🎙 About the Podcast:
Señors @ Scale is a no-fluff engineering podcast hosted by Neciu Dan — diving into the real-world chaos of scaling systems, teams, and yourself. From production bugs to platform bets, we sit down with senior engineers to discuss the scars, strategies, and lessons that truly matter.

In this episode, host Neciu Dan sits down with Bruno Paulino, Tech Lead at N26, to unpack how reliability, experimentation, and platform culture shape one of Europe’s most trusted digital banks.

Bruno’s path is anything but ordinary — from serving as a police officer in Brazil to leading FinTech engineering teams at scale. He shares how N26 builds server-driven UIs, runs AI-powered customer support, and balances speed vs reliability when every deploy touches millions of users.

They break down:

• How server-driven UI lets N26 ship features in minutes

• Why CI/CD pipelines are the backbone of reliability

• What it means to trade speed for resilience in FinTech

• How Statsig changed experimentation culture company-wide

• Lessons from production outages and post-mortems

• Why strong developer experience drives safer systems

It’s a deep dive into the real architecture, trade-offs, and human decisions behind reliable banking systems at scale.

🎧 Whether you’re scaling a FinTech product, managing CI/CD pipelines, or just trying to keep production sane, this one’s for you.

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🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale
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💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/

In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Dan chats with Natalia Venditto, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, and Igor Minar, Senior Director of Engineering at Cloudflare and co-creator of Angular, about WebFragments — a radical new approach to micro-frontends that rethinks how we build for the web.

Natalia and Igor share how WebFragments was born from years of pain with module federation and brittle micro-frontend systems. They explain why shared dependencies and team coupling still plague large-scale applications, and how WebFragments breaks that pattern by isolating each fragment’s JavaScript and DOM context while still delivering a seamless user experience.

We dive deep into the architecture:
how iframes are being reinvented for performance and isolation,
how Shadow DOM and a technique called Reframing encapsulate code like Docker does for containers,
and how Fragment Piercing enables server-rendered fragments to appear instantly — even before the client shell has loaded.

The conversation also covers the challenges of building vendor-agnostic, framework-independent systems, the middleware patterns that eliminate CORS issues, and Cloudflare’s real-world migration of its production dashboard to WebFragments.
Plus, Natalia and Igor share what’s next — from nested fragments and out-of-order streaming to growing an open-source community around this new model of frontend architecture.

Whether you’re building micro-frontends, leading platform teams, or just curious about what’s next for web architecture, this episode is a masterclass in isolation, performance, and pragmatic innovation at scale.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to WebFragments and Guests
06:48 Differentiating WebFragments from Module Federation
13:46 The Promise of Independence in Micro-Frontends
16:49 Reframing: A New Approach to Isolation
19:54 The Concept of Piercing in WebFragments
33:26 Fragment Communication and State Management
36:09 Middleware and Request Routing
39:22 WebFragments in Action at Cloudflare
44:02 Getting Started and Migration Path
50:13 Future Developments and Features
54:37 Community and Contributions
01:02:02 Outro

Follow & Subscribe
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev
🎙 Podcast: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale
📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/

Additional Resources
https://github.com/webfragments
https://blog.cloudflare.com/
https://learn.microsoft.com/

#microfrontends #webfragments #javascript #angular #cloudflare #microsoft #frontend #softwarearchitecture #performance #webdevelopment #softwareengineering #señorsatscale

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines.
How is your team approaching micro-frontends and architectural independence? Share below 👇

