Tom Smykowski is a product-minded staff software engineer and engineering workshop facilitator with nearly two decades of experience in product delivery, combining deep technical expertise with a focus on knowledge sharing and team enablement. He is the ideal hire for organizations looking to upskill their engineering teams, implement modern practices like AI-assisted development, and improve developer productivity through structured, interactive workshops. His background spans from founding a SaaS business serving over 32,000 companies to leading frontend at industrial SaaS firms and contributing to platforms used by millions, giving him the practical, battle-tested experience needed to design and facilitate workshops that deliver tangible results.
What an Engineering Workshop Facilitator Delivers
An effective engineering workshop facilitator does more than just present information. They create an interactive learning environment where teams can collaboratively solve real problems, adopt new tools, and align on best practices. Tom’s approach focuses on actionable outcomes, whether the goal is adopting AI coding agents, improving code review processes, or building a more robust design system.
His workshops are tailored to your team’s specific context and challenges. Drawing from his extensive experience at companies like Printify, where he contributed to a design system used by over 60 frontend engineers, and Croissant, where he worked on compliance and collaboration features, he ensures content is relevant and immediately applicable. The facilitation style is engaging and practical, emphasizing hands-on exercises over passive lectures.
For technical leaders, the value lies in accelerated skill acquisition and team alignment. A well-facilitated workshop can break down silos, introduce efficient workflows, and provide a safe space for teams to experiment with new technologies like TypeScript, Vue.js, or AI tooling, leading to long-term improvements in velocity and code quality.
Core Workshop Topics and Formats
Tom offers a range of engineering workshops designed to address common challenges in modern software development teams. Key topics include AI Software Factory setup, where he guides teams in integrating AI coding agents like Claude Code and Cursor into their SDLC to boost productivity. Another popular format focuses on Developer Productivity and DevEx, covering CI/CD optimization, test automation strategies, and creating quality gates that actually work.
For teams working with specific technologies, he facilitates deep-dive workshops on Angular or React modernization, design system implementation, and building accessible, scalable frontends. His full-stack expertise also allows for sessions on API design, performance auditing, and architecture reviews. Each workshop is available in multiple formats, from intensive 2-hour team workshops and 4-hour corporate training sessions to executive briefings for CEOs and CTOs.
The format is adaptable to remote, hybrid, or on-site delivery. Based in Poland, Tom works seamlessly with remote teams across the EU, UK, and US, including East Coast time-zone overlap, and is available for occasional on-site workshops and client visits to enhance collaboration and engagement.
Experience from Marquee Clients and Projects
Tom’s workshop content is grounded in real-world experience from a diverse portfolio of clients. He has worked with global brands like GE Healthcare and Unilever, tech scale-ups like Printify and Croissant, and public sector institutions like the Ordnance Survey and the Silesian University of Technology. This breadth ensures his workshops are not theoretical but are built on proven practices from high-stakes environments.
At Printify, his work on the design system and rebrand ahead of the Printful merger involved coordinating a large community of engineers, a process that directly informs his workshops on scalable frontend architecture and cross-team collaboration. His role as a Staff Software Engineer at Croissant, working in a CEO/CTO partnership on compliance features, provides concrete case studies for workshops on technical leadership and product-minded engineering.
Furthermore, as the founder of Websoul, a marketing automation SaaS used by 32,000+ businesses, he brings a founder’s perspective to workshops on building MVPs, SaaS scaling, and fintech-grade applications using modern stacks like Vue, TypeScript, and Supabase. This blend of corporate, startup, and public sector experience makes his facilitation uniquely versatile.
The Facilitator’s Role in Team Upskilling and AI Adoption
A critical function of an engineering workshop facilitator is to guide teams through the adoption of new technologies, with AI integration being a prime current example. Tom facilitates workshops specifically focused on AI-Native SDLC, helping teams move from curiosity to competent, everyday use of AI tools for coding, testing, and documentation. These sessions demystify AI and provide clear, safe implementation pathways.
Upskilling is not just about new tools, it’s also about refining core engineering disciplines. Workshops on technical mentoring for engineering leads, architecture review processes, and effective code audits are designed to strengthen the foundational skills of your team. Tom draws on his experience in technical writing and public speaking to communicate complex concepts clearly and foster an environment of continuous learning.
The outcome is a team that is more confident, aligned, and efficient. By investing in facilitated workshops, you reduce the trial-and-error period for new technologies, mitigate risks associated with architectural changes, and build a culture of knowledge sharing that pays dividends long after the workshop ends.
Why Hire a Remote Facilitator with Polish Base
Hiring a remote engineering workshop facilitator based in Poland offers distinct advantages for international teams. Tom operates in European time zones with flexibility for UK and US East Coast collaboration, making scheduling straightforward for distributed teams. This model provides access to high-level expertise without the overhead of traditional enterprise consulting firms.
His remote-first approach is complemented by a willingness to travel for key on-site workshops, client visits, and team offsites. This hybrid model offers the cost-efficiency of remote delivery with the relationship-building benefits of occasional in-person interaction. For companies in the EU, UK, and US, it simplifies engagement, whether for a one-time corporate training event or an ongoing series of workshops as part of a larger transformation initiative.
Tom’s two decades of remote collaboration with international teams mean he is adept at using async communication tools, facilitating engaging virtual sessions, and ensuring all participants are included regardless of location. This expertise is baked into every remote workshop he delivers, maximizing engagement and learning outcomes.
When This is a Good Fit
Hiring Tom as your engineering workshop facilitator is a strong fit if you are a founder, CTO, or engineering lead looking to upskill your team, accelerate AI adoption, or improve development processes. It is ideal for teams facing scaling challenges, undergoing technology modernization, or seeking to instill a stronger culture of technical excellence and knowledge sharing.