TORCESCU.COM

A career across the whole system

Architecture, software, infrastructure and customer work have developed together throughout my career. Explore employment, client projects and product engineering, with the available dates and contributions for each entry.

Open an entry to read its contributions and available dates, or use Expand all to read the complete history.

AcronisCode · DevOps · ArchitectureSenior Software Developer / DevOpsFebruary 2022 – August 2026

Bucharest, Romania

Built an internal UI performance-testing application from scratch and evolved it into a reusable execution and diagnostics platform. Combined browser evidence and worker controls with safety-gated reliability workflows, operating-system provisioning and root-cause investigation.

Key contributions

  • Built a web/API execution platform with schedulers, RabbitMQ workers, managed credentials and browser evidence, connecting test runs to frontend and backend investigation.
  • Designed chaos and incident-reproduction workflows across Kubernetes and VMs with diagnostics, recovery and rollback controls.
  • Automated network-boot and UEFI/iPXE provisioning with Linux Kickstart and Windows WinPE, alongside operational root-cause investigation.

Full responsibilities

Built an internal UI Performance Testing application from scratch, then evolved the runner into a reusable execution and diagnostics platform with web/API services, a Vue interface, schedulers, RabbitMQ workers and reporting.

Developed composable execution flows, managed-credential workflows and worker controls. Browser automation and evidence included Playwright, Lighthouse, screenshots, video and HAR data, with earlier versions using Puppeteer.

Connected test results to investigation and remediation across frontend and backend behavior. Worked with MariaDB/MySQL, report storage, ELK and Grafana to help turn a slow or failing interaction into an actionable engineering investigation.

Designed safety-gated chaos and incident-reproduction workflows across Kubernetes and virtual machines, using Chaos Mesh, k6, Ansible and Jenkins with diagnostics, recovery and rollback controls. Earlier work included Chaos Toolkit.

Built network-boot and operating-system provisioning with iPXE/PXE, Samba, TFTP and Caddy. Created Linux Kickstart automation and custom Windows PE images with drivers, and developed containerized UEFI/iPXE provisioning.

Investigated operational problems including excessive VM IOPS, DHCP failures and lease recovery from ARP tables. Built and maintained Ansible automation and contributed architecture reviews, root-cause analysis, troubleshooting and mentoring.

Explored action-centric frontend observability as a proof of concept and MCP/spec-driven AI-assisted engineering as a development practice.

Technology context Node.js · Express.js · Vue.js · RabbitMQ · MariaDB/MySQL · Playwright · Lighthouse · Puppeteer · ELK · Grafana · NGINX · Supervisord · Docker · Kubernetes · Chaos Mesh · Chaos Toolkit · k6 · Jenkins · Ansible · Python · Bash · Virtuozzo · iPXE · Kickstart · WinPE

OracleCloud architecture · Automation · Customer deliveryPrincipal Cloud SpecialistSeptember 2020 – February 2022

Bucharest, Romania

Helped independent software vendors move on-premises workloads to OCI, translating customer constraints into architecture choices and working automation. Tested and demonstrated provisioning assets, incorporated feedback and stayed involved through handover and early adoption.

Key contributions

  • Reviewed requested architectures against business and technical constraints, proposing alternatives where they better fit the workload.
  • Implemented and tested infrastructure provisioning and bootstrap workflows with Terraform, Ansible, Cloud-Init and Bash.
  • Demonstrated migration assets to customers, incorporated feedback and supported delivery and early adoption while remaining hands-on.

Full responsibilities

Gathered business and technical requirements through customer conversations and collaboration with sales, cloud specialists and customer engineering.

Reviewed requested architectures, challenged assumptions constructively and proposed alternatives that better matched the workload and delivery constraints.

Implemented infrastructure provisioning and bootstrap workflows using Terraform, Ansible, Cloud-Init and Bash. Tested the migration assets and refined them before customer handover.

Prepared technical presentations and demonstrations, incorporated customer feedback, delivered scripts and stayed involved during early adoption, including follow-up after delivery.

Supported colleagues with technical questions while keeping a hands-on role in solution implementation.

Technology context Oracle Cloud Infrastructure · Terraform · Ansible · Cloud-Init · Bash · Linux

BunnyshellReliability · Security · Cloud operationsSite Reliability EngineeringSeptember 2019 – August 2020

Bucharest, Romania

Built resource-aware service configuration and a managed Kibana service on FreeBSD, alongside production troubleshooting and on-call response. Combined customer architecture advice and junior-colleague support with internal penetration testing and platform hardening.