In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Erik Grijzen, Principal Software Engineer at New Relic, joins Dan to share his journey from web designer to principal architect and what it really takes to scale UI development across dozens of teams. Erik walks us through how New Relic built one of the first large-scale micro-frontend architectures before the term even existed, designing tooling that lets teams ship independently—from CLI bootstrapping to runtime composition. He explains how to manage hundreds of deploys a day without breaking the platform, and how observability keeps complex systems reliable when they inevitably fail.We dive deep into observability at scale—how metrics, logs, traces, and business data blend to show what’s happening inside distributed systems, and why visibility isn’t just for developers anymore but a business priority tied to uptime, revenue, and customer trust.Erik also shares what technical leadership looks like at New Relic: influencing without authority, scaling architecture through culture, and using processes like RFCs and change documents to make better decisions. He emphasizes writing before building, POCs before roadmaps, and the mindset shift from coding features to guiding direction.The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion on burnout, balance, and habits for longevity in engineering—from sports and shutdown rituals to books like A Philosophy of Software Design and 4,000 Weeks.Whether you’re an architect, staff engineer, or team lead scaling a complex frontend platform, this episode is packed with real lessons on architecture, observability, and leadership at scale.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Erik Grijzen and His Journey08:48 Building a Unified Platform at New Relic13:34 Challenges and Solutions in Micro-Frontend Development18:47 How Observability Works Behind the Scenes32:02 Organizing Teams Around Domains36:38 Testing in Micro Frontends43:38 Technical Leadership and Management49:38 Effective Processes for Teams54:05 Decompressing and Work-Life Balance---Follow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/---Additional Resources[https://newrelic.com/blog](https://newrelic.com/blog)[https://micro-frontends.org/](https://micro-frontends.org/)[https://web.stanford.edu/~ouster/cgi-bin/book.php](https://web.stanford.edu/~ouster/cgi-bin/book.php)[https://oliverburkeman.com/books/4000-weeks/](https://oliverburkeman.com/books/4000-weeks/)#microfrontends #observability #softwarearchitecture #newrelic #frontend #softwareengineering #leadership #teammanagement #engineeringculture #señorsatscaleDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. How is your team scaling architecture and observability? Share below 👇

In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Kateryna Porchienova, Senior Engineering Manager at Buffer, joins Dan to talk about her journey into programming, the craft of UI animation, and why accessibility should be a standard — not an afterthought.Kateryna shares how her very first app, built in high school, ended up helping children with disabilities learn from home — sparking a lifelong commitment to inclusion in tech. She walks us through best practices for accessibility, from learning to use a screen reader to understanding semantic HTML and ARIA roles.We also dive into the tooling side — from React Aria and Radix to Storybook and Lighthouse — and discuss how AI can both help and hurt accessibility efforts. Kateryna explains the most common mistakes developers make (like overusing ARIA labels), why animation and motion preferences matter for users’ health, and how to advocate for accessibility within engineering teams and company culture.The episode closes with her favorite book recommendations on product development and communication, underscoring how great engineering is as much about people as it is about code.🎯 Whether you’re a frontend developer, design system engineer, or tech lead, this episode is packed with real stories, practical takeaways, and thoughtful lessons from years of building inclusive products at scale.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Katarina Porchienova02:40 The Importance of Animation in UI Design05:23 Katarina's Journey into Programming09:02 Exploring Accessibility in Development11:43 Best Practices for Accessibility14:18 Tools and Libraries for Accessibility Testing17:09 The Role of AI in Accessibility20:44 Common Mistakes in Accessibility Implementation24:14 Advocating for Accessibility in Companies30:37 Recommended Books and Closing Thoughts---Follow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/---Here are some additional resources to dive deeper into the topic and learn more:- If you are just starting with accessibility, this free course on Udacity is awesome: 🔗 [Web Accessibility Course / Udacity](https://www.udacity.com/course/web-accessibility--ud891)- A11ycasts series on YouTube is great for bite-sized content on accessibility and screen-reader tutorials🔗 [A11ycasts with Rob Dodson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtTyRajRuyY&list=PLNYkxOF6rcICWx0C9LVWWVqvHlYJyqw7g)- [Adrian Roselli blog](https://adrianroselli.com/posts) is an awesome resource for deep dives on specific topics and details- [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1](https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/)- [ARIA Authoring Practices Guide (APG)](https://www.w3.org/WAI/ARIA/apg/) is super useful for developing different widgets- [HTML Accessibility API Mappings](https://www.w3.org/TR/html-aam/) to see how native HTML elements map to accessibility tree- [Aria Live Regions documentation](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Accessibility/ARIA/ARIA_Live_Regions) to learn more about announcements and live regions- [A11Y support](https://a11ysupport.io/) shows support for various ARIA attributes across different screen readers#accessibility #webdevelopment #frontend #uiux #animation #buffer #reactaria #softwareengineering #a11y #engineeringculture #señorsatscaleDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines.How is your team building accessibility into your workflow? Share below 👇

