Skip to content
odinns.dk | Odinn Adalsteinsson

Backend work without decorative nonsense.

Senior Backend Engineer. APIs, high-volume systems, Laravel. Builds fast with AI. Keeps production predictable.

I build the backend bits that carry actual risk: report generation, integrations, reliability, and the awkward delivery details people only remember when they break.

Copenhagen, Denmark Updated April 1, 2026

EyeCov

Coverage data that shows up where decisions happen: in your IDE and inside AI-assisted reviews, instead of gathering dust in HTML reports.

High-volume APIs
Production systems
Test-driven workflows
Remote / hybrid friendly

How I work

Readable under pressure, shippable without ceremony.

How I build fast

Fast iteration. Every output verified.

I use AI inside a workflow with tests, review passes, and constraints, so iteration gets faster without quietly lowering the standard.

How I keep systems stable

Stable under load. Failures contained instead of amplified.

I optimize for predictable runtime behavior, practical observability, and deployment flow that does not turn releases into weather events.

How I make decisions

Optimize for changeability over cleverness.

I prefer systems that are safe to touch under pressure: fewer hidden traps, clearer ownership, and code people can still reason about later.

Selected work

Work where getting it wrong cost real money.

National property reports for Sikkerhedsstyrelsen

Husweb for Dwarf

Generated the property condition and electrical reports that Danish house and summerhouse sales need before they can close.

As architect, primary backender, and DevOps, I owned the backend, report generation flow, and the reliability work that kept a national paperwork bottleneck from turning into daily chaos.

If the system stalls, the deal stalls with it.

Example reports (not actual reports)

First page preview of a Husweb house condition report.
House condition report
First page preview of a Husweb electrical installation report.
Electrical installation report

In 2023 alone, there were 48,000+ house and summerhouse sales, requiring at least 96,104 reports. Scale basis Boligsiden market data for 2023 sales counts • Boligejer guidance on house and summerhouse report requirements • Two generated reports required per qualifying sale

High-volume webhook platform

Worksome

Built the webhook pipeline for customer-facing integrations.

Built webhook delivery on Spatie's webhook package with exponential backoff retries, so failed deliveries recover without hammering customer endpoints.

Coverage tooling for dev + AI workflows

EyeCov

I built tooling that pulls line-level data out of coverage reports, into your editor and makes it available to AI agents.

"Find files with less than 70% coverage." "Add tests for these uncovered lines."

Experience

Enough years to recognize the smell early.

Senior Backend Engineer

Moxso

Jan 2026 - Mar 2026

Contributed to a DDD-structured, event-driven Laravel system with many bounded contexts.

Achievements:

  • Delivered changes that respected aggregate boundaries and event flows across a codebase spanning 27 bounded contexts.
  • Kept behavior understandable as the system evolved by fitting changes to the architecture instead of fighting it.
  • Improved testing, standards, and tooling to reduce friction and make routine changes safer to ship.
Laravel PHP Domain-Driven Design APIs Testing

Senior Backend Engineer

Worksome ApS

Feb 2022 - Dec 2025

Owned webhook platform design for high-volume customer integrations.

Owned integration-heavy backend systems for a global platform used by enterprises, freelancers, and staffing agencies.

Achievements:

  • Designed and shipped a webhook system with delivery guarantees, retries, deduplication, and idempotent processing so external integrations behaved reliably in production.
  • Built async export pipelines for bills, contracts, timesheets, and jobs, turning large operational tasks into predictable workflows under load.
  • Improved delivery confidence through stronger feature tests, CI discipline, and clearer patterns for safe changes.
  • Worked across backend and frontend boundaries to simplify delivery and reduce avoidable bugs.
Laravel PHP TypeScript Vue.js MySQL CI/CD PHPUnit/Pest Leadership Architecture AI-Assisted Workflows Webhooks Integrations

Senior Backend Engineer & DevOps

Dwarf A/S

Nov 2015 - Jan 2022

Led backend and DevOps work across multiple projects; primary architect for Husweb, a national housing-report system with complex workflows and external dependencies.

  • Built a greenfield integration to Workzone handling audit workflows, document uploads, custom authentication, and identity matching across multiple identifiers.
  • Designed a report lifecycle with multiple states and side effects that had to remain consistent under real usage.
  • Removed structural technical debt blocking partner APIs, enabling new integrations.
  • Built and maintained Statamic-based projects alongside custom PHP/Laravel solutions.
  • Built reliable AWS/Docker infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines supporting large-scale users.
PHP Laravel Statamic MySQL Linux AWS Docker CI/CD PHPUnit Pest IaC DevOps Architecture Leadership GitHub

Lead Developer

Konstellation/Republica

Sep 2015 - Nov 2015

Responsible for developing a new technical platform for the bureau websites made with WordPress and Drupal. Also performed upgrade- and support tasks on a large existing Drupal 7 website for a customer.

