Tolga Atam

İstanbul · Türkiye · +90 (555) 607-0976 · tolga.atam@globalmaksimum.com

I am experienced in all aspects of mobile/web engineering, most notably back end engineering, database/software architecture and API security.

I developed my own projects and many freelance projects between 2017 and 2020. I proudly co-founded Beynex in 2020. Since 2024, I have been working at Global Maksimum, a pioneer of Big Data in Türkiye.

Skills

Programming Languages & Tools
  • Go: I am a strong user of Go (Golang). I develop performant back end applications in Go with Echo framework. I have my own micro closed-source packages for a lot of things; such as automatic error generation and session management.
  • Java & Kotlin: Due to Global Maksimum being a big data company, I have worked on various Java back-end applications. Over time, we became interested in Kotlin and started using it for new projects, even converting some older Java code to Kotlin. Its fluent and concise syntax, functional programming constructs and Java interoperability played a big role in this. I used to think no language could surpass Go for me, but Kotlin is starting to challenge that belief.
  • Node.js: Before switching to Go, I used Node.js for 3 years in more than 10 projects. I used Express framework but experimented with Koa/Hapi/Fastify too. I had my own micro closed-source packages on Node.js too; for session management, validation, financial calculations etc. My Node.js journey started with Javascript, but I switched to TypeScript - once it became popular - for its type safety and better IDE support.
  • Relational and Analytical Databases: Having also worked with NoSQL solutions, I generally prefer relational databases; because relational models fit the nature of most of the projects better. I have developed with MySQL, Postgres and MariaDB so far. I had the chance to work with analytical databases (Vertica and SingleStore) at Global Maksimum.
  • NoSQL Databases: I developed a couple of projects with MongoDB. I utilize Redis for most projects as a cache layer, rate limiter and inter-server pub/sub. I have experience with ElasticSearch for free text search features.
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS): Apart from very small projects deployed on Heroku, I deploy all my services/applications on AWS. I use the following AWS services with great proficiency: S3, Elastic Load Balancer, Elastic Beanstalk, Lambda, EC2, EventBridge, SES, RDS, DynamoDB, CodePipeline, WAF&Shield, CloudFront, Route53, ElastiCache, ElasticSearch.
  • Kubernetes & Docker: At Global Maksimum, all deployments are strictly managed through Kubernetes, which has allowed me to develop extensive hands-on experience with it. I was already familiar with Docker and Docker Compose from my previous work.
  • Python: I have known Python since 2013 and taught it at Sabancı University between 2017 and 2021. I don't have full knowledge on some very advanced features of the language; however I successfully use Python for general-purpose programming and data-oriented applications.
  • React (with NextJS): Starting from my summer internship in 2016, I have known and used React for web SPA development. In last year, I had a chance to work with NextJS, which made me possible to build more performant and SEO-friendly websites, unlike traditional SPAs. I naturally have a good command of HTML5, CSS3, JS.
  • React Native (with Expo): Starting from my first full-time employment in 2017 at Proente, I have known and used React Native for iOS/Android development. I am adept at developing React Native applications with advanced features like native animations, internationalization (i18n), complex routing etc. I am able to craft "serviceable" visual designs; albeit am I not a designer of any kind.
  • C++, Cuda-C++: During my bachelor and graduate studies, I got constantly involved in research projects. In those projects, I developed new algorithms/approaches for speed optimizations and implemented them in C++ for CPUs and Cuda-C++ for Nvidia GPUs. These implementations incorporated complex data structures and ran upto hundreds of thousands of threads in parallel with high efficiency.
Other Skills
  • Natural Languages: English: Full Professional Proficiency   Turkish: Native   German: Beginner
  • Operating Systems: I use MacOS daily and like it for development work. I have used Windows and Linux for quite a long time, as well. I can work with and develop on any of these three major platforms.
  • Microsoft Office: I know and use Office applications (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) as much as I need them. I also like using Google Docs suite, too.
  • Driving: I hold B2 driving license (and like driving a lot).
  • Music Production and Composition: As an active bass player, I have a strong music theory background. Thanks to this, I can compose musical pieces in few genres. I have a small home studio setup, and I produce the tracks by using a mix of software instruments and real instruments.