In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Adrian Marin, founder of AVO and host of FriendlyRB, joins Dan to share his journey into programming and his deep commitment to the Ruby ecosystem.Adrian walks us through his transition from a non-technical background into software development and how he fell in love with Ruby on Rails for its elegance and productivity. He explains why everything in Ruby is an object, what makes Rails still the fastest way to build apps, and how Hotwire redefines frontend development with minimal JavaScript.We also dive into the tools and frameworks shaping today’s developer experience: the rise of Tailwind CSS, why Adrian built AVO to make internal tooling in Rails as smooth as Laravel Nova, and how the Ruby ecosystem continues to thrive with innovative libraries and first-party tools.Beyond code, Adrian shares how community and creativity intersect in tech — from organizing FriendlyRB in Romania to inventing a Ruby Passport that lets conference-goers collect stamps and connect with peers across events.🎯 Whether you’re a Rubyist, Rails engineer, or curious about how productivity frameworks scale, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and lessons from the trenches.---Chapters00:00 Introduction to Adrian Marin and His Journey04:33 The Early Days of Programming06:58 Nostalgia for the Old Web Development Days08:53 Evolution of Web Development Tools12:45 The Impact of AI on Development14:11 The Rise of Tailwind CSS15:16 Adrian's Love for Tailwind CSS20:46 Transitioning from PHP to Ruby on Rails29:35 Building AVO: A Toolkit for Internal Tools34:31 Understanding Hotwire in Rails36:29 Understanding Client-Server Interactions39:30 The Ruby Ecosystem and Community Engagement44:36 Creating Memorable Conferences46:10 Innovative Networking: The Ruby Passport54:46 Getting Started with Ruby on Rails01:06:24 Balancing Work and Family Life01:07:42 Recommended Reads for Developers---Follow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/---#rubyonrails #ruby #rails #hotwire #tailwindcss #avo #softwaredevelopment #developercommunity #webdevelopment #engineeringculture #señorsatscaleDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Are you building with Rails at scale? Share your experience below 👇

In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Andreas Panopoulos — Staff Software Engineer at Hack the Box and co-organizer of Vue.js Athens — joins Dan to share his journey from building jQuery landing pages to leading frontend teams powered by Vue.Andreas walks us through the evolution of Vue.js, from version 2 to 3, and how features like the Composition API and TypeScript support transformed developer experience. He shares what it was like to rewrite Hack the Box’s Academy platform on Nuxt 3, why Vue scales for millions of users, and what performance practices every frontend team should keep in mind.We also dive into the human side of engineering: why understanding the basics of JavaScript is essential even when using frameworks, how public speaking and community organizing can accelerate growth, and why keeping things simple often beats overengineering.Along the way, Andreas reflects on lessons learned from his early career, his transition to staff engineer, and the role of community in shaping modern engineering culture.🎯 Whether you’re a Vue enthusiast, frontend engineer, or developer community organizer, this episode is packed with practical insights and stories from the trenches.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Andreas Panopoulos02:56 Andreas's Journey into Programming09:52 Transitioning to Frontend Development17:52 Current Role at Hack the Box21:41 Vue 2 vs Vue 3: A Developer's Perspective26:13 Lessons Learned from Early Career30:21 Transition to Staff Engineer34:46 Project Updates and Future Plans35:54 Understanding Hack the Box38:25 Security Practices in Development39:47 Performance and User Experience42:03 Vue's Popularity in Athens46:12 Business Logic and Frameworks47:27 Challenges in Finding Speakers52:26 Public Speaking Experiences56:34 Relaxation and Personal Interests58:00 Book RecommendationsFollow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#vuejs #vue3 #nuxt #frontenddevelopment #javascript #hackthebox #softwareengineering #webdevelopment #engineeringculture #señorsatscaleDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Are you using Vue at scale in your team? Share your experience below 👇

