Emrah Kalfa
Istanbul,34
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven Software Engineering professional with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and extensive cross-disciplinary expertise. With proven leadership in roles such as Technical Project Manager, Product Owner, and Developer, I specialize in transforming visionary ideas into high-impact products through a unique blend of technical acumen and strategic execution.
My background spans software architecture design, hands-on backend development, native mobile application development, and game development, providing me with a comprehensive understanding of the full technology stack. I excel in managing end-to-end software development processes, creating scalable product roadmaps, coordinating high-performing teams, and driving data-informed decision-making. Adept at optimizing product development pipelines, I combine a solution-oriented mindset with effective crisis management to ensure delivery excellence in fast-paced and evolving environments.
With strong communication skills and a sharp analytical approach, I consistently deliver innovative solutions that accelerate business growth and align with organizational goals, particularly within entrepreneurial and startup ecosystems.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Product Developer
Emakin
12.2024 - Current
- Developing innovative products and optimizing existing systems using .NET, JavaScript, and HTML technologies.
- Collaborating closely with the software development team to analyze product features, define technical requirements, and execute sprint planning.
- Managing the product backlog by evaluating user feedback and business requirements, identifying areas for improvement.
- Contributing to product development processes by incorporating User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) principles.
- Preparing technical documentation and workflow diagrams to ensure clarity in development processes and facilitate knowledge sharing among teams.
- Actively participating in testing processes to enhance product performance and quality standards by identifying and resolving issues.
- Implementing best software development practices (SOLID, Clean Code, Design Patterns) to deliver scalable and maintainable solutions.
Product Owner
KnowYourX
02.2024 - 09.2024
- Collaborating closely a with the software development team to measure the quality of team efforts and execute effective sprint planning for each resource.
- Managing Project Backlog Item (PBI) planning, ensuring requests are completed accurately and timely.
- Planning and successfully conducting User Acceptance Tests to ensure product usability and quality.
- Documenting requests in a clear and understandable manner and conveying them to the software development team, ensuring clarity and efficiency in communication.
- Making strategic decisions focused on productivity and profitability, determining development priorities, and optimizing business processes.
- Creating workflows and diagrams to document projects and processes in an understandable manner.
Startup Consultant
Apphere.co
09.2023 - 06.2024
- Collaborating closely with the software development team to measure the quality of team efforts and execute effective sprint planning for each resource.
- Managing Project Backlog Item (PBI) planning, ensuring requests are completed accurately and timely.
- Planning and successfully conducting User Acceptance Tests to ensure product usability and quality.
- Documenting requests in a clear and understandable manner and conveying them to the software development team, ensuring clarity and efficiency in communication.
- Making strategic decisions focused on productivity and profitability, determining development priorities, and optimizing business processes.
- Creating workflows and diagrams to document projects and processes in an understandable manner.
Head Of Project Management Office
DDTECH
08.2023 - 02.2024
- In addition to routine Project Manager roles, managing resources for initiated projects and prioritizing project launches based on profitability.
- Diligently tracking and presenting reports for all projects to upper management as a consolidated overview.
- Planning the roadmap based on customer requests and resource competencies.
- Systematizing and planning all processes from pre-sales processes to project support processes, ensuring comprehensive implementation.
- Ensuring excellence in project management processes and making strategic decisions for the successful completion of projects.
- Establishing a culture of effective communication and collaboration within the team, maintaining effective relationships with project stakeholders.
- Identifying, analyzing, and implementing an effective risk management strategy for project processes.
- Updating, improving, and implementing project management office policies and procedures.
- Planning for the training and development of team members, conducting performance evaluations.
Technical Project Manager
DDTECH
03.2023 - 08.2023
- Successfully led and supervised cross-functional teams in the development of cutting-edge identity verification systems for customer acquisition processes, catering to the needs and demands of industry-leading companies. Employed Agile Methods to ensure efficient project execution.
- Proactively generated and managed project Product Backlog Items (PBIs), while closely monitoring the progress of various processes to ensure timely completion and optimal results.
