cutting through the noise
Dawid Kowalik
Technical Lead & Product Manager
Areas of Expertise
Product ManagementTech Team LeadershipAgile MethodologiesCommunication SkillsHands-on TechnicalWorkload PrioritizationFrontend DevelopmentRelease Management
Profile
Extensive and proactive Technical Lead & Product Manager with the unique ability to discern what truly matters. Cutting through the noise, proactively bringing clarity to technical challenges, and ensuring that innovative solutions are conceived and effectively executed. With a keen eye for detail and a steadfast commitment to excellence lead products from ideation to market success, always focusing on the signal amidst the cacophony of the tech landscape.
Skills
Management
Agile, Scrum, Cross-functional, Stakeholder Management, Roadmapping, Iterative Approach, Oral & Written Communication, Mentoring, Workload Prioritization, Detail Oriented, Presentation Skills, DORA Metrics, JIRA, JIRA Automation, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Power Automate
Frontend Technologies
HTML, Pug, CSS, SCSS, SASS, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Angular, jQuery, Vite, Rollup, Gulp, Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, Hotwire Turbo
Backend Technologies
Node.js, Next.js, PHP+Laravel, Java, Python basics, Databases (MySQL, MongoDB), WordPress, Prestashop
Software Development Tools
Git, GitLab, GitHub, GitHub Actions, Docker, Bitbucket, Bamboo, Release Management, DevOps
Analytics & Analysis
Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Contentsquare, PostHog, Hotjar, AB Testing (Optimizely), Core Web Vitals
Visual
UI/UX Design for web, UX Research, Mockups, Responsive web design, Generative graphics (Blender, P5.js, GLSL basics), GIMP, Blender
Audio
Audio Production, Sound Design, Ableton Live, Max4Live, Homerecording
Experience
03/2025 – present
Spearheaded the engineering team responsible for the core e-commerce and commercial features of the GOG website.
- Cut Lead Time by 50% and Cycle Time by 34% by optimising team workflows and mentoring 4 engineers to enhance performance, predictability, and feature quality.
- Successfully launched a new, mission-critical checkout system by leading the final development phases, managing a complex gradual rollout, and serving as the central point of contact between technical and non-technical teams.
- Drove product validation and data-informed decision-making by implementing the A/B and painted-door testing capabilities using PostHog.
- Contributed hands-on to the new checkout functionality using Angular and enhanced the internal design system, improving front-end consistency and development speed.
10/2024 – 03/2025
Led the design and development of the frontend for the GenAI.Financial website, utilizing modern technologies such as Next.js, React, and Tailwind CSS.
- Designed a modern, clean, and user-friendly interface for the application, ensuring an intuitive user experience.
- Provided technical expertise in configuring the CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions and introduced server components to improve security and page load times.
11/2023 – 09/2024
- Established OKRs and KPIs. Managed backlogs, and roadmaps. From the Scrum perspective, handled Product Owner duties. Ensured consistent value delivery during the time of company structural reorganisation. Provided strategies for the increase in lead capture numbers and quality - long-term vision and easy wins. Cooperated closely with 4 Development Teams, and actively supported the recruitment of new Team Leaders. Planned new functionalities in a data-driven way, based on Google Analytics and Contentsquare analysis in close cooperation with multiple tech teams, SEO, and Designers.
- Increased lead capture form coverage of the DailyFX website close to 95% of pages, bringing hundreds of additional clients.
- Created the process for AB testing and for further implementation of test results.
- Led the migration of consent management to a third-party tool project, using solutions that allowed smooth rollout and confidence in following the user's consent.
- Used technical background during migration to JIRA Cloud to create time-saving automation for reports and alerts.
Experience - continued
06/2023 – 11/2023
Managed Technical Team Lead responsibilities while entering the world of Product Management in the DailyFX
- Led the development of a new internal CMS that cut article publication time by over 80% (from 30 to 5 mins). By managing the project within the BAU budget and collaborating closely with stakeholders, this highly-praised tool directly enabled the launch of DailyFX Japan.
- Implemented a strategic, iterative rollout, delivering a functional MVP within months while gradually migrating from a legacy system. Accelerated the project by contributing directly to the UI/UX design, ensuring a user-centric and efficient final product.
- Led the implementation of Google Analytics 4, in an easily maintainable, extendable, futureproof way, in cooperation with an external agency.
11/2021 – 06/2023
Led the DailyFX Development Team of 11 people using the Agile methodology.
- Drove team performance by handling Scrum Master duties, ensuring consistent delivery by effectively prioritizing the workload with stakeholders. I fostered cross-functional skill development by encouraging engineers to tackle tasks outside their core expertise, which significantly improved delivery consistency and team resilience.
- Spearheaded the launch of DailyFX Japan, ensuring a stable and timely release by providing key technical leadership. I devised innovative solutions that enabled new, culturally-customized designs without disrupting the existing codebase, ensuring both project success and long-term system integrity.
- Created the Release Management processes - ensured reliable, weekly releases, contributing to the iterative approach. Brought clarity to the scope and the timing of releases for the development team and stakeholders.
- Handled Product Owner duties during PM changes/absences: keeping backlog up to date, maintaining contact with stakeholders, ensuring consistent business value delivery - started to gain hands-on experience in Product Management.
- Successfully recruited new team members, coached and mentored them. Supported other Team Leads in their recruitment processes.
06/2019 – 11/2021
Proactively guided the technical innovation.
- Took technical ownership of the whole frontend technology of DailyFX.
- Drove a technical overhaul by introducing TypeScript, unit tests, and Hotwired Turbo to create a seamless SPA-like experience, while cutting developer deployment time by 60% through pipeline optimization.
07/2017 – 06/2019
Gathered technical efficiency on the large-scale project, the DailyFX website.
- Introduced the usage of SASS to the project, which resulted in long-term improvement in stylesheet quality. Maintained and developed new features for the portal.
04/2015 – 07/2017
Independently worked on small apps and large CRM, and ERP systems.
- Designed and developed web and mobile applications for major automotive clients, including MaXserwis and O.K. Serwis.
- Engineered a scalable CMS/ERP platform that provisioned independent client instances managed through a central administration system.
01/2012 – present
Worked on numerous design and webdevelopment projects.
- Created multiple websites and shops, from scratch or using WordPress, and PrestaShop. Designed posters, graphics, banners.
Certificates
Professional Scrum Master™ I (PSM I)
Scrum.org
Contentsquare Certified Expert
Contentsquare
Agile Foundations
Project Management Institute
Interests
Music
Listening, Going to gigs, Music production, Modular synthesizers and instruments, Playing in multiple projects: D. Kowalik, Milczenie, Luty, Grief Christ
DIY & visual
Soldering electronics, DIY instruments, Creating reactive visuals
Bodybuilding
Languages
Polish
Native
English
C1
Russian
A2