From building software to building teams that build software.
I'm Cristian Gutui. I've spent over 15 years in engineering: starting as a developer, founding a company, leading teams, and learning that the hardest problems in software are rarely about the code.
I started Creative Coding in 2011 in Bucharest. We built websites, web applications, and e-commerce solutions for small and medium businesses. I managed a team of seven, handled client relationships, and learned the full weight of running a business: from architecture planning to deployment, from invoicing to hiring.
That experience changed how I think about engineering. I stopped seeing code as the product and started seeing it as the vehicle. The real product is the outcome: a team that delivers reliably, a system that scales without drama, a business that can trust its technology to keep up.
In 2018, I shifted my focus to larger, more complex environments. I led frontend engineering at a cloud infrastructure platform. I built the entire technical stack for a services company in Madrid (ERP, React frontend, Flutter mobile app, NFC-based timekeeping) and managed a team of four engineers through it.
In 2022, I joined Refurbed, a European marketplace for refurbished electronics, a company operating at the intersection of technology and sustainability. I moved from Team Lead to Engineering Manager, and today I lead a team of 10+ engineers, working across web and mobile to deliver features that directly impact growth, revenue, and the circular economy mission.
I believe engineering is a creative discipline. The best solutions come from people who think beyond the ticket, who understand context, question assumptions, and care about craft. That's what Creative Coding means to me.
How I got here
Engineering Manager, Refurbed
Vienna, Austria
Leading 10+ engineers across web and mobile. Shaping engineering practices, delivery processes, and team culture at a European circular economy marketplace.
Team Lead Engineering, Refurbed
Vienna, Austria
Transitioned from individual contributor to team lead. Established technical standards and mentoring practices that became the foundation for the team's growth.
Lead Fullstack Developer, Multiple Roles
Madrid & Bucharest
Architected and built complex systems end-to-end. Led small teams. Worked directly with founders and CEOs to translate business needs into product.
Founder & Lead Engineer, Creative Coding
Bucharest, Romania
Founded and ran a web development company. Managed a team of 7 developers, handled all client relationships, and delivered 40+ projects across industries.
How I think about engineering
Stay close to the work
Management without technical context is guesswork. I stay close enough to the code to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and unblock people effectively.
Clarity over process
No process survives contact with a confused team. I prioritize making sure people understand why they're building what they're building before optimizing how.
Outcomes over output
Shipping fast means nothing if you're shipping the wrong thing. I measure success by impact: on users, on the business, on the team's confidence.
Build the team, not just the product
Great products are a side effect of great teams. I invest in hiring well, mentoring deliberately, and creating environments where people grow.