Hi, my name is

René.

I'm a seasoned freelance software engineer.

My main focus is on full-stack development of mobile and web apps, system integration and APIs, DevOps stuff, and technical product and project management. Besides that, I’m also working as a university lecturer and trainer.

René Wilby

About Me

I’m a generalist. In my professional career, I have already fulfilled many different roles. At heart, I was and still am a software engineer.

I’m curious and always eager to learn new things. I like to analyse complex problems and issues in order to design solutions that help people.

Here are a few technologies I've been working with recently:
  • Java, Kotlin & Spring (Boot, Data, Security)
  • JavaScript, React Native & Expo
  • TypeScript, React & Hilla
  • OpenAPI, REST & SOAP
  • OAuth, Keycloak & auth0
  • OpenShift, Kustomize & Docker
  • Jenkins & Tekton
  • Splunk & Dynatrace

Experience

Senior Software & DevOps Engineer - Versicherungskammer Bayern - Freelance contractor
01.2022 - present

Being part of a small agile product development team, owning several microservices serving as an integration layer for process automation with the claims settlement of a large public insurance company with 7.000+ employees in Munich (remote).

  • Design and development of containerized RESTful and SOAP microservices using Kotlin, Spring, Camunda, OpenAPI and PostgeSQL.
  • Strong focus on test-driven-development, high code coverage and test-automation using JUnit, Testcontainers, Wiremock and others.
  • Securing access of microservices using OAuth protocol, Keycloak, digital signatures and API gateways.
  • Responsibility for creating and maintaining of CI/CD tools and pipelines using Bitbucket, JIRA, Tekton, Jenkins, Gradle and others.
  • Responsibility for releasing, operating and monitoring of microservices using Kustomize, OpenShift, Splunk and Dynatrace.
  • Maintaining and improving the development environment using Ansible, Vagrant and Shell-Scripting.
Freelance Lecturer & Trainer - DHSH
09.2021 - present
  • Teaching mobile application development to students (B.Sc. Computer Science) at a local university using React Native, Expo and JavaScript. I give this course once a year.
  • Trainer for mobile application development using React Native, Expo and JavaScript. I give one or two training courses every year.
Co-Founder & Software Engineer - Timebook
10.2020 - 12.2021
  • Co-Founding of a local startup called “Timebook”, creating an app for personal communication, time and event management.
  • Owning the complete software development lifecycle, including the design and development of an iOS and Android app using React Native, Expo and JavaScript.
  • Responsibility for designing and developing of the corresponding backend using Express, JavaScript and MongoDB.
  • Responsibility for integrating a payment provider (Mollie) and various third-party APIs into the app and the backend.
Product Manager & Product Owner - FLS
10.2019 - 10.2020
  • Responsibility for product strategy, roadmap and requirement management process at FLS GmbH.
  • Supporting the transition to an agile product development process and establishing product ownership.
Previous - Vater Unternehmensgruppe
04.2011 - 09.2019
  • Business Unit Lead Software Development & Collaboration
    • Responsibility for leading a department of 25 employees.
  • Managing Consultant Mobile & Web
    • Conception and development of mobile and web apps
    • Architecture and technology consulting
    • System integration and API development
    • Process analysis and consulting
    • Sales support and creation of offers
    • Professional mentoring of colleagues and supervision of interns and students

Education

2010 - 2014
Master of Science Business Informatics
Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel
Final grade: 1.6
Focus areas: Software Engineering & Entrepreneurship
2007 - 2010
Bachelor of Science Business Informatics
Duale Hochschule Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel
Final grade: 1.7

Projects

React Native Expo JavaScript
Pocket Mirror
The Pocket Mirror app turns a smartphone into a digital mirror. It's free and open source. I created it as part of my lecturing.
Shell Expo
create-expo-app-post-setup
A handy shell script, that performs a few common setup steps after creating a new Expo app.

Contact

My inbox is always open. Whether you have a question or just want to say hi!