Dinslaken · North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Timo Ischen
Software Architect · Fullstack Developer
I design and build service-oriented backend systems for the Handelsblatt and WirtschaftsWoche apps. On the side, I maintain a Nuxt-based SaaS boilerplate used by close to 1,500 customers worldwide.
- years of passion for software
- 25
- years in professional software development
- 8
- customers worldwide use supastarter
- ~1,500
About me
How I got here
It started when the internet arrived at our house and I wanted to know how the pages I was looking at were actually built. So: view source, rebuild, repeat — plain HTML first, then PHP-based CMSes for clan pages, guild sites and forums. University gave that some structure, and a working-student job turned it into a profession. I still learn the same way: take it apart until it clicks.
The boxes have grown since then — service-oriented backends, and grown-over structures somebody has to untangle. When a team gets stuck, I draw it: a diagram or an ADR usually ends the debate faster than a third meeting. And whatever comes out of it should end up in someone’s hands. My evenings look suspiciously like my day job — smart home, a server of my own, a camera, music, a series in the background — plus a dog who thinks I sit down far too much. My own list of traits says “perfectionist”. I meant to play that down here, but I rewrote this sentence four times.
Character
- Analytical
- Creative
- Curious
- Driven
- Reliable
- Open to criticism
- Perfectionist
Soft skills
- Teamwork
- Initiative
- Perseverance
- Creativity
Career
Where I have worked
April 2024 – present
Düsseldorf
Software Architect
CurrentHandelsblatt Media Group GmbH & Co. KG
I own the design and delivery of a service-oriented backend landscape for the Handelsblatt and WirtschaftsWoche apps. Significant architectural decisions are documented and maintained as Architecture Decision Records (ADRs). Alongside that, I produce system diagrams to visualise the software architecture and align them with the teams involved in dedicated workshops. I also supported the migration to and rollout of Livingdocs, the new editorial system for the mobile apps. Working closely with the product owners, I help capture and sharpen technical requirements, and I coordinate the technical alignment with other teams across the business unit.
October 2021 – March 2024
Düsseldorf
Fullstack Developer
Handelsblatt Media Group GmbH & Co. KG
I was a key contributor to the development, maintenance and monitoring of the backend systems behind the Handelsblatt and WirtschaftsWoche apps, and occasionally supported work on the corresponding Android apps. A further focus was the architectural planning and coordination of the structural decommissioning of legacy monolithic software, along with the automated provisioning of cloud infrastructure through Infrastructure as Code.
April 2018 – September 2021
Essen
Fullstack Developer
ener|xess GmbH / green|connector GmbH
I joined ener|xess as a working student. After the merger with its sister company green|connector in September 2019, I moved into a full-time role as a fullstack developer focused on JavaScript and TypeScript. In that role I extended existing projects and contributed actively to the design and implementation of new sales platforms, mail services and sales assistants, as well as several frontends for serverless microservices.
February 2016 – September 2020
Bottrop
Business Informatics (B.Sc.)
EducationRuhr West University of Applied Sciences
Graduated with a Bachelor of Science. The working-student role at ener|xess from April 2018 overlapped with this period.
Self-employed, alongside my main role
My own work
June 2024 – present
supastarter Nuxt maintainer
CurrentTimo Ischen (sole proprietorship)
I am a key contributor to the design, maintenance and ongoing development of a Nuxt-based software-as-a-service boilerplate now used by close to 1,500 customers worldwide.
September 2024 – February 2025
Backend development & systems integration (contract)
Sedecon Solutions GbR
A document management system for an enterprise client — a greenfield project on the backend that nonetheless had to fit seamlessly into an existing on-premise landscape. I designed and implemented the SharePoint integration via the Microsoft Graph API, the sync jobs that keep both sides aligned, fine-grained permission management and the CRM integration. I agreed the API specifications with the external service providers involved and surfaced the new functionality for users inside an existing frontend.
Personal tech stack
What I build with
Programming languages
- TypeScript
- JavaScript
- Java
- Kotlin
- Swift
- Dart
- PHP
- Python
- Golang
Frontend
- React
- Vue
- Nuxt
- NextJS
- Svelte
- Angular
- Flutter
Backend & APIs
- Node.js
- NestJS
- Express
- Fastify
- pnpm
- turborepo
- GraphQL
- Apollo
- REST
- gRPC
Cloud & infrastructure
- AWS
- Azure
- Docker
- Docker-Compose
- Kubernetes
- Serverless
- AWS SDK
- Terraform
- Helm
- Cloudflare
- Microsoft Graph API
- SharePoint
Data
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- MongoDB
- Elasticsearch
- Redis
- SQLite
- Prisma
- TypeORM
- Sequelize
- DynamoDB
Ways of working
- Git
- Scrum
- Kanban
- Jira
- Agentic Development
Languages
Languages I speak
- German
- Native speaker
- English
- Proficient
- French
- Basic
Interests & hobbies
Away from work
- Web design
- Programming
- Smart technology
- Web video
- Mobile apps
- Music
- Electric mobility
- Engineering
- Server administration
- Smart home
- AI & LLMs
- Gaming
- Digital art
- Art
- Interieur design
- Cooking
- Extreme grilling
- TV series
- Photography
- My dog
- Distributed systems
Contact
Let's talk
Whether it is a permanent role, a project or a question about supastarter — email reaches me fastest.
info@timo-ischen.de