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Reliable Systems • Infrastructure as Code • Operational Excellence

Hi, I’m Tom Papatolis.

My specialty is crafting robust, scalable IT systems and the automation that powers them. I deliver end-to-end solutions—from infrastructure design to deployment tooling—with an unwavering focus on clarity, reliability, and performance under pressure.

View Projects About Me Let’s Connect
Based in Germany (NRW) – Available for Remote & Hybrid Roles Engineering for Quality, High Stability, and Peak Performance Commitment to Clean Code, Testing, and Zero Technical Debt

01. About

Overview

I am a software architect and engineer with a background in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, shaped by work across academia, industry, and large-scale systems. My career has spanned early internet infrastructure, enterprise software, manufacturing automation, media and advisory roles, and mission-critical environments, always with a focus on building reliable, well-structured solutions. Now based in Düsseldorf for over a decade, I work at the intersection of development, operations, and system architecture, designing and maintaining scalable web platforms, cloud infrastructure, and automation-driven systems. I value clarity, durability, and pragmatic engineering, and I approach technology as a tool to solve real problems rather than a goal in itself.

Skillset

Systems and Architecture

  • Software Architecture
  • System Design
  • Scalable and Maintainable Systems
  • Legacy System Modernization

Backend and Databases

  • PHP
  • .NET (C#, ASP.NET)
  • Python
  • SQL (MySQL, MariaDB)

Frontend

  • JavaScript (ES6+)
  • React
  • HTML5, CSS3, Sass

Frameworks and Platforms

  • CodeIgniter
  • Custom CMS Development
  • API Design and Integration

DevOps and Infrastructure

  • Linux
  • Apache
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • CI/CD Pipelines
  • Infrastructure Automation
  • Git

Cloud

  • Cloud Applications on Microsoft Azure
  • Azure Virtual Machines and Networking
  • Azure App Services and Container Platforms
  • Azure Identity and Access Management (Entra ID)
  • Infrastructure as Code (Bicep, Terraform

Security and Reliability

  • Secure Communications
  • System Hardening
  • Access Control
  • Reliability and Fault Tolerance

AI and Machine Learning

  • Large Language Models (LLMs)
  • Transformers and Deep Learning (TensorFlow, PyTorch)
  • Model Training and Fine-Tuning
  • AI-Assisted Development
  • Hugging Face Ecosystem

Local AI Tooling

  • LM Studio
  • ComfyUI
  • ForgeUI
  • Wan2GP

Generative Media

  • Local AI Image Generation
  • Local AI Video Generation

02. Career Timeline

A focused snapshot of my career progression, from hands-on engineering to leadership roles and complex, large-scale systems.

  • IT.NRW
    Landesbetrieb Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen IT.NRW
    IT Deployment & Integration Manager

    I currently work as an IT Deployment & Integration Manager at IT.NRW, an organization with more than 3,000 employees. Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen (IT.NRW) serves as the central IT service provider and statistical office of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and traces its origins back to the Statistisches Landesamt Nordrhein-Westfalen, founded on July 1, 1948.

    At IT.NRW, we design, develop, and deliver a wide range of IT projects for public-sector clients, including ministries, governmental authorities, and public institutions. These projects support mission-critical administrative and statistical systems across the state and demand high standards of security, reliability, and regulatory compliance. In my role, I am responsible for overseeing deployment and integration processes, ensuring the smooth and reliable introduction of systems and services within complex technical and organizational environments.

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  • LGH
    Landes-Gewerbeförderungsstelle des nordrhein-westfälischen Handwerks
    Platform Operations & Integration Manager

    In my role, I was responsible for managing a portal supporting 470,000 registered students, 2,900 schools, 170 educational institutions, 65 municipalities, and two ministries as part of the KAoA (Kein Abschluss ohne Anschluss - Transition from School to Work) project. I also initiated and led the development of a second portal from the ground up, built on my VerdinCMS platform, primarily focused on statistical analysis and data exports, significantly improving data accessibility and operational efficiency.

    Beyond this, I played a key role in the implementation and operation of multiple systems, ranging from server configurations to the reliable operation of various digital platforms at LGH. LGH is a key institution in North Rhine-Westphalia responsible for administering and supporting state, federal, and EU funding programs for the craft sector. These programs support vocational qualifications, business foundations, and long-term economic development across the region, making system reliability, data accuracy, and operational stability critical requirements of the platforms involved.

