Vanya Balukov
I build high-performing teams by day and hex-grid strategy games by night. 18 years of shipping quality software, from maritime simulators to enterprise platforms.
Core Expertise
The list is constantly growing — I love learning new technologies and approaches.
Leadership & Strategy
Engineering Excellence
Quality Engineering
Test Automation
Professional Journey
From QA Engineer to Engineering Manager — 18 years of building quality into teams and products across multinational companies.
Engineering Manager at Farel
- Scale and lead a cross-functional engineering organization: Backend, Frontend, QA, DevOps, and Tech Lead. Own hiring, compensation, promotions, onboarding, and performance reviews.
- Report directly to the CEO; set annual engineering strategy, prioritize technical debt, and allocate resources across squads.
- Designed and implemented the full development workflow (Kanban, Dual Track Agile, task templates, feedback loops). Lead retrospectives, knowledge-sharing, and regular 1:1s.
- Set QA and DevOps strategies, supervise execution, and approve major production releases as Deployment Manager.
- Drove AI-enabled development practices, ran workshops, defined adoption metrics, and aligned delivery with PCI-DSS compliance.
Lead QA Engineer at RingCentral
- Implemented and supervised accurate QA workflows, including issue tracking, multi-layer review, and release testing.
- Transferred the entire department to a new workflow (~50 employees).
- Created structured plans and tasks for QA interviews to ensure highest quality engineering.
- Developed sophisticated automated testing frameworks to enhance QA process efficiency.
- Implemented visual and accessibility tests.
Professional Projects
Highlights of work that made a real impact on teams and products.
Enterprise Communication Platform
Led QA transformation for a platform serving millions. Transitioned ~50 employees to a new workflow.
Android Application
Solo QA from concept to release. Achieved 4.5-star rating in Google Play Store.
iOS Application
Comprehensive testing strategy for iOS with cross-platform compatibility standards.
Desktop Application Suite
Reduced regression testing from 10 days to 2 days through automation and process optimization.
Maritime Simulator Complex
Testing strategy for hardware-software maritime simulator. Automated regression with Lua.
Mobile Banking Application
Built testing framework from scratch for banking system with billing and database integration.
Personal Creations
What I build when nobody's watching.
NPBB.app
Real-Time Strategy GameA fast-paced multiplayer strategy game on a futuristic hex-based grid. Players control hero units in tactical battles with resource management and strategic positioning.
My Computer
Peace of Mind CalculatorA personal finance tool to distribute income across life, savings, stocks, and crypto. No tracking, no banks — just your money. Bilingual (EN/RU).
Kosmodrom.work
To-Do & Timer AppA space-themed productivity app combining to-do lists with timer functionality. Gamification, break reminders, and focus tools.
Street Lamps
Stories in the DarkAn atmospheric storytelling experience where each street lamp has a personality and a story. Poetic, moody, and built to make you feel something.
ZombieGuard
Satirical Landing PageA hilariously deadpan landing page for a fake zombie vehicle protection service. Because prepared drivers survive.
E2E Best Practices
Boilerplate & GuideA comprehensive boilerplate with best practices for E2E tests. Practical code examples with proper architecture, TypeScript support, and proven testing patterns.