Key contributions

  • Implemented a managed Kibana service on FreeBSD and tuned application, database and messaging services to the resources available.
  • Participated in on-call and production troubleshooting, supported customers and junior colleagues, and advised prospects on application and cloud architecture.
  • Performed internal penetration testing and platform hardening.

Full responsibilities

Implemented a managed Kibana service on FreeBSD and tuned operating-system settings for the service environment.

Built resource-aware configuration tuning for MySQL, PHP-FPM, Apache, NGINX, Redis, MongoDB, RabbitMQ and related services, connecting service configuration to the resources available.

Participated in on-call response and production troubleshooting, helped customers investigate issues and mentored junior colleagues.

Joined prospect meetings as a pre-sales specialist and advised on application and cloud architecture.

Performed internal penetration testing and platform hardening.

Technology context FreeBSD · Linux · PHP · Symfony · Python · Bash · Kibana · MySQL · PHP-FPM · Apache · NGINX · Redis · MongoDB · RabbitMQ

Avira RomaniaAPIs · Payments · PerformanceProgrammerJune 2018 – September 2019

Bucharest, Romania

Developed account, licensing and payment software for My Account & Licensing, covering purchases, upgrades and renewals. Profiled PHP and SQL behavior, improved queries and caching, and implemented Kafka workflows and S3 email archiving with EC2 instance-profile authentication.

Key contributions

  • Developed account and licensing APIs and worked on purchase and payment integrations involving Cleverbridge, Google and Apple.
  • Profiled PHP behavior and complex SQL, rewrote MySQL queries and added caching to improve slow actions, while supporting the MySQL 5.6-to-5.7 migration.
  • Implemented Kafka read/write integration and Selligent email delivery, and built S3 email archiving using EC2 instance-profile authentication.

Full responsibilities

Developed and enhanced account and licensing APIs within Avira Customer Connect, supporting license generation, account security, payments, upgrades and renewals.

Worked on payment and purchase integrations involving Cleverbridge, Google, Apple and other providers.

Profiled PHP application behavior and complex SQL queries. Rewrote MySQL queries and added caching to improve slow actions, and supported the MySQL 5.6-to-5.7 migration.

Implemented Kafka read/write integration for internal operations and integrated Selligent templates and API calls for email delivery.

Built email archiving in AWS S3 using EC2 instance-profile authentication.

Improved Docker development environments and helped colleagues resolve debugging, integration and local-environment problems.

Technology context PHP 7 · Python · MySQL 5.6/5.7 · RabbitMQ · Kafka · Memcached · Docker · AWS S3 · EC2 instance profiles · Selligent

Co-FactorPlatform architecture · AWS orchestration · Enterprise integrationsTechnology ManagerNovember 2015 – November 2016; March 2017 – June 2018

Bucharest, Romania

Combined core PHP platform architecture, AWS Elastic Beanstalk scaling and orchestration, and enterprise integrations with Active Directory/LDAP, AD FS and SOAP. Worked hands-on across application development, performance, security, infrastructure, technical guidance and customer delivery during two separate Co-Factor engagements.

Key contributions

  • Designed and implemented a Phalcon PHP platform core and built Elastic Beanstalk scaling automation with SNS-backed multi-worker email processing.
  • Worked on enterprise integrations with Active Directory/LDAP, AD FS and SOAP across the two Co-Factor engagements.
  • Combined enterprise integration and cross-layer performance work with hardened environments, replication, backups, monitoring and hands-on guidance for colleagues and customers.

Full responsibilities

November 2015 – November 2016

Integrated Active Directory/LDAP and SOAP web services, and delivered PHP, MySQL, HTML and JavaScript features and fixes, including work in CodeIgniter.

Profiled performance across application, database, web-server and operating-system layers. Tuned FreeBSD, NGINX and MariaDB environments.

Built and hardened FreeBSD, CentOS and Red Hat environments using pf, PHP/PHP-FPM, NGINX and secure configuration practices.

Performed penetration testing and vulnerability research with Burp Suite, Metasploit, OWASP ZAP and Kali tooling.

Set up MySQL replication, rsync-based backups, Cacti/Nagios monitoring and SMS/email alerts. Worked with AWS, VMware and VirtualBox environments.