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  • Denfinox GmbH
    Designing and Engineering Scalable Software Systems
    Founder & Software Architect

    I founded my company in the heart of Düsseldorf, delivering primarily .NET-based software solutions to the North Rhine–Westphalia market. I designed and developed a full-scale Remote Education system, which was funded as a startup initiative by NRW BANK. The software was independently valued at €1,000,000, reflecting its technical depth, scalability, and market potential.

    In parallel, I designed, evolved, and successfully sold a complete Point-of-Sale (POS) platform tailored to the food and hospitality industry. The system covered end-to-end operational needs, combining robust architecture with real-world business requirements, and was adopted in production environments.

  • PS Printservice GmbH
    PS Printservice GmbH & Xytaro GmbH
    Senior .NET Software Engineer

    In November 2012, I relocated to Germany and joined PS Printservice, one of Europe’s leading laser toner manufacturers. I was entrusted with the redevelopment of a mission-critical ticketing system that was central to internal operations. The existing Microsoft Access solution was no longer scalable, so I designed and implemented a complete replacement using .NET C# and DevExpress. The new system was deployed into production within six months and significantly improved workflow automation, system reliability, and support efficiency across the organization.

    Following the successful delivery of this project, I was given increased responsibility and assigned to a major strategic initiative for Xytaro GmbH, the sister company. I designed and delivered an enterprise-grade corporate training platform that had previously remained unrealized. The system included a .NET based training designer, an automated course publishing service, and interactive touch terminals built on Debian Linux, MySQL, and PHP. The final solution enabled centralized content management, real-time interaction, and consistent training delivery across multiple locations. In recognition of the impact and quality of my work, the CEO awarded me two salary increases.

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  • Kontra Channel
    Private Greek Television Network focused on News and Current Affairs
    TV Host

    My long-standing interest in public writing, combined with the turbulent period in Greece at the time, led to an unexpected professional opportunity. An article I published on my personal blog was shared with Greek media entrepreneur Giorgos Kouris, who decided to turn the concept described in the article into a live television program. Within less than ten days, I was in Athens, hosting a live broadcast twice a week for two hours. During this period, I conducted interviews with prominent public figures and political leaders, and contributed reports for international media outlets including the BBC, Al Jazeera, and broadcasters across the Balkans. The program attracted significant public attention and achieved strong audience engagement. At the same time, I was preparing a professional transition into the information technology sector in Athens, driven by the economic decline of Thessaloniki during that period.

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  • Belco Systems
    Leading Greek Manufacturer of Aluminum Systems and Products
    Technical Lead & Production Manager

    The CEO of Belco Systems, one of the largest manufacturers of aluminum products in Greece, approached me to develop a custom module for the company’s CRM system, which had originally been built in .NET. As the original software provider was unable to deliver the required functionality, I was offered a full-time position to take over the task. I designed and delivered the requested module successfully, which led to broader involvement in the company’s internal systems and operational processes.

    Following this delivery, I focused on automating key production workflows to address inefficiencies and recurring manufacturing errors that were causing significant aluminum waste. Through targeted software-driven automation, I optimized most of the production process, improving efficiency, reducing material loss, and increasing employee satisfaction. Due to my deep involvement and detailed understanding of the production environment, I was offered and accepted the role of Production Manager, where I led overall production operations and continuous improvements in efficiency, quality, and cost control.

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  • BC Media Group
    Media and Broadcasting Group
    IT Investment Consultant

    This role emerged through a professional recommendation and evolved into a high-trust advisory position. I was invited to meet with an entrepreneur who owned multiple television stations and a diversified corporate group. While the initial assumption was that the discussion would involve a technical project, the meeting resulted in an offer to act as an IT Investment Consultant, advising directly at executive level. The entrepreneur lacked deep technical expertise despite significant financial resources and had previously made several unsuccessful IT investments. He was seeking an independent specialist to evaluate technology-driven projects and guide future decisions. The level of trust was reflected in the fact that I was asked to define my own compensation and was immediately introduced to senior management.

    My responsibilities focused on reviewing business plans, technical documentation, and proposed IT investments, combining software engineering expertise with infrastructure assessment and risk evaluation. I advised on feasibility, cost structures, long-term sustainability, and strategic alignment, helping prevent further misallocated investments. The role provided first-hand exposure to executive decision-making and high-stakes technology investments.

  • PC Global
    IT Services, Software & Infrastructure Solutions
    Founder & IT Systems Engineer

    After completing my military service, I found it impossible to sustain my previous company, ATECH, and returned to a business environment where all clients had been lost. Rather than viewing this as a setback, I used it as an opportunity to start over and founded PC Global, with the goal of going beyond traditional IT services. This period coincided with a major digital shift driven by personal computing, high-speed internet, and the rapid growth of technology-based businesses.

