Rudi Aj

Senior Frontend Engineer (Rijeka, Croatia)

10 years of experience specialising in Next.js and React.

Feb 2025 - Present · RemoteGledCo-founderReal estate B2B SaaS platform for property agents (Side project)

Built and launched a self-funded, profitable-from-day-one real estate B2B SaaS product that helps agents save time and discover new property listings on the market.
Achieved 100% customer retention and organic paid growth through word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied real estate agents.
Developed an automated property search tool that notifies agents immediately when new listings appear on major Croatian real estate platforms, enabling them to be the first to contact sellers.
Engineered a platform that distinguishes between private sellers and agency listings, with customizable filters for location, property type, and price range.

Jul 2025 - Nov 2025 · 5 mos · RemoteElixirrFrontend Developer ContractorDigital consulting firm specializing in transformation and growth

Developed a custom registration flow and live race tracking website for the Nedbank Gravel Burn cycling event using Next.js, Payload CMS, GraphQL.
Built the live race platform from the ground up within a tight deadline, integrating real-time data feeds from Race Base Pro to deliver dynamic rider tracking, stage progress updates, and leaderboard changes.
Created a premium digital experience, bringing the seven-day gravel race through South Africa's Karoo to a global audience.

Apr 2024 - Jan 2025 · 10 mos · RemotePlayAIFrontend EngineerAI voice platform for TTS models backed by Y Combinator, acquired by Meta

Over nine months, I implemented SEO strategies that achieved top-3 Google search rankings for high-impact keywords like "AI voice generator" and "text to speech.", leading to 300% increase in organic traffic (50K to 300K monthly visitors). Additionally, I enhanced Play.ht's site performance by 56% and upgraded the entire project architecture from Next.js pages to the app router.
Refactored the Play.ai project, transitioning from a static Next.js setup to a fully customized Payload CMS architecture.

May 2023 - Apr 2024 · 1 yr · RemoteBRIX HoldingsFrontend EngineerMulti-brand franchising company specializing in food service chains

Led the successful implementation and subsequent rewrite (Wordpress to Next.js + Prismic) of three franchising landing page redesigns at BRIX Holdings.

Jan 2022 - May 2023 · 1 yr 5 mos · RemoteDickey's Barbecue PitFrontend EngineerWorld's largest and fastest growing barbecue franchise

Contributed to multiple franchising projects owned by the company.
Worked closely with designers during the planning phase of the OLO dashboard complete rewrite from the standalone React to a Next.js app. Initiated the frontend bootstrapping, taking the lead in selecting technologies and implementing best practices. Played a key role in the project rewrite, which successfully brought down hosting costs by 80%.

Jul 2020 - Nov 2021 · 1 yr 5 mos · RemoteAccountableFrontend EngineerSeries A FinTech startup, backed by Venture Capital, acquired by Visma for €110M

Enhanced application for dual-market functionality in Belgium and Germany with multilingual support for improved user engagement.
Integrated a bank account connection feature, automating payment reconciliation and providing real-time insights on tax obligations, enabling users to make informed financial decisions.

Jan 2020 - Jun 2020 · 6 mos · RemoteTAIAFrontend EngineerModern AI-assisted translation platform.

Played a pivotal role in refactoring and advancing Taia Translations Platform from MVP to version 1 within a dynamic six-month period.

Nov 2017 - Dec 2019 · 2 yrs 3 mos · Rijeka · On-siteSignature NetworksFullstack EngineerDigital agency

Worked closely with AutoScout24 in-house team, transforming their monolith-based structure to a modern React Web App.
Guided and mentored junior developers through coding best practices and project workflows.
Contributed as a core developer on in-house product - accounting app built using MERN stack.

Mar 2017 - Sep 2017 · 7 mos · Belgrade · On-siteDigital CubeFrontend EngineerDigital agency

Jun 2016 - Mar 2017 · 9 mos · Belgrade · On-siteUpwork/FreelanceFrontend Engineer

Nov 2015 - May 2016 · 7 mos · Belgrade · On-siteOriginTrailFrontend Engineer InternVerifiable Web for Decentralised #AI

Sep 2014 - Mar 2017SAE InstituteB.S.c. Web Development

Sep 2008 - Jul 2012Natural Science and Graphic School RijekaWeb Designer