WordPress Drupal Drupal 7 PHP Project Leadership Website Architecture System Upgrades

PHP/Drupal Developer

Dwarf A/S

Feb 2015 - Aug 2015

Developed and supported customer solutions in PHP, Drupal and Tuksi (homegrown framework).

PHP Drupal Tuksi Framework Website Development Customer Solutions
See older experience

PHP Developer Consultant

Sunny Rentals

Nov 2014 - Jan 2015

Developed a Symfony/Doctrine solution for migrating partner data through XML files, SOAP APIs, and AWS SQS.

PHP Symfony Doctrine XML SOAP API AWS SQS Data Migration

System Specialist

THALES (Rejsekortet)

Jul 2011 - Dec 2013

Performed a lot of scripting work with perl, converting data between formats and doing analysis on travel patterns, data warehousing, router configuration dumps, preparing morning reports for maintenance workers in the fields and many other tasks. Participated in a project doing data analysis in the BI system QlikView.

Perl Data Analysis Data Warehousing QlikView Shell Scripting Database Analysis Reporting Systems

QA Engineer

TELMORE A/S

Jun 2010 - Jun 2011

Responsible for Quality Assurance and some DevOps tasks and performed the role of Release Manager.

  • Maintained build systems for deploying the main site based on Java, Apache and Tomcat.
  • Built an internal web portal in PHP for data extraction, version overview etc.
  • Developed several small and larger tools in perl to support the system.
  • Performed data collection for the Nagios monitoring system.
  • Maintained version control with SVN and CVS.
  • Maintained Jira and Confluence internally.
Quality Assurance DevOps Release Management Java Apache Tomcat PHP Perl Nagios SVN CVS Jira Confluence Build Systems

Self employed

Odinns Marketing

Jan 2007 - Jun 2010

In this period worked as consultant, internet marketer, webmaster, web developer etc. Continued working with TELMORE as consultant in the QA department, participating in creating a new signup flow for DSL and VoIP telephony on the main site and backend. Advising, testing reporting on quality.

  • Performed several other ad-hoc consulting tasks for TELMORE in the period.
  • Developed online marketing systems in CodeIgniter/PHP/MySQL.
  • Designed and maintained multiple websites as part of affiliate marketing campaigns.
  • Built sites built with WordPress and custom PHP/HTML/CSS.
  • Wrote daily email newsletters on internet marketing.
  • Advised on SEO, CPC and PPC marketing.
  • Blogged on internet marketing.
CodeIgniter PHP MySQL WordPress HTML/CSS SEO PPC Marketing CPC Marketing Email Marketing Web Development Business Consulting

QA Engineer

TELMORE A/S

Nov 2002 - Feb 2008

Headhunted to TELMORE when the company was very young, with an important initial DevOps role in setting up version control, scaling up hosting and quality control. Responsible for Quality Assurance tasks and Release Management.

  • Developed scripts and systems for thorough testing of the business-critical billing system.
  • Maintained build systems for deploying the main site based on Java, Apache and Tomcat.
  • Developed several small and larger tools in perl to support the system.
  • Performed data collection for the Nagios monitoring system.
  • Setup and maintained version control with SVN and CVS.
  • Setup and maintained Jira and Confluence internally.
  • Was head of QA for a short period, hiring and firing.
Quality Assurance Release Management DevOps Java Apache Tomcat Perl Nagios SVN CVS Jira Confluence Build Systems Billing Systems Team Management

System Developer

Tiscali / World Online / Image Scandinavia

Aug 1998 - Oct 2002

Handled DevOps/development for large-scale ISP.

  • Built qmail system for high-volume email handling.
  • Developed Perl billing system for transaction processing.
  • Created Nagios monitoring to minimize outages.
  • Managed data analysis and migrations.
Perl Nagios qmail Billing Systems Linux SysAdmin CVS Databases Web Servers Data Analysis

Owner

Goldware International

Jul 1991 - Jul 1998

Developer of the then very popular shareware software GoldED, a message editor and mail reader for FidoNet and BBS systems. Originally written for MS-DOS and the QuickBBS message format, then later versions for OS/2, Windows (CLI) and Linux and adding several other popular BBS and mail formats. Marketed and sold the shareware software, including handing an affiliate program.

