

The map represents the engineering areas I work across — from building application logic to testing changes, securing access, connecting asynchronous services, and delivering software into production.

Scroll to walk the system ↓

A conceptual engineering map — not a diagram of any employer's architecture.

  1. 01 / 07 · Build

    Build

    Turning product requirements into maintainable application code.

    • PHPPHP
    • LVLaravel
    • SFSymfony
    • JSJavaScript
    • VUEVue.js
    • H5HTML5
    • C3CSS3

    I work across backend and web application development, building APIs, application services, interfaces, validation, persistence, and the supporting code required to turn requirements into reliable software.

    The focus is not simply on writing code, but on keeping responsibilities clear and changes manageable as an application grows.

    Request path

    1. Request received
    2. Validate
    3. Authorize
    4. Execute
    5. Persist
    Technology notes
    PHP
    Backend development language used across application and service development.
    Laravel
    Framework for building backend applications, APIs, application services, validation, persistence, and maintainable web systems.
    Symfony
    Framework used for structured backend and service-oriented development, with clear application boundaries and reusable components.
    Vue.js
    Frontend framework used to build interactive web interfaces that communicate with backend APIs.

  2. 02 / 07 · Architect

    Architect

    Designing boundaries before complexity becomes accidental.

    • APIREST APIs
    • MSMicroservices
    • DDDDDD
    • CQCQRS

    Architecture is about making responsibilities explicit.

    I work with domain-oriented boundaries, service separation, API contracts, and patterns such as DDD and CQRS where they provide practical value.

    The goal is to keep systems understandable and adaptable without introducing complexity simply for the sake of complexity.

    • Explicit boundariesKeep responsibilities clear between domains, services, and application layers.
    • Pragmatic complexityUse architectural patterns when they solve a real problem.
    • Clear contractsMake communication between components predictable and understandable.

  3. 03 / 07 · Data

    Data

    Reliable software depends on reliable data.

    • SQLMySQL

    Databases are part of the application design, not an afterthought.

    I work with relational data models, persistence, application-level validation, and the backend logic responsible for reading and writing data consistently.

    Technology notes
    MySQL
    Relational database technology used for application persistence and backend data workflows.

  4. 04 / 07 · Events

    Events

    When work does not need to happen in the same request, systems can communicate asynchronously.

    • KFApache Kafka

    I work with event-driven service flows where asynchronous communication helps separate responsibilities between components.

    The important engineering concerns include event boundaries, message handling, consumers, retries, idempotency, error handling, and observability.

    Representative flow

    1. Client / upstream service
    2. Application service
    3. Publish domain event
    4. Kafka
    5. Consume
    6. Service database
    7. Downstream action
    Technology notes
    Apache Kafka
    Event streaming platform used in asynchronous service flows and distributed application communication.

  5. 05 / 07 · Test

    Test

    Quality is built into the development process, not added after it.

    • PSPHPStan
    • PTPest
    • CYCypress
    • TDDTDD

    I use automated testing and static analysis as feedback mechanisms throughout development.

    Static analysis helps identify type and structural problems. Unit and feature tests verify application behaviour. End-to-end tests validate important browser workflows.

    The objective is not to maximise test counts. It is to create useful feedback around the behaviour and boundaries that matter.

    Representative flow

    1. Code change
    2. PHPStan
    3. Pest
    4. Cypress
    5. Review
    6. Release

    If a check fails

    1. Check fails
    2. Understand failure
    3. Fix
    4. Retest
    Technology notes
    PHPStan
    Static analysis for identifying type and structural problems before runtime.
    Pest
    PHP testing framework used for readable unit and application-level tests.
    Cypress
    End-to-end testing framework for validating important browser-based application flows.
    TDD
    A development approach that uses tests to help shape implementation and protect expected behaviour.

  6. 06 / 07 · Secure

    Secure

    Applications need clear boundaries around identity, access, and API traffic.

    • KCKeycloak
    • KGKong

    I have worked in environments where identity management and API gateway infrastructure form part of the application boundary.

    This includes working with Keycloak for identity and access management and Kong for API gateway and routing concerns.

    The focus is on understanding how authenticated requests move through trusted boundaries before reaching protected application services.

    Representative flow

    1. User / client
    2. Keycloak
    3. Access token
    4. Client
    5. Kong gateway
    6. Protected service
    7. Application data
    Technology notes
    Keycloak
    Identity and access management platform used for authentication and authorization workflows.
    Kong
    API gateway used for routing and managing API traffic at the service boundary.

  7. 07 / 07 · Deploy

    Deploy

    Software is not finished when it works locally.

    • AWSAWS

    The final step is getting software into an environment where it can be deployed, operated, and maintained.

    My technical experience includes working with AWS alongside backend applications, services, testing, and infrastructure concerns.

