Tom Smykowski is an international contractor software engineer based in Poland, specializing in remote collaboration with teams across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With nearly two decades of experience in product delivery, he is the ideal hire for founders, CTOs, and executives seeking a hands-on engineer who takes ownership from discovery through production. His blend of engineering, UX, and product thinking ensures that complex requirements are transformed into maintainable, scalable, and user-focused solutions, making him a strategic asset for any international engagement.
Why Hire an International Contractor Software Engineer
Engaging an international contractor software engineer offers unparalleled flexibility and access to specialized talent without the overhead of full-time hires. For companies operating across multiple time zones, a contractor who can seamlessly integrate into distributed teams is crucial. Tom's location in Poland provides optimal overlap with EU and UK business hours, as well as significant overlap with the US East Coast, facilitating real-time collaboration when needed and efficient async work otherwise.
This model is particularly effective for project-based work, scaling engineering capacity, or bringing in senior-level expertise to tackle specific challenges like modernization, AI integration, or architectural reviews. Tom’s experience as a contractor means he is adept at quickly understanding business contexts, aligning with team workflows, and delivering measurable outcomes. His work with marquee clients like Printify, Croissant, and GE Healthcare demonstrates his ability to add value in diverse international settings.
Furthermore, the contractor relationship allows for clear scope definition and focused investment. Whether you need a staff-level engineer for a long-term product build, a technical lead for a short-term modernization project, or an AI consultant to upskill your team, an international contractor provides the expertise without the long-term commitment. Tom’s approach ensures knowledge transfer and sustainable architecture, leaving your team stronger.
Proven Delivery Across Industries and Technologies
Tom’s portfolio showcases a consistent ability to deliver high-impact software across various sectors. As a Staff Software Engineer at Croissant, a workplace platform, he worked in a CEO/CTO partnership focusing on compliance and collaboration features. At Printify, he led design system work and a rebrand ahead of a significant merger, supporting a frontend engineering team of around 60 and a platform serving over 10 million merchants.
His entrepreneurial venture, Websoul, grew to serve over 32,000 businesses with marketing automation and fintech SaaS, built with Vue.js, TypeScript, Supabase, and AG Grid. Earlier roles include lead frontend work on industrial SaaS at Fream, involving complex design systems and map integrations, and development on industrial ERP systems at Insoft Serwis. This breadth of experience, from B2C platforms to B2B industrial tools, makes him a versatile contractor capable of adapting to your specific domain.
Technologically, Tom is proficient in modern full-stack development. His core stack includes Vue.js and React for frontends, TypeScript for type-safe development, and Supabase for backend services. He has deep experience with design systems, accessibility, API design, and mobile-responsive web applications. Recently, he has integrated AI-assisted workflows into the development lifecycle, enhancing productivity and innovation.
Staff-Level Engineering and Technical Leadership
As an international contractor, Tom operates at a staff or principal engineer level, meaning he brings not just coding skills but strategic technical leadership. He excels in roles that require ownership from architecture through to production deployment. This involves making high-stakes technical decisions, designing scalable systems, and mentoring other engineers on the team. His product-minded approach ensures that technical choices always serve business goals and user needs.
This level of expertise is evident in his work setting up and governing design systems at scale, as seen at Printify, and in building foundational architecture for startups. He is adept at modernizing legacy systems, whether transitioning from older frameworks to modern ones like Angular or React, or refactoring monolithic backends. For teams looking to adopt AI, he can provide guidance on integrating LLMs, setting up AI coding agents, and establishing AI-native software development lifecycles.
Tom’s leadership extends to process and team development. He focuses on improving developer experience (DevEx), implementing effective CI/CD pipelines, and establishing test automation strategies. His consulting services include code and architecture audits, technical due diligence, and workshops aimed at upskilling engineering teams. This holistic view of software engineering makes him a valuable partner for elevating an entire team’s capability.
AI Engineering and Modernization Consulting
A key differentiator for Tom as an international contractor is his applied expertise in AI engineering. He helps teams integrate artificial intelligence into their products and workflows. This can range from building AI-powered features within SaaS applications to setting up complete "AI Software Factories" that leverage agents like Claude Code and Cursor to accelerate development. He consults on AI-native SDLC, AI testing, and quality gates.
For companies undergoing digital transformation, his modernization consulting is invaluable. He can audit existing codebases for performance, security, and scalability issues, then plan and execute a refactoring roadmap. His experience with large-scale frontend applications, particularly in Vue.js and React ecosystems, allows him to tackle complex challenges like state management, component architecture, and build optimization. These services are available as targeted consulting engagements, perfect for the contractor model.
Furthermore, Tom offers corporate training and executive briefings on AI and engineering best practices. He can conduct remote workshops or occasional on-site sessions for teams across the EU, UK, and US. These trainings cover topics from AI adoption for engineers to strategic briefings for CEOs and CTOs, helping leadership understand the implications and opportunities of new technologies.
Remote Collaboration and International Engagement Models
Operating remotely from Poland, Tom is optimized for collaboration with international teams. He is proficient in async communication practices essential for cross-time-zone work, while also being available for synchronous meetings during overlapping hours with EU, UK, and US East Coast teams. He is open to occasional on-site workshops, client visits, and team offsites, providing the flexibility of remote work with the benefits of key in-person interactions.
He offers multiple engagement models to suit different needs. These include full-time or part-time B2B contracts, project-based freelance work, short-term consulting for specific challenges like audits or AI setup, and long-term collaborations as a fractional technical leader. This flexibility allows companies to engage his expertise precisely as needed, whether for a 40-hour monthly retainer or a multi-month founding engineer role.
His client list, which includes global names like Unilever, Bunge, and Ordnance Survey alongside high-growth tech companies like Croissant and Printify, attests to his ability to navigate different corporate cultures and project methodologies. He partners effectively with founders, product managers, designers, and engineering teams to translate vision into shipped software.
When This Is a Good Fit
Engaging Tom as your international contractor software engineer is an excellent fit if you are a founder, CTO, or executive leading a distributed team in the EU, UK, or US and need senior-level engineering talent that combines hands-on development with product and strategic thinking. It is ideal for projects requiring ownership from concept to production, such as building an MVP, scaling a SaaS platform, modernizing a legacy Angular or React application, or integrating AI capabilities. If you seek a partner who can not only write code but also improve your team's processes, mentor developers, and provide clear technical leadership, then this collaboration will deliver significant value.