    I expanded the company’s focus from internet services into hardware solutions, enterprise IT systems, and large-scale networking, addressing growing demand for PCs, infrastructure, and custom-built solutions. During this time, I developed multiple software projects, implemented enterprise-level IT solutions, and designed extensive network infrastructures for the rapidly expanding internet café industry, which had become a central hub for online gaming and digital connectivity. Through strategic positioning, technical depth, and adaptability, PC Global grew into a reliable IT services and hardware provider, transforming a post-military restart into a sustainable and competitive business.

  • NATO Deployment Command
    NATO Deployment Command
    Lieutenant – Communications & Intelligence

    During my military service, I served as a Second Lieutenant responsible for secure military communications, after completing officer training at the Haidari Officers’ School in Athens, where I received intensive instruction in military strategy and operations alongside Cypriot special forces. I was subsequently assigned to the NATO Deployment Command of the 3rd Army Corps in Thessaloniki, working on high-security communications and intelligence-related systems. During a deployment on Leros Island, in cooperation with the Greek Armed Forces High Command, I developed specialized software for intercepting and decoding hostile transmissions. This experience strengthened my strategic thinking, decision-making under pressure, and understanding of mission-critical, secure communication systems.

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  • ATECH
    Web Development & Hosting Services
    Co-Founder & Technical Lead

    At the dawn of the internet era in Greece, when online presence was still largely unexplored, I co-founded ATECH in Thessaloniki in response to growing interest from businesses seeking their first step into the digital world. The company was established after an investor recognized the emerging demand for web services and approached me based on my prior work at the Information Technology Support Center of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where I completed my internship and received two awards for technical excellence. Invited to help build one of the city’s first professional web design and hosting providers, I operated in a market with limited infrastructure and no DSL availability. I designed, built, and maintained our own dedicated servers, initially running on multiple ISDN lines to keep operating costs low, while leading the development of websites that became the first online presence for many local businesses.

    ATECH quickly became a reference point for early web adoption in the region, delivering end-to-end web development and hosting services at a time when such offerings were rare. Client demand grew rapidly, reflecting the urgency businesses felt to establish themselves online during this formative period. The company achieved strong financial performance and played a meaningful role in Thessaloniki’s digital transformation, long before concepts such as digital marketing or e-commerce became mainstream. This experience marked a defining phase in my career, shaping my entrepreneurial mindset and laying the foundation for my future work in software engineering, IT consulting, and large-scale digital systems.

  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
    Polytechnic School · Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
    Undergraduate Studies and Research Intern

    I studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Polytechnic School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. At the time, there was no standalone computer science faculty, so the program included an additional fourteen advanced computer science courses, and the degree was officially recognized at master’s level due to its academic scope. During my studies, I completed my internship at the Center for IT and Networking of Aristotle University, where an initial six-month placement was extended to eighteen months following two contract renewals. Working at one of Greece’s largest and most prestigious universities, I contributed to high-profile research initiatives, including human DNA decryption projects running on Solaris-based systems. I also developed multiple web applications supporting research activities, two of which received official university awards for innovation. During this period, I collaborated with leading researchers and co-founded Greece’s first Linux community, an experience that deeply influenced my technical mindset and early involvement in open-source technologies.

    At the same time, I worked alongside my studies to support myself financially, gaining extensive hands-on experience in computer hardware and systems architecture. I assembled over 400 custom-built PCs for Matsoukas Bros, developing a deep understanding of computer internals through practical, hands-on work. As the company grew, pricing and supplier management became increasingly complex, so I designed a custom Microsoft Access application to automate quotations and streamline operations. This solution significantly improved efficiency and was recognized by the owner as a critical operational improvement. These parallel experiences, combining academic rigor with real-world problem-solving, shaped my practical approach to technology and laid the foundation for my later work in software engineering, systems architecture, and entrepreneurship.

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03. Featured Projects

A curated selection of public projects that highlight my approach, technical depth, and real-world impact.

VerdinCMS

AI-Driven Content Platform

VerdinCMS is a modern, high-performance content platform built for developers who demand speed, precision, and full ownership of their systems. It removes the limitations of traditional CMS solutions, offering a clean and extensible core designed to scale with complex, real-world requirements.