Work Experience

Senior Software Engineer

Global Maksimum

Global Maksimum is a leading Big Data consultancy firm in Türkiye, helping its customers in data warehousing, ETL/ELT processes, reporting, database optimization/management etc. At Global Maksimum, I am mainly responsible from the development of an in-house data platform and back end development for a project requested by one of our customers, which is a huge financial institution in İstanbul.

November 2023 - Present

Co-Founder

Beynex

Beynex is a startup that develops a mobile/tablet application that tracks the cognitive status of users and enhance their cognitive well-being by pointing out risky lifestyle choices continuously. I was responsible for back end development and overall technical decision-making. I assisted development of AI/ML features and front-end work when needed. Additionally, I composed and produced musical pieces for well-being, meditation, sleep-aid parts of the application.

March 2020 - November 2023

Computer Science / Data Analytics Teaching Assistant

Sabancı University

I taught Computer Science undergraduate lab courses at the Facult of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Nowadays, I assist the teaching of Data Analytics education programs for professionals, whose lead instructor is İnanç Arın.

2016 - 2021

Co-Owner and Back end Developer

Laf App

Laf is an innovative poetry platform, where emotions of poems and users are reflected through colors to create a beautiful user experience, assisted by smart recommendation algorithms. It has debuted several times on Google Play Store and Apple App Store as "App of the Day". I developed the back end of Laf while Saim Emre Şahiner (who was also a co-founder of mine @Beynex) designed and developed the front end.

June 2018 - March 2020

Mobile Engineer and Founding Member

Proente

Proente is an IOT SaaS company that tracks, reports and optimizes automatized production processes in factories. During my employment of 3 months, I developed two separate mobile apps in React Native from scratch. I made most of the visual design decisions, as well.

June 2017 - September 2017

Projects

Following are the most notable projects that I have worked on so far. It is not a complete list of all my projects.
  • Beynex : Apart from running the startup during its first year, my main responsibility at Beynex was technical decision-making and back end development. I developed the back end mainly in Go, as a monolith. However, some other tasks were developed in Python/Node.js as AWS Lambda routines. Examples for such tasks that I programmed as Lambda routines were: PDF Generation (Python, ReportLab), Neural Network based Prediction (Python, Tensorflow), Image Processing/Computer Vision (Python, OpenCV), Push Notifications (Node.js, Expo Push Service), Payments (Node.js, Iyzico), Image Resizing (Python, Pillow). Redis, MySQL, S3 and DynamoDB were used for temporary and permanent data/file storage. The API had around 100 public endpoints and around 15 background jobs run in the background periodically. The back end supported internationalization (i18n), timezone awareness and a centralized error handling. The system was integrated with IpApi, Google Maps, QuickChart, Iyzico and RevenueCat payment systems, and Expo Push Notification system. Media files were served through CloudFront CDN that was assigned to a custom subdomain.
  • Speak : A campus based university social media initiative.. I led the technological operations/decisions and back end development as a founding member. I developed the back end single-handedly and used the following technology stack: Node.js, MongoDB, Redis, ElasticSearch. Deployments were done on Amazon AWS. The mobile front end was developed in React Native / Expo and I partially engaged in the development of it, as well. I developed a narrow web panel using React and BootStrap, too.
  • Akbank Hackathon 2020 : We won Akbank's Hackathon 2020 with our project "Merhaba Komşum" (Eng. "Welcome, my Neighbor"). The project aimed to detect bank customers who relocate and offer them discounts from the SME's of the new neighborhood. I participated in ideation and developed the machine learning technique for relocation detection.
  • Laf : I developed the back end application for Laf in Node.js. I used Express for routing, MariaDB as the main database, Redis for caching and rate limiting. Deployments were done on Amazon AWS. I also developed an admin web panel using React and BootStrap within this project.
  • Dokuz8 Media Agency Mobile Application: We developed a software system for Dokuz8 Media Agency to collect reports/news from the field and publish it to social media in a fast pace. The system included a mobile application for reporters (developed with React Native) and a web panel for editors (developed with React/AntDesign). I developed the back end service for this system in Node.js. The back end had to handle additional tasks such as image optimization and video processing. I used FFMpeg with a stable message queue for these extra tasks. On top of that, the application had one-way and two-way real time messaging features with role management requirements. I picked MySQL as the main database engine. Deployments were done on Amazon AWS again.
  • Augenland Hospital Mobile Application : We developed a software system for Augenland Hospital in Germany. The system included a mobile application for patients (developed with React Native) and a web panel for the secretariat (developed with React/BootStrap). I developed the back end service for this system in Node.js, by the help of Parse Server and MongoDB. I also developed the web panel in this project.