Built office VPN access, secure outgoing connectivity and Seafile-based file sharing.

Supported customer relationships, sales and technical meetings; helped internal and customer engineering teams and conducted technical interviews.

March 2017 – June 2018

Designed and implemented core architecture for a new internal-communication and performance-management platform using Phalcon PHP.

Developed modules and features in an internal training application using Symfony 3.

Created AWS Elastic Beanstalk configuration and scripts for scaling and orchestration. Built a Symfony integration for SNS-backed email processing with multiple workers.

Implemented in-browser video recording using JavaScript, HTML and PHP.

Built a configurable Bash/FFmpeg conversion worker. It selected work from multiple MySQL tables, imported video through HTTP, S3, SFTP or local storage, converted it to MP4, exported the result and updated database state.

Helped colleagues with architecture questions, difficult MySQL queries and production issues. Worked with customer requirements and delivery constraints to guide practical technical decisions.

Technology context PHP · CodeIgniter · MySQL/MariaDB · FreeBSD · CentOS · Red Hat · NGINX · PHP-FPM · pf · Active Directory · AD FS · LDAP · SOAP · AWS · VMware · VirtualBox · Seafile · Cacti · Nagios · rsync · Burp Suite · Metasploit · OWASP ZAP · Symfony 3 · Phalcon · MySQL · JavaScript · Bash · FFmpeg · AWS Elastic Beanstalk · SNS · S3 · SFTP

Cornerstone Technologies InternationalApplication security · Solution architecture · AWSSecurity Researcher / Senior ProgrammerApril 2015 – October 2016

Bucharest, Romania

Combined application-security research with hands-on solution architecture and customer delivery. Built a configurable formulas engine for a customer platform and designed an elastic AWS environment for an e-commerce product, alongside VPN design and remediation work.

Key contributions

  • Investigated previously unidentified vulnerabilities, reported findings and remediation recommendations to developers, and designed VPN architecture for business applications.
  • Made solution-architecture and technology choices with a US customer, developed a configurable formulas engine and improved application security and server performance.
  • Designed horizontal scaling on AWS using Elastic Beanstalk, Aurora/RDS, ElastiCache, EFS and EC2, with monitoring and development-team support.

Full responsibilities

Investigated previously unidentified vulnerabilities in company products, reported findings to development teams, recommended remediations and performed application penetration testing.

Designed VPN architecture for business applications.

For a US medical/customer platform, made solution-architecture and technology choices, worked directly with the customer, developed features and fixes, built a configurable formulas engine, and improved application security and server performance using PHP, Laravel and MySQL.

Designed a horizontally scalable AWS environment for an e-commerce product using Elastic Beanstalk, Aurora/RDS, ElastiCache, EFS and EC2, with capacity changes, monitoring and development-team support.

Kept customer communication connected to implementation and operations.

Technology context PHP · Laravel · MySQL · AWS Elastic Beanstalk · Aurora · RDS · ElastiCache · EFS · EC2 · VPN · Application security

dcs plusPHP · MySQL · Enterprise applicationsPHP ProgrammerSeptember 2014 – March 2015

Bucharest, Romania

Developed features and resolved defects in AIDA, an enterprise inventory and distribution application for tour operators. Worked across backend logic, database access and web interfaces using PHP, MySQL and Smarty.

Key contributions

  • Delivered features and fixes across PHP backend logic, MySQL data access and Smarty-based web interfaces in AIDA.

Full responsibilities

Worked across backend logic, database access and web interfaces in AIDA, the Advanced Inventory and Distribution Application.

Delivered PHP and MySQL application changes with Smarty templates, Memcached, LESS, HTML/CSS and JavaScript.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · MySQL · Memcached · LESS · HTML/CSS · JavaScript

Positronic Labs SRLArchitecture · Backend · InfrastructureCTO

Bucharest, Romania

Designed the architecture and built backend and infrastructure capabilities for Conversion Network, a website-building and marketing-automation startup. Combined a custom PHP framework and AWS services with caching, hosted email and coordination with design/frontend collaborators.

Key contributions

  • Built the custom PHP application and designed AWS infrastructure spanning RDS, DynamoDB, ElastiCache, Route 53, S3 and CloudFront, with query/template caching and regional DNS routing.
  • Integrated ClickBank and built marketing and hosted-email capabilities, including email account management, webmail, newsletters and autoresponders.
  • Selected technologies and coordinated architecture and workflow with design/frontend collaborators while developing features and improving security and performance.