In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Faris Aziz — Staff Front-End Engineer at Small PDF, international speaker, and co-founder of ZurichJS — joins Dan to talk about scaling both frontend architecture and engineering culture.Faris shares his unconventional journey from CrossFit trainer to software engineer, and how personal projects became his gateway into tech. He opens up about the realities of working on applications serving 30 million+ users, why BFF architecture is such a powerful pattern for managing data between front-end and back-end, and the hidden pitfalls of performance when building with React and Next.js.We also dig into the human side of architecture: how observability, error management, and developer experience shape reliable systems; why ownership and accountability drive better outcomes than process checklists; and how stress can be reframed when you work in a culture of trust.And beyond code, Faris reflects on community: what it takes to co-found a thriving JavaScript meetup in Zurich, why meetups are “mini start-ups,” and how community building fuels personal and professional growth.🎯 Whether you’re a frontend engineer, engineering manager, or developer community organizer, this episode is packed with architectural insights and real-world lessons from the trenches.---Chapters00:00 Introduction to Faris Aziz and His Journey05:46 From Fitness to Coding: The Bootcamp Experience08:33 Building Personal Projects and Learning by Doing11:28 The Impact of Global Work Culture on Engineering14:24 Co-founding ZurichJS: Building Community in Tech19:57 Technical Insights: React vs. Next.js at Scale25:38 Scaling Challenges in Data Representation31:35 Understanding the BFF Architecture40:44 Authentication and Security in BFFs43:30 Comparing BFF with GraphQL and TRPC49:09 Innovative UI Approaches in Application Development51:27 A Day in the Life of a Staff Engineer52:13 Strategic Engineering at Scale55:46 Managing Stress and Engineering Culture01:01:06 Finding Balance in High-Stakes Environments01:05:37 Book Recommendations and Personal Insights---Follow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#frontend #nextjs #bffarchitecture #javascript #react #softwaredevelopment #engineeringculture #techevents #zurichjs #webdevelopment #señorsatscaleDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Have you ever built — or struggled with — frontend architecture at scale? Share your experience below 👇

In this episode of Señors @ Scale, Aris — founder of CityJS and longtime community builder — joins Dan to talk about the journey from small local meetups to organizing one of the fastest-growing global JavaScript conferences.Aris shares his unlikely path into programming, starting as a basketball-loving student in Greece with no computer at home, to innovating on the job with early Java projects, and eventually embracing frontend frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue. Along the way, he reflects on the competitive yet collaborative nature of programming, the evolution of the frontend ecosystem, and why choosing the “best” framework often depends less on hype and more on context.We dig into the heart of community building: why meetups matter beyond the pizza, how to create opportunities for first-time speakers, and the hidden challenges of finding sponsors and keeping attendees engaged. Aris also opens up about the leap from organizing monthly gatherings to running large-scale international conferences, and why he believes conferences should be treated as professional training — not optional perks.🎯 Whether you’re a frontend developer, a meetup organizer, or simply curious about what it takes to build thriving developer communities, this conversation offers a rare inside look at the messy, human, and rewarding world of tech events.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Name Origins04:14 Aris's Journey into Programming06:56 First Job and Early Experiences09:32 Transition to Frontend Development12:23 Framework Preferences and Ecosystem14:56 Meetups and Community Building17:44 The Importance of Networking20:11 Organizing Meetups and Conferences22:54 Creating Opportunities for New Speakers25:41 Challenges in Meetup Attendance27:32 Sponsorship Strategies for Meetups34:28 Transitioning from Meetups to Conferences39:37 The Value of Conferences for ProfessionalsFollow & Subscribe:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senorsatscale/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neciudev🎙 Podcast URL: https://neciudan.dev/senors-at-scale📬 Newsletter: https://neciudan.dev/subscribe💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neciudan💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/se%C3%B1ors-scale/#javascript #conferences #developercommunity #frontend #meetups #cityjs #softwareengineering #techevents #communitybuilding #señorsatscale #webdevelopmentDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more engineering stories from the front lines. Have you ever spoken — or wanted to speak — at a tech meetup or conference? Share your experience below 👇