Education

Sabanci University

Master of Science
Computer Science and Engineering
Full Scholarship

GPA: 3.91

2017 - 2020

Sabanci University

Bachelor of Science
Computer Science and Engineering
Full Scholarship

GPA: 3.84

2013 - 2017

Univerza v Mariboru

Erasmus+ Exchange Programme
2016

Hüseyin Avni Sözen Anatolian High School

High School (with English prep.)

GPA: 89 / 100

2008 - 2013

Awards & Achievements

  • Akbank Hackathon 2020 - 1st Place Winner
  • Sabancı University Bachelor Scholarship Programme - Full Scholarship
  • Sabancı University Masters Scholarship Programme - Full Scholarship
  • İstanbul Technical University Dijifikir Startup Contest 2017 - 1st Place (with our project: Speak)
  • Published 3 academic papers
  • TÜBİTAK Research Scholarship during my Bachelor study
  • Sabancı University Teaching Awards 2020 - Best Teaching Assistant 2nd Place
  • Sabancı University Teaching Awards 2019 - Best Teaching Assistant 2nd Place
  • PepsiCO Hackathon 2022 - 3rd Place Winner
  • Pasha Hackathon 2022 - 3rd Place Winner
  • 15 LinkedIn Skill Badges Earned
  • MUNIST 2015 - Outstanding Delegate Award
  • Jury Special Award at Kartal Drama Contest 2006

Interests

Apart from being a software engineer, I enjoy music the most. During high school and early university years, I played the bass in rock bands and performed live tens of times in local pubs. During late university years, I learned a little bit of DJ'ing and music production. I picked the bass back up recently, and played a couple of shows with Otokoç Band. We are in the process of releasing a single and music video. Lastly, I write some music in my free time, whose genre may range from Classical to Rock, and even to HipHop.

I see Pink Floyd, Camel and Rainbow as great influences to my life. I enjoy listening to most classical rock work from 70's and 80's. I owe my musical taste to David Gilmour's guitar playing.

At elementary and high schools, I attended theatre clubs of the respective schools and performed in plays, which were exhibited more than 30 times in total.

Although playing it for years on streets as a child, I did not have much talent and entusiasm in football. However, I found great excitement in basketball in high school years, which led me to attend a local club for training and a couple of formal matches. I still play it with my friends for fun and watch EuroLeague when I bump into on TV. I used to watch NBA regularly at high school, but I like EuroLeague more now. I also took golf lessons during the pandemic and quite liked it.

I broadcasted radio shows in our university radio club (RadyoSU). My shows mostly were about music and the history of rock bands. The last show I broadcasted featured the university professors, which became a big hit.

I attended Model United Nations (MUN) conferences during my Bachelor years. In my last conference (HASALMUN 2016), I was a member the organizing team as an academical writer and advisor.