- Fostered strong relationships with clients, effectively addressing their concerns and managing crisis situations with professionalism and tact.
- Provided valuable assistance to the IT team by offering support in android and backend development, especially during periods of resource constraints, ensuring smooth operations and timely delivery of projects.
Senior Developer & Development Team Leader
BoBu
01.2023 - 03.2023
- Generating innovative ideas and developing game design documents (GDDs) to define the core objectives of the company.
- Creating and managing project product backlog items (PBIs) while closely monitoring and ensuring smooth workflow.
- Taking charge of the software team, providing effective leadership and fostering their professional growth.
- Cultivating a sense of belonging among team members and nurturing a strong company culture.
Co-Founder & Team Leader
Recos Games
06.2020 - 11.2022
- Defining the company's vision and strategic direction.
- Developing and implementing game projects, designing architectural structures based on customer requirements and industry needs.
- Inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential.
- Conducting comprehensive end-to-end testing to ensure high-quality deliverables.
- Drafting project proposals and managing legal processes throughout their lifecycle.
- Strategizing and evaluating business partnerships and collaborations.
Teaching Assistant
Maltepe University
09.2021 - 01.2022
- During the fall semester, actively engaged in Algorithm and Object-Oriented Programming courses, designed specifically for computer and software engineering students.
Android Developer
Bupara
04.2018 - 10.2021
- Responsible for overseeing all interface development processes of the digital currency/mobile wallet application.
- Collaborated with SOAP and JSON APIs to facilitate seamless interaction and data exchange.
- Implemented NFC tags and authentication systems to enhance security measures.
- Designed and integrated a biometric login feature for streamlined and secure user authentication.
- Implemented a tracking system to monitor and optimize store processes.
- Utilized Firebase for efficient notification operations and user engagement.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Software Engineering
Maltepe University
Istanbul06.2023
Skills
- SQL
- C#
- Java
- Kotlin
- C
- Git
- Software Architecture & SDLC
- Project Management (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall)
- Product Management
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Strategic Planning
- Technology Integration
- Prototype & Product Development
- Leadership
- Team Collaboration
- Stakeholder Management
- Negotiation & Decision-Making
- Critical & Analytical Thinking
- Problem-Solving
- Time Management
- Effective Communication
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 15 staff members.
- Completed the Anti Coup Hackathon as Team Leader, achieving first place by developing a Psychological Analysis System in Social Events, which analyzed public sentiment on Twitter using emotion analysis models and visualized the results through dynamic graphs.
Professional Skills
- SQL
- No-SQL
- JavaScript
- C#
- C
- Java
- Kotlin
- Python
- PHP
- Git
- Postman
Soft Skills
- Project Management (Scrum-Waterfall, Agile)
- People/Stakeholder Management
- Having Good Learning Curve
- Ownership
- Negotiation
- Decision Making
- Leadership
- Competitor Analysis
- SDLC
- Communications
References
Additional information and references will be shared upon request.
Hobbies and Interests
- Cooking
- Wood Carving
- Basketball
- Swimming Coaching
Projects And Degrees
Psychological Analysis System In Social Events Anti Coup Hackathon, A system that can analyze people's thoughts about a related event with certain keywords and tags via Twitter using an emotion analysis model, and then provide analysis on different graphs about how long they stayed under the influence of this event., Team Leader, Winner
Timeline
Product Developer
Emakin
12.2024 - Current
Product Owner
KnowYourX
02.2024 - 09.2024
Startup Consultant
Apphere.co
09.2023 - 06.2024
Head Of Project Management Office
DDTECH
08.2023 - 02.2024
Technical Project Manager
DDTECH
03.2023 - 08.2023
Senior Developer & Development Team Leader
BoBu
01.2023 - 03.2023
Teaching Assistant
Maltepe University
09.2021 - 01.2022
Co-Founder & Team Leader
Recos Games
06.2020 - 11.2022
Android Developer
Bupara
04.2018 - 10.2021
Bachelor of Science - Software Engineering
Maltepe University