Ivan Balukov
I'm an Engineering Manager with deep expertise in quality engineering and test automation. My journey from hands-on QA engineer to engineering leader has given me a unique perspective on building quality-first development processes and high-performing teams.
I believe in people-first leadership – because great software comes from great teams, period. My approach blends technical excellence with strategic thinking, always focusing on delivering real value while maintaining those non-negotiable quality standards.
Whether I'm implementing comprehensive testing strategies, mentoring engineers, or driving organizational change, I'm passionate about creating environments where both people and technology can thrive. After all, the best work happens when there's that special spark ✨
Core Expertise
The list is constantly growing - I love learning new technologies and approaches.
Leadership & Strategy
- ✓Engineering Management
- ✓Team Development & Mentoring
- ✓Technical Vision & Strategy
- ✓Resource Planning & Allocation
- ✓Stakeholder Communication
- ✓Delivery Strategy & Execution
- ✓Culture Building & Change Management
Engineering Excellence
- ✓JavaScript & TypeScript
- ✓Node.js & Express.js
- ✓Angular & React
- ✓Kubernetes & Docker
- ✓CI/CD Pipeline Design
- ✓System Architecture
- ✓Database Design
- ✓Cloud Infrastructure
Quality Engineering
- ✓Test Strategy & Planning
- ✓Development Lifecycle Optimization
- ✓Quality Framework Design
- ✓Agile & Scrum Methodologies
- ✓Process Optimization
- ✓Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- ✓Code Review & Standards
- ✓Performance Engineering
Test Automation
- ✓WebdriverIO & Playwright
- ✓API Testing & Validation
- ✓Load & Performance Testing
- ✓Mutation Testing Strategies
- ✓Test Architecture Design
- ✓CI/CD Integration
- ✓Visual & Accessibility Testing
- ✓Test Data Management
Professional Journey
My journey from QA Engineer to Engineering Manager reflects my passion for both technical excellence and people leadership.
Since 2007, I've been testing, improving, and leading in multinational companies.
I bring a unique perspective: quality-first engineering combined with strategic team leadership.
Engineering Manager at Farel
Key Achievements
Team Leadership & Personnel Management – Scale and lead a cross-functional engineering organization. Direct management of Backend, Frontend, QA, DevOps, and Tech Lead roles. Own hiring, compensation, promotions, onboarding, and performance reviews; designed and run the onboarding program.
Strategic Oversight & Executive Reporting – Report directly to the CEO on a regular cadence; set annual engineering strategy, prioritize technical debt, and allocate resources across squads.
Process & Organizational Leadership – Designed and implemented the full development workflow (Kanban, Dual Track Agile, task templates, feedback loops). Lead retrospectives, knowledge-sharing, and regular 1:1s.
Functional Oversight – Set QA and DevOps strategies, supervise execution, and approve major production releases as Deployment Manager.
Innovation Leadership – Drove AI-enabled development practices, ran workshops, defined adoption metrics, and aligned delivery workflows with PCI-DSS compliance.
Lead a cross-functional engineering organization (Backend, Frontend, QA, DevOps, Technical Lead). Own end-to-end people management including hiring, compensation, promotions, onboarding, and performance reviews, and oversee the company onboarding program. Report directly to the CEO on a regular cadence to define engineering strategy, prioritize technical investments, and align resourcing. Manage the engineering budget, including infrastructure and tooling. Designed and institutionalized the development workflow (Kanban, Dual Track Agile) with ongoing retrospectives, knowledge sharing, and 1:1s. Oversee QA and DevOps strategy and serve as Deployment Manager for major releases. Drive AI-enabled development practices and ensure alignment with PCI-DSS compliance.
Lead QA Engineer at RingCentral
Key Achievements
Implemented and supervised the execution of 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, questions, and tasks for QA interviews to ensure highest quality engineering
Developed and implemented sophisticated automated testing frameworks to enhance the QA process efficiency
Implemented visual and accessibility tests
Leading and mentoring a team of manual and automation QA engineers, fostering skills development, and promoting a high-performing QA function. Providing senior-level expertise in the development of comprehensive functionality tests and optimizing QA processes for efficiency. Overseeing the development cycle, ensuring adherence to release cycles, and maintaining control over planning processes to meet project milestones. Collaborating with QA, development, and cross-functional teams to define automation strategies, integrate tests into CI/CD pipelines, and ensure high product quality.
Ready to build something amazing together?
Let's discuss how my experience can help your team succeed.
Professional Projects
Highlights of work-related projects that showcase my impact on different teams and companies.
Enterprise Communication Platform
Led QA transformation for enterprise communication platform serving millions of users. Implemented sophisticated automated testing frameworks, visual and accessibility testing protocols. Successfully transitioned entire QA department (~50 employees) to new workflow methodology.
Android Application
Solo QA engineer for large-scale mobile application from concept to release. Achieved 4.5-star rating in Google Play Store. Led transition of two teams from waterfall to Agile Scrum methodology.
iOS Application
Comprehensive testing strategy for iOS application development. Implemented early testing practices, created detailed UI/UX testing protocols, and established cross-platform compatibility standards.
Desktop Application Suite
End-to-end testing of desktop application suite with complex integration requirements. Reduced regression testing time from 10 days to 2 days through process optimization and automation.
Maritime Simulator Complex
Developed comprehensive testing strategy for hardware-software maritime simulator complex. Implemented automation for regression testing using Lua and MS Test Manager.
Mobile Banking Application
Created testing framework from scratch for comprehensive mobile banking system. Implemented functional and integration testing protocols with billing systems and databases.
Personal Creations
Side projects and personal endeavors that showcase my passion for technology and creativity.
NPBB.app
A fast-paced, real-time multiplayer strategy game on a futuristic hex-based grid. Players control hero units in tactical battles where resource management and strategic positioning determine victory. Features seamless web-based gameplay with live multiplayer synchronization.
Kosmodrom.work
A web-based productivity app combining a to-do list with timer functionality. Features a space-themed interface designed to boost focus and productivity through gamification, break reminders, and time management tools.
E2E Best Practices
A comprehensive boilerplate project with best practices advice for E2E tests. Combines practical code examples with detailed explanations, featuring proper architecture, TypeScript support, and proven testing patterns using WebDriver.io.
FlowCamp
A comprehensive task management and project collaboration platform built with modern web technologies. Originally designed to help teams organize, track, and complete projects efficiently with real-time collaboration and advanced analytics.
Photography Portfolio Website
Elegant photography portfolio website built for my wife using Jekyll. Featured a clean, minimalist design with responsive galleries and smooth navigation. This version has been archived as the site now uses a different interface.