Portait of Shakhzod Ikromov

About me

Hello! My name is Shakhzod Ikromov. Currently I work at bookmate.com as CTO. Living in Haifa, Israel. Enjoy photographing and writing music. You can search my name in Apple Music.

I am

Experienced System Architect with 12+ years in software engineering, specializing in the design, maintenance, and optimization of complex systems across B2C and B2B sectors, including entertainment, accounting, and e-commerce. Deep expertise in mobile-first environments (iOS and Android) and Web3 technologies, particularly Solana and blockchain-based architectures. Skilled in streamlining development and deployment pipelines, simplifying legacy codebases, and implementing scalable, feature-rich solutions across distributed teams. Proven ability to lead architectural decisions that align technical strategy with business goals while driving innovation and performance across platforms.

Skills

Experience

CTO, Written; Remote — 2024–Present

Led Full-Stack Architecture and Team Scaling for Beta Launch

Written is a book platform bridging authors and readers directly powered by Solana blockchain.

Directed the end-to-end technical development of a Web3-based platform, building the entire infrastructure from the ground up—including CI/CD pipelines, server architecture, and custom Docker environments. Designed and integrated key system components across the backend, frontend, and Solana smart contracts (written in Rust), culminating in a successful Beta launch. Implemented diverse payment solutions to support monetization. Recruited and onboarded backend and frontend engineers, establishing a foundation for scalable growth. Additionally, assembled and managed mobile development teams for iOS and Android, defined development standards, and guided the mobile product through to its initial release. Tech Stack:
Rust (Solana smart contracts), TypeScript (Solana interface), Ruby on Rails, Next.js, PostgreSQL 15, Docker

CTO, Bookmate; Remote — 2024–Present

Chief Technology Officer – Leadership, System Optimization, and Team Growth

Bookmate is global subscription-based ebook and audiobook service with 16M subscribers (web, iOS and Android apps)

Appointed as CTO to lead the stabilization and scaling of an established company’s technical infrastructure and product strategy. Successfully integrated region-specific payment providers for Germany and Ghana, directly contributing to the acquisition of over 4000 new paying subscribers. Implemented account and device synchronization limits, resulting in a 49% increase in app installations and a 3.5% boost in subscription revenue within the first month of release. Orchestrated a company-wide technical initiative to modernize a codebase with 3-4 years of deprecated dependencies—completed in just 3 months without disrupting ongoing feature delivery. Led recruitment and expansion of the engineering team, bringing on backend, iOS, and Android developers. Provided cross-functional technical leadership while solving complex challenges in a microservices-based architecture. Tech Stack:
JavaScript, Node.js, Ruby on Rails, Docker, MariaDB, Java

Senior Software Engineer, Bookmate; Remote — 2019–2024

Mobile Engineering & Infrastructure Enhancements

I designed and implemented a CI/CD pipeline from the ground up, along with scalable infrastructure and a core framework for automated UI testing. Developed a custom tool to track UI screen changes, which became a critical part of the CI/CD workflow, significantly improving app stability. Within four months, increased iOS code coverage from 4.5% to 66%, enabling reliable release cycles every three weeks. Optimized the iOS app to reduce energy consumption by over 58% during audiobook playback and resolved complex issues related to Apple CarPlay integration. Delivered major upgrades and ensured ongoing maintenance of shared core components used across both iOS and Android platforms. Additionally, supported debugging and issue resolution across mobile and web applications, and implemented key accessibility features to enhance the iOS app’s usability for all users. Tech Stack:
Swift, Objective-C, CoreData, RxSwift, JavaScript, Ruby

Mobile Development Team Lead, NIMB; Moscow — 2017–2019

Mobile Engineering

NIMB, a hardware-based startup, similar to the Oura Ring, designed with a focus on personal security and quick access to emergency contacts. The product won the Red Dot Design Award in 2018 and received recognition from Women’s Health for innovation and exceptional design.

I was responsible for tightly integrating the mobile app with the ring using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). I implemented the ability to flash new firmware to the rings directly through the app and contributed to the development of new app features. My work involved extensive testing across a variety of real-world conditions, including subways, areas with poor connectivity, and crowded public spaces, to ensure reliability. Additionally, I developed a shared C++ library to be used across both Android and iOS platforms, ensuring consistent behavior and performance across devices Tech Stack:
Swift, Objective-C, Objective-C++, C++, C, Java, RxSwift, BLE

Mobile Development Team Lead, Sretenie; Moscow — 2016–2017

Mobile Engineering

I worked as the Lead iOS Engineer on “Russian Roads” (rusroads.com), an interactive online map partially funded by the Russian government to support the tourism industry. The platform offered a collection of audiobooks, audio guides, and detailed descriptions of travel destinations across Russia. My key responsibilities included integrating OpenStreetMap functionality into the app using the MAPS.ME rendering engine. I also forked the MAPS.ME codebase to implement missing features, such as multi-point navigation, and optimized the app for performance on older devices like the iPhone 5s to ensure broader accessibility. Tech Stack:
Objective-C, Objective-C++, C++, C

Software Engineer, iHoops; Tashkent — 2014–2016

Mobile Engineering and backend development

Developed multiple iOS and backend solutions for various services in Uzbekistan, including several published iOS games and entertainment applications. One of the key projects involved building a system that synchronized inventory between physical retail stores and an online website—this included both backend infrastructure and an iOS application. The core components of this system are still actively used today. Additionally, I played a key role in integrating and stress-testing some of the first online payment solutions introduced in Uzbekistan, helping to lay the foundation for the country’s modern e-commerce ecosystem.
Also, mentored and trained junior engineers and interns, contributing to the growth of local technical talent. Tech Stack:
Swift, Objective-C, Java, Ruby on Rails, Node.js, JavaScript

Education

Technical College in Information and Communication Technologies

Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Graduated: 2016
Focus: Software Development, Networking, and IT Systems

You can contact me at aabbcc.double [at] gmail.com