Ivica Lakatoš
Senior Software Engineer
I’ve been building full-stack web applications with Ruby on Rails for over a decade.
Rails is my default. The rest depends on the problem.
I’ve worked on backend-heavy systems, real-time applications, and rich frontend interfaces. The stack changes. The goal stays the same — build systems that work in the real world.
Featured Projects
Selected Work
Leap
Real-time language learning platform
A real-time platform for practicing spoken English through live video sessions and instant feedback.
- Built real-time communication with WebSockets and LiveKit
- Integrated speech and AI feedback with OpenAI and SpeechAce
- Designed session orchestration and user-matching systems
Ruby on Rails · React · TypeScript · PostgreSQL · Redis · Sidekiq · OpenAI
Microverse
Global online school for developers
An online learning platform for developers, rebuilt from no-code tools into a scalable Rails application.
- Helped migrate Make, Zapier, and Airtable workflows into Rails
- Improved reliability, scalability, and operational maintainability
- Designed backend services for complex learning flows
Ruby on Rails · PostgreSQL · Redis · Docker · Heroku
FUGA
Music royalty accounting system
A music royalty accounting system for processing contracts, revenue streams, and financial reports at scale.
- Improved performance across application and database layers
- Worked on reliable processing for large-scale financial datasets
- Built in a production-critical, high-throughput environment
Ruby on Rails · React · PostgreSQL · Redis · RabbitMQ
InspectionXpert
Manufacturing platform
A platform for converting PDF-based inspection documents into structured, usable data.
- Built full-stack OCR workflows from MVP to production
- Designed APIs and UI flows for review and correction pipelines
- Improved reliability of document processing in production environments
Ruby on Rails · React · PostgreSQL · OCR processing
Keen Research
Speech recognition data platform
A platform for handling audio ingestion, speech processing, and transcription workflows at scale.
- Designed APIs for audio uploads, metadata, and processing pipelines
- Implemented asynchronous workflows for large files and logs
- Built systems to support reliable transcription operations
Ruby on Rails · MySQL · JavaScript · Async processing
Thompson Learn
Learning platform
A digital learning platform for delivering interactive content and managing student and teacher workflows.
- Built backend features for course management and user workflows
- Improved reliability of content delivery and learning flows
- Contributed to product development in a cross-functional team
Ruby on Rails · PostgreSQL · Ember.js
Experience
Career Snapshot
Senior Software Engineer · Microverse
Worked on migrating a no-code platform to Ruby on Rails, building scalable learning workflows, real-time features, and AI-powered feedback systems.
Senior Full-Stack Engineer · AxiomQ
Built and scaled web applications across fintech, manufacturing, education, and speech recognition, working across backend systems, APIs, and frontend interfaces.
Ruby on Rails Engineer · Orange Iceberg
Developed full-stack Rails applications, designed APIs, and shipped production systems from initial idea to deployment.
Skills
Core Stack
Backend: Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Sidekiq
Frontend: React, Stimulus, TypeScript, Ember, jQuery, JavaScript
Data: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis
Infra: Docker, Heroku, CI/CD
Real-time & AI: WebSockets, LiveKit, OpenAI, SpeechAce
Ruby on Rails is my default for building full-stack applications. On the frontend, I’ve worked with React, Stimulus, Ember, and jQuery—depending on what the project needed.
How I Work
Pragmatic and Product-Focused
I prefer simple systems over complex ones. Not because they are easier to build, but because they are easier to run, maintain, and improve over time.
I take ownership end-to-end, work closely with product, and care about outcomes, not just code.
Most of the time, the problem isn’t the technology. It’s making things work in the real world.
Contact
Let’s Build Something Useful
Open to interesting projects, technical challenges, and collaboration.
Based in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Reach out via lakatos.ivica@gmail.com,
connect on LinkedIn,
or view my work on GitHub.
Prefer a CV? Download it here.