Full responsibilities

Built a custom PHP framework and application using Smarty, MySQL and DynamoDB for a platform spanning page building, hosting, domain setup, short URLs, lead-capture forms and customer data.

Integrated ClickBank and worked on marketing capabilities including semi-automated advertising workflows, email marketing, newsletters and autoresponders.

Built hosted-email capabilities with account management and integrated webmail, using Dovecot, Postfix and Mandrill.

Designed AWS infrastructure using EC2/FreeBSD, NGINX/PHP-FPM, RDS, DynamoDB, ElastiCache, Route 53, S3 and CloudFront. Applied query/template caching, regional DNS routing and CDN/object storage.

Coordinated architecture and workflow with design/frontend collaborators, selected technologies, developed features and fixes, and improved security and performance.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · MySQL · DynamoDB · FreeBSD · NGINX · PHP-FPM · EC2 · RDS · ElastiCache · Route 53 · S3 · CloudFront · Dovecot · Postfix · Mandrill

RedShift IT SRLProduct engineering · Security · OperationsFounder / Solution Architect2010–present

Bucharest, Romania

Built and operated RoTunneling and designed and built Oameni, connecting application architecture, infrastructure, payments and customer workflows. Alongside product work, delivered penetration testing, vulnerability reporting and security/infrastructure consulting.

Key contributions

  • Built RoTunneling customer/admin applications, payment and invoicing workflows, RADIUS/MySQL authentication and VPN/client infrastructure, then operated releases, monitoring, billing and support.
  • Designed and built Oameni across product, application/backend architecture, APIs, infrastructure, security and operations for participant and organizer workflows.
  • Delivered penetration testing and vulnerability investigation through proof-of-concept preparation, reporting and remediation recommendations, alongside security/infrastructure consulting.

Full responsibilities

Founded RoTunneling, a commercial VPN service, and designed and built Oameni, a web and mobile SaaS platform for communities, events, memberships, registrations, payments and ticketing.

For RoTunneling, built customer/admin applications, payment and invoicing workflows, RADIUS/MySQL authentication, VPN infrastructure and Windows, macOS and Linux clients based on SoftEther components and Electron. Operated releases, compatibility work, monitoring, billing and customer support.

For Oameni, worked across product design, application/backend architecture, APIs, infrastructure, security and operations, connecting participant and organizer journeys.

Delivered manual and automated penetration testing, vulnerability investigation, proof-of-concept preparation, reporting and remediation recommendations.

Consulted on firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention, DDoS filtering, network topology, application/infrastructure architecture, virtualization and hosting. Historical work also included authorized social-engineering exercises and malware analysis.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · Slim Framework · MySQL · JavaScript · Vue.js · Capacitor · FreeBSD · Linux · NGINX · Docker · Stripe · RADIUS · SoftEther · OpenVPN · Electron · Memcached · VMware · pfSense · Burp Suite · Metasploit · OWASP ZAP

Casa de difuzare Alfa si Omega SRLLumea Cărții — historical associated productE-commerce · PHP · Web maintenanceWeb Developer2012–2013 · collaboration

Bucharest, Romania

Developed and maintained an online bookstore as a collaboration. Implemented features and resolved defects using PHP, Smarty, MySQL and JavaScript.

Key contributions

  • Implemented features and fixed defects in a PHP/Smarty online bookstore backed by MySQL.

Full responsibilities

Implemented features and resolved defects in an online bookstore application.

Worked with PHP, Smarty templates, MySQL, Memcached, HTML/CSS and JavaScript.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · MySQL · Memcached · HTML/CSS · JavaScript

Tipo Concept Store SRLE-commerce · PHP · Framework developmentWeb Developer / PHP ProgrammerMarch 2011 – August 2012

Bucharest, Romania

Built a custom online-store application and framework. Implemented features across PHP backend code, MySQL data access and Smarty-based web interfaces.

Key contributions

  • Developed a custom e-commerce framework and online store using PHP, Smarty and MySQL.

Full responsibilities

Developed a custom e-commerce framework and online store.