At its core, VerdinCMS serves as a foundation for building AI-powered, flexible, and future-ready platforms. Its architecture prioritizes control, configurability, and long-term maintainability, making it suitable for professional environments where performance, automation, and adaptability are essential.

See It in Action View on GitHub

Vernetic

Utility-Based CSS Framework

Vernetic is a CSS framework I originally created out of necessity for my own projects, long before the rise of Tailwind CSS. At the time, Bootstrap and Foundation dominated the landscape, but neither aligned with the way I wanted to build interfaces. This led me to design a fully utility-based CSS framework tailored to flexibility, clarity, and hands-on control over styling.

Over the years, Vernetic evolved through real-world use and became a core part of my workflow. Building and maintaining it allowed me to deeply understand modern CSS practices, advanced SASS functions, and the importance of backward compatibility with older browsers. When Tailwind CSS later emerged, it immediately resonated with me, as it closely mirrored the philosophy and approach I had independently developed, making it a tool I now love and use extensively.

View on GitHub

DeskStreem

Ticketing System

Designed to streamline workflows, this ticketing system is named after the way it operates: tickets flow seamlessly from desk to desk until final resolution. It introduces a distinct operational model that has been proven in demanding, real-world environments, handling high volumes while maintaining clarity and accountability. Intelligent routing, role-based access, and a clean interface ensure teams stay focused on resolving issues rather than managing the system itself.

By eliminating bottlenecks and delays, it turns daily issue resolution into a smooth and reliable process. Integrated AI assists both new and experienced employees with contextual guidance and smart suggestions, while a security-first architecture allows the system to operate in isolated, high-security networks without internet access. Deployment remains flexible, running on enterprise servers or on the Deskstreem Box, a compact, cost-effective hardware solution I designed specifically for this platform.

LinkOreo

Link Management System

Linkoreo is a lightweight, self-hosted link management system built with CodeIgniter, JS and Tailwind CSS. It helps you organize bookmarks into tabs, sections, and links through a clean, fast, and responsive interface, complemented by practical admin tools designed for everyday use. Built with simplicity, performance, and full data ownership in mind, it was also a fun project for me to design and refine from the ground up.

The name has a small personal twist. In Greek, oreo (ωραίο) means “nice” or “beautiful,” and the inspiration also came from my daughter, who happens to love Oreo cookies. The result is a project that blends practicality with a bit of personality, offering a “nice” way to keep your links organized, along with a smile behind the name.

See It in Action View on GitHub

Tomgineer

Building Value Beyond the Noise

Tomgineer was born from a long period of writing about technology, economics, and ideas, paired with the growing feeling that simply adding more content was adding more noise. Creating in the digital world often felt fragile and fragmented, like building with sand in a loud, windy place. What was missing was structure, intention, and a unifying system. The idea of the “engineer” emerged not as a job title, but as a mindset: someone who does not just create, but designs, filters, organizes, and gives form to something useful. That shift in thinking became the foundation of the project.

Tomgineer is not just a website, but a tool-driven platform where every article, line of code, and idea serves a clear purpose. Its goal is to turn scattered information into usable knowledge and practical solutions. The mission is simple but demanding: to act as a filter between noise and substance, and to build value instead of chasing clicks. Ultimately, Tomgineer is an invitation to a journey, one that leads not to more content, but to better tools, clearer thinking, and things that can actually be built and applied.

See It in Action

Promitheas

Powering National-Scale Industrial Intelligence

Promitheas is a sovereign-grade, AI-first industrial intelligence platform built to deliver national-scale competitive advantage. Using advanced machine learning, predictive analytics, and real-time optimization, it transforms factories and supply chains into self-learning, autonomous systems. By reducing downtime, increasing output, and optimizing energy and resource usage, Promitheas drives measurable efficiency gains, cost reduction, and long-term ROI across critical industries.

For governments and large enterprises, Promitheas is a strategic infrastructure asset. It strengthens industrial resilience, supports technological sovereignty, and accelerates the transition to smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Designed for scalability, interoperability, and secure on-premise or hybrid deployment, it enables data-driven policy alignment, sustainable growth, and global competitiveness. In an AI-driven economy, Promitheas positions nations and industries to lead rather than follow.

04. GitHub Repos

The repositories shown here are my public projects, synced directly from GitHub. Additional private work is not publicly visible.

verdincms

A modern Content Management System built with PHP 8 and the CodeIgniter 4 Framework, featuring integrated AI support.

