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Alexandros Papounidis

Senior Software Engineer, PayTech at ASOS.com

Designing scalable, event-driven .NET microservices on Azure to power millions of secure ASOS customer payments worldwide.

Open to opportunities
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About

Professional headshot of Alexandros Papounidis

Hi, I'm Alexandros Papounidis, a senior software engineer with a decade of experience building event-driven systems across PayTech, prop-tech, and academia. I specialize in .NET microservices running on Azure and thrive on solving reliability and scalability challenges for high-volume platforms.

At ASOS.com I lead initiatives inside the PayTech group, from integrating Checkout.com as an additional card gateway to orchestrating card, wallet, and BNPL flows that remain PCI DSS compliant. I design and implement resilient payment and refund pipelines, drive observability strategy, and partner closely with security and product teams.

Previously at Boomin.com I worked on automated property valuations, scheduling, and utility services across a micro frontends architecture, and at University College Birmingham I delivered dozens of end-to-end systems powering admissions, finance, accommodation, and compliance. Regardless of the domain, I pair strong technical execution with mentoring, recruitment, and a focus on measurable impact.

  • Integrated Checkout.com to strengthen ASOS payment resilience and cash-flow diversification
  • Led an end-to-end performance testing program for asynchronous PayTech endpoints
  • Built automated valuation, scheduling, and onboarding tools for Boomin’s renters, buyers, and agents
  • Delivered dozens of internal systems for University College Birmingham departments and compliance teams

Who Am I

I live in Birmingham, UK, where I split my time between building resilient payment systems and deliberately stepping outside of my comfort zone. Working across PayTech, real estate, and education taught me to translate complex requirements into concise solutions, whether that means orchestrating PCI-compliant microservices or helping colleagues navigate release readiness. I recharge by heading outdoors—jogging the canals, hiking new trails, or climbing at local bouldering gyms—and I travel frequently to experience different cultures and ways of living. Hackathons remain one of my favourite ways to collaborate under pressure, and on rainy days you can usually find me reverse engineering software or running malware analysis labs just to learn something new. Those pursuits keep me curious, empathetic, and ready to mentor teammates tackling their own big challenges.

Location

Birmingham, UK

Languages

  • English (Fluent)
  • Greek/Cypriot (Fluent)
  • Russian (Fluent)

Interests

  • Jogging and distance running
  • Hiking and indoor bouldering
  • Traveling to explore new cultures
  • Hackathons and rapid prototyping
  • Reverse engineering and malware analysis

Fun Facts

  • Complete annual PCI DSS and secure handling training for ASOS PayTech
  • Hold Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) Level 3 certification
  • Cisco CCNA 1 & 2 certified since 2009
  • Regular hackathon participant and mentor for junior engineers

Skills & Technologies

Payments & Backend Engineering5 skills

  • .NET (C#)Expert
    .NET (C#) proficiency: Expert
  • Event-driven microservicesExpert
    Event-driven microservices proficiency: Expert
  • Azure (Functions, Service Bus, Event Grid)Advanced
    Azure (Functions, Service Bus, Event Grid) proficiency: Advanced
  • Cosmos DB & SQL data storesAdvanced
    Cosmos DB & SQL data stores proficiency: Advanced
  • Secure payment orchestration (PCI DSS)Advanced
    Secure payment orchestration (PCI DSS) proficiency: Advanced

Frontend & Web Experience5 skills

  • ReactAdvanced
    React proficiency: Advanced
  • TypeScriptAdvanced
    TypeScript proficiency: Advanced
  • Micro frontends & Next.jsAdvanced
    Micro frontends & Next.js proficiency: Advanced
  • Accessibility, SEO & Core Web VitalsAdvanced
    Accessibility, SEO & Core Web Vitals proficiency: Advanced
  • Design systems & UI performanceIntermediate
    Design systems & UI performance proficiency: Intermediate

Delivery, Ops & Observability4 skills

  • Docker & KubernetesAdvanced
    Docker & Kubernetes proficiency: Advanced
  • CI/CD (Azure DevOps & GitHub Actions)Advanced
    CI/CD (Azure DevOps & GitHub Actions) proficiency: Advanced
  • Monitoring & observability (App Insights, Grafana)Advanced
    Monitoring & observability (App Insights, Grafana) proficiency: Advanced
  • TDD/BDD & automationAdvanced
    TDD/BDD & automation proficiency: Advanced

Leadership & Collaboration4 skills

  • Mentoring & recruitmentAdvanced
    Mentoring & recruitment proficiency: Advanced
  • Stakeholder communicationAdvanced
    Stakeholder communication proficiency: Advanced
  • Security & compliance advocacyAdvanced
    Security & compliance advocacy proficiency: Advanced
  • Cross-functional delivery leadershipAdvanced
    Cross-functional delivery leadership proficiency: Advanced

Work Experience

  1. Senior Software Engineer, PayTech

    ASOS.com

    Deliver secure, high-availability payment and refund capabilities across card, wallet, and BNPL providers for millions of ASOS customers.

    Key Achievements

    • Integrated Checkout.com as an additional card gateway to strengthen resilience and cash-flow diversification.
    • Built thoroughly tested payment and refund orchestration services that handle Cards, PayPal, Braintree, Klarna, and Afterpay with strict PCI DSS controls.
    • Led an end-to-end performance testing approach for asynchronous PayTech endpoints to expose regressions before launch.
    • Serve on the Monitoring & Observability committee and Security Code of Practice group while recruiting and mentoring new engineers.

    Technologies

    .NETC#AzureCosmos DBAzure FunctionsAzure Service BusDockerKubernetesReactTypeScript
    Current Role

  2. Full Stack Developer

    Boomin.com

    Built renter, buyer, landlord, and agent experiences inside a microservices + micro frontends platform for the UK property market.

    Key Achievements

    • Implemented automated and bespoke property valuation flows and booking journeys that connect renters, buyers, and estate agents.
    • Shipped appointment scheduling, authentication, and utility service integrations covering broadband, gas, electric, and life insurance partners.
    • Improved analytics, SEO, accessibility, and Core Web Vitals baselines across key funnels.
    • Represented the engineering group in the cyber security guild to drive secure-by-default practices.

    Technologies

    .NETC#ReactTypeScriptAzureDockerKubernetesTraefikCosmos DB

  3. Full Stack Developer

    University College Birmingham

    Delivered dozens of data-driven web applications supporting staff plus FE/HE students across critical university departments.

    Key Achievements

    • Built systems for Admissions, Finance, Accommodation, Timetabling, Immigration Compliance, Enrollment, and Reprographics.
    • Owned full life cycle delivery for internal and external stakeholders, from requirements capture and design to deployment and support.
    • Implemented integrations with the UK Department for Education, QLs, Canvas, and data harvesting partners.
    • Balanced solo ownership with collaborative delivery inside a small cross-functional engineering team.

    Technologies

    .NETC#SQL ServerAzureREST APIsCanvas LMSPowerShell

  4. Graduate Software Developer

    EDM Group UK

    Supported large-scale internal platforms and bespoke solutions for clients including AVIS Budget Group, Mercedes, and Lloyds Banking Group.

    Key Achievements

    • Developed and maintained HR, ticketing, and document/shipment tracking systems used across the organisation.
    • Served as Intranet master and built APIs for third-party consumers.
    • Created the Metastorm BPM 7 & 9 Solution Comparison Tool to accelerate upgrade decisions.

    Technologies

    .NETMetastorm BPMSQL ServerSharePointIISREST APIs