About me: Architecting Systems, Leading Teams, Writing Code.

Hello, I'm Bartek Makowski. I am a Principal Software Engineer and former Director of Development with over 15 years of commercial experience, deeply specialized in the PHP ecosystem.

My journey began in 2009 as a freelance PHP developer. Over the years, I have evolved from writing code to designing entire system architectures and leading engineering departments. For nearly 9 years, I served as the Director of Development and Lead PHP Developer at Advant Interactive, where I successfully built and mentored development teams, established coding standards, and oversaw the delivery of scalable, high-quality web solutions for global clients.

Currently, as a Principal Engineer at Jigsaw Analytics / Jackrabbit Data Systems, I continue to tackle complex technical challenges. My unique strength lies in my dual capability: I bring the strategic vision, architectural knowledge, and leadership expected of a Staff+ engineer, while remaining deeply hands-on with the code. I am highly proficient in Laravel, modern PHP, and advanced WordPress/WooCommerce development.

Whether I am consulting on a system architecture, managing a technical team, or diving deep into a Laravel codebase to solve a critical bottleneck, my goal is always to deliver efficient, robust, and maintainable software that drives business growth.

Beyond the screen, I believe in maintaining a strong work-life balance. You can find me gaming on Sundays, exploring new travel destinations, or listening to metal music. I’m also a dog lover, an active calisthenics practitioner, and a huge fan of American cars and Scandinavian landscapes.

I am always open to discussing full-time leadership roles (Staff, Principal, Team Lead) or high-impact B2B contract engagements.