Implemented application features using PHP, Smarty, MySQL, Memcached, HTML/CSS and JavaScript.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · MySQL · Memcached · HTML/CSS · JavaScript

Dani D. Total SRLWeb development · Systems · NetworkingSystem Administrator / Web Developer2012

Bucharest, Romania

Developed a custom CMS and website while maintaining computers, networking and server configuration. Supported a Windows Server 2003 accounting environment and RAID 1 alongside CentOS 6 systems.

Key contributions

  • Developed a custom CMS/application and website using PHP, Smarty, MySQL and JavaScript.
  • Maintained network and server configuration, including a Windows Server 2003 accounting environment and RAID 1, with CentOS 6 also in use.

Full responsibilities

Developed a website and custom CMS/application with PHP, Smarty, MySQL, JavaScript and HTML/CSS.

Maintained computers and networking, improved security and server configuration, and supported a Windows Server 2003 accounting environment with RAID 1.

Worked with CentOS 6 alongside the Windows environment.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · MySQL · JavaScript · HTML/CSS · CentOS 6 · Windows Server 2003 · RAID 1

Telco Services SRLWeb applications · PHP · MySQLWeb Developer

Bucharest, Romania

Designed and developed an internal application for planning air-conditioning equipment installation, service and maintenance. Implemented the application using PHP, MySQL, JavaScript and HTML/CSS.

Key contributions

  • Built a PHP/MySQL planning application for equipment installation, service and maintenance.

Full responsibilities

Built an application for planning installation, service and maintenance of air-conditioning equipment.

Implemented the system using PHP, MySQL, JavaScript and HTML/CSS.

Technology context PHP · MySQL · JavaScript · HTML/CSS

Romanian Children’s Appeal FoundationDrupal · PHP · Web maintenanceWeb Developer2010–2011

Bucharest, Romania

Maintained and extended a Drupal website. Delivered application features and defect fixes using PHP and MySQL.

Key contributions

  • Maintained a Drupal/PHP/MySQL website, implementing features and resolving defects.

Full responsibilities

Worked on website maintenance, feature development and defect resolution.

Used Drupal, PHP and MySQL for application changes.

Technology context Drupal · PHP · MySQL

Webcom Trading SRLVreauMobila — historical associated productE-commerce · Systems · NetworkingWeb Developer / System Administrator2009–2010

Bucharest, Romania

Developed and maintained PHP e-commerce applications while supporting computers and internal networks. Contributed security improvements and helped migrate workstations to Linux in a CentOS 5 environment.

Key contributions

  • Developed and maintained e-commerce applications with PHP, Smarty, MySQL and Memcached.
  • Supported computers and networks, improved security and helped migrate staff workstations to Linux.

Full responsibilities

Developed and maintained e-commerce applications using PHP, Smarty, MySQL, Memcached, HTML/CSS and JavaScript.

Supported computers and networks, improved security and helped migrate workstations to Linux.

Worked with CentOS 5 as part of the systems environment.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · MySQL · Memcached · HTML/CSS · JavaScript · CentOS 5

Magazin Network Distribution SRLWeb development · Linux · NetworkingWeb Developer / System AdministratorSeptember 2008 – March 2009

Bucharest, Romania

Delivered web application features and fixes using PHP, Smarty, MySQL and JavaScript. Maintained internal computers and networking and contributed security improvements and Linux workstation migration.

Key contributions

  • Implemented web application features and resolved defects using PHP, Smarty, MySQL and JavaScript.
  • Maintained internal computers and networks and contributed security improvements and Linux workstation migration.

Full responsibilities

Delivered web development, new features and fixes using PHP, Smarty, MySQL, HTML/CSS and JavaScript.

Maintained internal computers and networking and contributed security improvements and Linux workstation migration.

Technology context PHP · Smarty · MySQL · HTML/CSS · JavaScript · Linux

Education

University Spiru Haret, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics
InformaticsCompleted 2013
College Romano-Catolic Sfântul Iosif
Mathematics and Informatics2004–2008

Historical credentials & training

IANLP Practitioner, Master and Trainer
Formal training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, supporting active listening, structured communication, feedback and mentoring.Historical professional training
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2020 Certified Architect Associate
Historical credential, issued in 2020; listed validity ended in 2022.2020–2022
Oracle Autonomous Database Cloud 2020 Certified Specialist
Historical credential; listed validity ended in 2022.2021–2022

Languages

Romanian
Native or bilingual
English
Professional working proficiency