Language: PHP

Created: 2025-07-03

Last pushed: 2025-12-16

View on GitHub

collections

A lightweight PHP and Tailwind (DaisyUI) web app that automatically processes and displays your Obsidian exported collections. It cleans raw HTML files, extracts tables, calculates item counts and total MSRP values, and presents everything in a clean and responsive interface with no database needed.

Language: HTML

Created: 2025-12-14

Last pushed: 2025-12-14

View on GitHub

linkoreo

Linkoreo is a lightweight, self-hosted link management system built with CodeIgniter 4, Tailwind CSS, and DaisyUI. It helps you organize your bookmarks into tabs, sections, and links with a clean, responsive interface and powerful admin tools.

Language: PHP

Created: 2025-12-03

Last pushed: 2025-12-07

View on GitHub

iconium

Iconium – A Curated Collection of Handcrafted Icons in .ico and .png

Created: 2025-06-29

Last pushed: 2025-12-03

View on GitHub

dotfiles-win

These are my user-specific configuration files that I use to personalize my Windows experience.

Language: PowerShell

Created: 2025-06-28

Last pushed: 2025-09-07

View on GitHub

streamdeck-icons

Elgato Stream Deck 288x288 Icons

Created: 2025-08-23

Last pushed: 2025-08-23

View on GitHub

obsidian-para-boilerplate

A minimal, ready-to-use folder structure for Obsidian based on the PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives). Use this boilerplate to kickstart your personal knowledge management system with a clean and organized foundation.

Created: 2025-07-04

Last pushed: 2025-07-04

View on GitHub

empitrio

Empitrio — A Terminal MP3 Player Built with Rust

Language: Rust

Created: 2025-07-02

Last pushed: 2025-07-03

View on GitHub

vernito

Ultra-Lightweight CSS Framework

Language: SCSS

Created: 2025-03-10

Last pushed: 2025-06-29

View on GitHub

LinuxCheatsheets

Linux Cheatsheets: A Handy Collection for Beginners

Created: 2024-11-16

Last pushed: 2025-06-29

View on GitHub

vernetic

Vernetic CSS Framework

Language: SCSS

Created: 2023-05-28

Last pushed: 2025-06-29

View on GitHub

ejs_parser

Editor.js JSON React Parser

Language: TypeScript

Created: 2020-11-06

Last pushed: 2025-06-29

View on GitHub

winai-icons

A collection of Windows icons that I have personally created using AI-generated designs. These icons are crafted to be modern, clean, and visually appealing, perfect for customization, themes, and UI enhancements.

Created: 2025-03-05

Last pushed: 2025-03-08

View on GitHub

colorfactory

Alter your colors

Language: Visual Basic .NET

Created: 2020-09-12

Last pushed: 2020-09-12

View on GitHub

colorpad

Color Picker for your 4K Display

Language: Visual Basic .NET

Created: 2020-09-12

Last pushed: 2020-09-12

View on GitHub

soundpad

SoundPAD Pro

Language: Visual Basic .NET

Created: 2020-09-11

Last pushed: 2020-09-11

View on GitHub

javalytics

A powerful Java App to convert raw stats data into human readable statistics

Language: Java

Created: 2019-08-06

Last pushed: 2019-08-16

View on GitHub

java-mousemover

A Java Mouse Mover

Language: Java

Created: 2019-08-13

Last pushed: 2019-08-13

View on GitHub

05. Professional References

Selected excerpts from formal employment references.

“Throughout his employment, he proved to be reliable, highly efficient, exceptionally talented, and well-organized, with a unique ability to solve complex problems. Every project assigned to him was completed successfully and to an excellent final result.”

Dimitris Beligiannis
CEO — Belco Systems

“He performed all tasks with great care, reliability, and precision, consistently to our fullest satisfaction. He stood out through his above-average ability to quickly grasp new concepts, his resilience, versatility, initiative, and his strong sense of responsibility and trustworthiness.”

Pedro Schöller
CEO — PS Printservice GmbH

“He demonstrated outstanding and in-depth expertise, which he consistently applied with great success in a highly complex area of responsibility. Even in new and challenging situations, he quickly found his way and performed his duties with great confidence, reliability, and a strong sense of responsibility.”

Jürgen-Johannes Lau
CEO — Landes-Gewerbeförderungsstelle des nordrhein-westfälischen Handwerks (LGH)

06. Let’s Connect

Collaboration starts with a conversation

Looking for a dedicated professional to collaborate with? I’m always open to new opportunities and conversations. Whether you have a project in mind, need advice, or just want to network, feel free to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!

Say Hello!