Nino Samac
Nino Samac

Nino Samac

Senior Software Developer — Banking & Telecommunications

Zagreb, Croatia

Targeting: Technical lead or AI engineering roles

Summary

Senior software engineer with 15+ years delivering production systems in banking, mobile telecommunications, and remote traffic control. Deep in Java (through Java 21) and Spring Boot, with C/C++ and Erlang experience on 3G/4G/5G radio-access software. Consistent technical-leadership record: led a Java 8 → 21 modernization, rebuilt a test-automation framework, mentored engineers, and authored internal courses. Currently focused on AI-powered development with Anthropic Claude.

Targeting technical-lead or AI-engineering roles.

Core skills

Area Technologies
Languages Java 21, C, C++, Erlang, JavaScript, SQL
Backend Spring Boot, REST APIs, OSGi, design patterns, OOP, functional programming
Data Oracle, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL
Build & run Docker, GitLab CI
Frontend HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Vaadin, OpenLayers
Testing TDD, JUnit, multi-component / integration test automation
Domains Mobile banking, multi-factor authentication, 3G/4G/5G radio access, IP security, telecom messaging (SMSC), GIS
Leadership Mentoring, technical lecturing, tooling & process improvement, technical leadership
AI Generative AI, Anthropic Claude, AI-assisted development workflows

Experience

Senior Software Developer, Banking — ASEE

Aug 2022 – Present · Zagreb, Croatia

Multi-factor authentication and mobile banking products serving dozens of banks.

  • Modernization of the core product from a standalone Java 8 application to Java 21 running in Docker.
  • Build and maintain the MFA backend, integrating against Oracle, MS SQL Server, H2 and PostgreSQL.
  • Refactored the entire test suite and streamlined the test framework into an automated pipeline, cutting manual effort and shortening feedback loops. CI down to 35 mins from 90 mins.
  • First ~2 years: mobile banking app development plus front-desk duty — frontline triage and resolution of customer-reported issues.
  • Stack: Java 21, Spring Boot, SQL (Oracle / MS SQL Server / PostgreSQL), Docker, GitLab CI.

Senior Software Developer — Ericsson

Jul 2016 – Aug 2022 · Zagreb, Croatia

Radio-access software for 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G networks, in C/C++ and Erlang.

  • Developed several features for traffic control on LTE and 5G, and worked on 3G IP security.
  • Taught multi-component testing in Erlang: authored the lecture material and built local test-automation tooling for the team.
  • Mentored several engineers; contributed to development-process and tooling improvements.
  • Worked test-first in agile teams.
  • Later moved to front-desk duty — frontline triage and resolution of customer issues.
  • Resolved many critical trouble reports (TRs) with speed and precision, protecting delivery schedules, cost, and customer trust.

Independent Software Developer (Freelance)

Nov 2007 – Jul 2016 · Split, Croatia

Full-stack Java web development across several employments and client projects during this period. Principal engagements:

IT Engineer — Peek Traffic · Feb 2011 – Jan 2012

  • Architected and delivered a modular web application for managing road-traffic controllers — solution architecture through implementation, testing, and deployment.
  • Frontend: Vaadin (HTML5/CSS3/JS) with an interactive GIS map (OpenLayers), real-time graphics, interactive commands, and reporting.
  • Backend: modular OSGi Java server with SQL storage.
  • Built security modules (roles/permissions, per-installation client licensing) plus server-install scripting and documentation.
  • Stack: Java, Vaadin, OpenLayers, Spring, SQL, OSGi, log4j, JUnit.

Java Developer — Infobip · Apr 2009 – Jan 2010

  • Designed and implemented SMSC components and a dynamic web interface for the SMSC with interactive system-function graphs.
  • Implemented configurable CDR logging in multiple client-specified formats.
  • Refactored an existing codebase toward OOP and design patterns.

Senior IT Consultant — University of Zagreb, International Office · Feb 2016 – Apr 2016

  • Led migration to a new software support system: planning and reporting, contracting, user and technical specifications, and coordination of international and local partners.

Education

MSc, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science FESB — Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split

Certifications

Oracle Certified Associate, Java — Oracle · Sep 2024

Team leadership & collaboration — Skillsoft (2022) Strategies for Managing Technical Teams · Leading a Cross-functional Team · Cultivating Cross-functional Team Collaboration · Establishing Effective Virtual Teams · Facing Virtual Team Challenges · Contributing as a Virtual Team Member · Handling Team Conflict · Encouraging Team Communication and Collaboration · Facing the Management Challenges of Difficult Behavior and Diverse Teams

Languages

  • Croatian — Native
  • English — Full professional

Projects

  • vinoigitare.com — a guitar chords and lyrics sharing app for ex-Yugoslav pop and rock songs. Built and run solo; currently live.

Earlier hobby projects, no longer maintained: a mind-mapping web app (with some applied-AI experimentation).