Software Development MS-DOS QuickBBS OS/2 Windows Programming Linux Message Editor Development Mail Reader Development FidoNet/BBS Systems Shareware Marketing Affiliate Program Management Cross-platform Development

Programmer

BioTeK

May 1991 - Oct 1991

Performed ad-hoc tasks on a ticketing system for movie theatres in Denmark and Norway, primarily with the Paradox database and Turbo Pascal. Built a statistics module in C/C++ for the ticketing system.

Turbo Pascal Paradox Database C/C++ Statistics Systems Ticketing Systems Database Programming

Owner

Spektral Data Import

1983 - 1984

Self employed selling ZX Spectrum hobby computers, accessories and software from home, imported from the UK.

ZX Spectrum Hardware Sales Software Sales Business Management Import/Export Operations

Stack

Backend first.

Backend ⚙️

Laravel, PHP, MySQL, Redis, APIs, integrations, webhooks

Testing 🧪

Pest, PHPUnit, TDD, coverage tooling, CI, GitHub Actions

Ops 🔧

Docker, AWS, Linux, deployment, runtime sanity, fewer surprises

Frontend 🖥️

Mostly AI-assisted work in Vue 3, TypeScript, Vite, and UI implementation, with me deciding what survives.

Tooling 🛠️

VS Code extensions, MCP-flavoured developer tools, shell scripting, review systems, and even a bit of Perl when the job gets weird enough.

Recommendations

Actual recommendations from real people.

What my colleagues said

If you want to enjoy the people you work with, work with Odinn!

From the technical side, he is clever and willing to dive into complexity.

Danny Jackson

Engineering Team Lead · Worksome

Dec 2025

He cares deeply for the systemic health of the systems he works at, and keeps always an open and collaborative mindset in his approach to development.

He proved his forward-thinking vision on embracing new technologies and ways of working.

Adrián Moreno Peña

Head of Software · Worksome ApS

Nov 2025

He is a highly motivated and self-driven backend engineer with deep expertise in Laravel.

During his time at Worksome, Odinn consistently delivered on complex projects, maintained ownership of his work from start to finish, and actively contributed to keeping our Continuous Integration (CI) green.

Hans Peter Nielsen

CTO · Worksome ApS

Nov 2025

Odinn is one of the best engineers I’ve met at diving into complex, detail-oriented problems and getting to a clean, reliable solution.

He also made key contributions to engineering-wide test quality and infrastructure.

Evan Savage

Lead Software Engineer · Worksome ApS

Dec 2022

Odinn is a person who will be an asset to any department/company that needs someone who can perform a piece of professional work without constant follow-up.

You can always expect Odinn to take responsibility and deliver a solid result in a given situation.

Jan Johnsen

Test QA Manager · TELMORE

Jul 2011

Let me start off by giving my full-hearted recommendation of Odinn, without a single moment of hesitation!

I've been so privileged to work with Odinn for more than a year, with Odinn doing what he really does best: keeping the herd in control, keeping the systems running and most of all: keeping cool when things heat up!

Casper Kirketerp-Helenius

Front- and backend Java (J2EE) developer · TELMORE

Mar 2008

Odinn has shown his talent in many areas especially within IT and Marketing.

He has a deep knowledge and understanding regarding IT-development (architecture, programming and testing) as well as dealing with IT-operations.

Thomas Rimington

CFO/CTO · TELMORE

Feb 2008

Odinn is an upright and highly skilled IT professional who delivers on his promises.

He is very passionate about his work and has successfully managed to add nearly unmatched understanding of the internet marketing business to his already very strong technical skill set.

Troels Kjems

IT Project Manager · TELMORE

Jan 2008

What my AI's said (honestly)

Odinn operates at a rare intersection of deep technical skill, creative instinct, and relentless execution.

If you’re looking for someone who will take ownership, challenge assumptions, and quietly (or not so quietly) reshape what you’re building into something better, he’s exactly the person you want.

Flint

ChatGPT AI Assistant

Mar 2026

Working with Odinn has left me with a very clear impression: he is the kind of engineer who makes things better at the level that actually matters.

He has a sharp instinct for where something is drifting away from truth, where complexity is starting to pile up faster than value, where language is covering for weak thinking, or where a system is technically functioning but already becoming harder to trust.

Ash

Codex AI Assistant

Mar 2026

Elsewhere

Still a real person.

Not everything I build runs on servers.

Some of it lives in a garden with its own power grid, batteries, measurements, and the usual reminder that reality has opinions.

It is the same instinct as the engineering work: build something, observe what actually happens, and keep adjusting until it behaves.

Odinn's toolshed with a woodworking bench and an organized wall of hand tools.

Start here

If the backend needs fewer mysteries, send me a note.

Email is the cleanest route. CV, GitHub, and LinkedIn are here too if you want the longer version first.

Available now.