    Core idea

    1. Build
    2. Test
    3. Review
    4. Release
    5. Deploy
    6. Operate

Experience

Experience

My professional experience has developed across software development, backend engineering, web development, and earlier operational roles.

  1. Sep 2024 — Present

    Bene Assicurazioni · Milan

    Software Developer

    Software development within an insurance environment, working across backend application development and the engineering practices required to maintain reliable software systems.

    • Develop and maintain core web applications and REST APIs with Laravel and MySQL.
    • Enforce code quality through static analysis with PHPStan and test automation with Pest (unit/feature) and Cypress (E2E).
    • Build interactive, reactive front-end components with Vue.js.
    • Administer and deploy application services on AWS.

  2. Sep 2023 — Sep 2024

    Wefox · Milan

    Software Developer — Backend

    Backend-focused software development within a technology-driven insurance environment.

    • Engineered backend microservices within a distributed architecture using Symfony.
    • Implemented real-time asynchronous event streaming pipelines with Apache Kafka.
    • Managed identity and access management and API traffic routing with Keycloak and Kong API Gateway.
    • Applied DDD, CQRS and TDD to maintain domain isolation and system reliability.

  3. Jun 2020 — Sep 2023

    PressToday · Milan

    Web Developer

    Web development experience across application development and the technical foundations required to deliver maintainable web software.

    • Architected and maintained Laravel backend systems supporting core media tools.
    • Developed web scraping and data aggregation pipelines to automate content processing.
    • Refactored legacy code, optimized query execution and delivered new features in cross-functional teams.

  4. Dec 2019 — Jun 2020

    PressToday · Milan

    Web Developer — Internship

    Early professional experience in web development, establishing the foundation for subsequent software engineering work.

  5. Jan 2014 — Nov 2019

    Independent Family Market · Shkoder

    Retail Operations & Finance Lead

    Earlier professional experience combining operational responsibility, financial activities, and day-to-day business management.

  6. Sep 2013 — Jan 2014

    Shkolla Dituria · Shkoder

    Informatics / IT Educator

    Early professional experience in informatics and IT education.

Download CV

Founder / product builder

I don't only build software. I build products.

Software engineering and product ownership meet in the products I have helped build myself.

I bring the same focus on structure, execution, and maintainability to product work — from understanding the problem to making technical decisions and moving the product forward.

  • Co-founderV-01

    Malesoret.com

    Co-founded and involved in building a product from the ground up.

    Product details available on request.

  • Founder · OwnerV-02

    SSignal.me

    Founder and owner of an independent product.

    Product details available on request.

Engineering principles

How I think about engineering

  1. Design for change

    Software changes. Good architecture makes the next change easier without turning today's requirements into tomorrow's constraints.

  2. Test where it matters

    Tests should provide useful confidence around business behaviour, application boundaries, and critical user flows.

  3. Make boundaries explicit

    Clear boundaries make systems easier to reason about, test, change, and operate.

  4. Choose pragmatic complexity

    Architecture should solve real problems. Patterns are tools, not goals.

  5. Operate what you build

    Software engineering continues after deployment. Reliability includes understanding how software behaves in real environments.

Reference

Technical toolbox

Languages & Frameworks

  • PHP
  • Laravel
  • Symfony
  • JavaScript
  • Vue.js
  • HTML5
  • CSS3

Architecture

  • Microservices
  • Event-driven systems
  • Domain-Driven Design
  • CQRS
  • REST APIs

Data & Messaging

  • MySQL
  • Apache Kafka

Quality

  • TDD
  • Pest
  • Cypress
  • PHPStan

Cloud, Identity & Gateways

  • AWS
  • Keycloak
  • Kong API Gateway

Education

  • MSc Business InformaticsEuropean University of Tirana · 2014 — 2016
  • BSc Information TechnologyUniversiteti i Shkodrës “Luigj Gurakuqi” · 2010 — 2014

Languages

  • Albanian
  • Italian
  • English

Judo

Discipline beyond code

Before software, there was judo. Competing as Julanda Bacaj, I became a seven-time Albanian national champion and represented Albania at the first Youth Olympic Games — training that taught discipline, consistency, patience and long-term development.

Event
Youth Olympic Games · Singapore 2010
Role
Flag bearer for Albania
Competed
Girls' −63 kg · Mixed team event
Titles
7× Albanian national champion
Judo match on a yellow mat: a judoka in blue and one in white mid-throw, Youth Olympic Games, Singapore 2010
SINGAPORE · 22 AUG 2010GIRLS' −63 KG Image based on AP Photo / Wong Maye-E via Alamy ↗

Contact

Let's build something reliable.

Have a product to build, a backend system to improve, or an engineering problem worth solving?

Let's talk.