Aleksandra Marszalek
Technical Lead · Senior Backend Engineer · Lifelong Learner
Hey, I'm Ola!
I'm a Technical Lead and Senior Backend Engineer who loves building things that actually matter - solutions that are both well-crafted and genuinely useful to the people using them. I get a lot of energy from working through hard problems and collaborating closely with the business. I genuinely care about diversity, equity, and building workplaces where everyone can do their best work.
My core expertise is in Java, though I'm increasingly drawn to AI tooling and its potential to transform how we build software. I love picking up new things - this portfolio is a good example of that, built with TypeScript, React, and Next.js, with a healthy assist from Claude Code.
Outside of work, I'm an accomplished ultimate frisbee player who has represented both Great Britain and Poland on the international stage. I'm an avid reader, a film enthusiast, and a curious traveler. I also mentor people breaking into the tech industry for the first time - it's one of the most rewarding things I do.
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Featured Projects
All projectsFull-stack (BE heavy) application built with Micronaut and modern Java. Released as an AWS Lambda with AWS API Gateway and EventBridge using Cron Scheduler for fetching the word. Full integration with AWS DynamoDB and Redis cache to provide a seamless user experience. With simple single page HTML + vanilla JS Frontend.
Full-stack TODO application with a Spring Boot REST API and a React frontend. Features JWT authentication, role-based access control, and full CRUD operations. Includes 30+ tests with 80%+ code coverage using TestContainers, and comprehensive API documentation via Swagger/OpenAPI. The frontend is built with React and Tailwind CSS for a modern, responsive user experience.
Latest Posts
All postsHow I Got a Software Engineering Job in 2026
A systematic look at how I prepared for senior engineer interviews after a 7-year gap, and what the first job search of my new chapter actually looked like - from the prep plan to the offer.
Building Word of the Day: A Micronaut API on AWS Lambda
I started applying for new jobs. My CV looked strong, but I realised AWS got much more popular recently and it would be good to close that gap. So I gave it a go with a new project.
How I Actually Use AI in 2026 - An Engineer's Honest Take
AI is everywhere, but most people either overclaim or dismiss it. Here's an honest look at how I've incorporated it into my daily work as an engineer looking for a new job - what genuinely helps, what doesn't, and what surprised me.