← murbach.me

Rafael Murbach Coutinho

Full-Stack Tech Lead — Next.js, Firebase and AI applied to product
📍 Brasília, DF, Brazil (Available for Global / Latin America Remote) 📞 +55 (47) 99286-0148 ✉️ rafael.murbach@gmail.com 🌐 murbach.me 💼 LinkedIn 💻 GitHub

Professional Summary

Accomplished software engineering leader with 30 years of continuous software development experience (programming professionally since 1994) and over two decades in technical project management and team leadership. Currently acting as Tech Lead and Principal Full-Stack Architect specializing in AI-native systems using Next.js, TypeScript, Firebase, and LLM integrations (Anthropic Claude API, Google Gemini API, Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot).

Combines high-velocity hands-on technical execution with clear product vision and agile discipline, leading multidisciplinary remote teams across concurrent SaaS initiatives. Proven track record delivering mission-critical enterprise systems and large-scale public sector platforms. Demonstrates an ego-free, consensual leadership style shaped by 20+ years of voluntary community governance and crisis mediation.

Technical Skills

AI-Native & Automation: LLM Integrations (Anthropic Claude API, Google Gemini API, Genkit AI), Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Structured Prompt Engineering, AI Evals & Prompt Regression Testing, Playwright E2E Test Automation, RPA (Microsoft Power Automate).
Software Engineering (Full-Stack): Next.js (always the latest stable release; App Router, Server Components, Edge Runtime, SSR), React, TypeScript, JavaScript (ESNext), Node.js, Semantic HTML5, Tailwind CSS, Python (ETL, scrapers, agents), PHP 8.2, Multi-Tenant SaaS Architecture, Relational & NoSQL Data Modeling.
Databases, Cloud & Infrastructure: Firebase (Firestore, Authentication, Hosting, Cloud Functions), Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Supabase, RESTful APIs, WebSockets, Edge CDN, Linux environments.
Engineering Leadership & Product Management: Engineering Leadership, Agile / Scrum, Kanban, Product Discovery, UX Research (Think Aloud Protocol), PRDs, Strategic Roadmaps, OKRs, PMBOK, Conflict Resolution & Executive Stakeholder Alignment.
Tools & DevOps: Git / GitHub, CI/CD via GitHub Actions (Automated AI Code Reviews), Figma, Microsoft Power BI, Jira, Notion, VS Code.

Professional Experience

Director of Operations / Tech Lead / Principal Next.js Architect
NetDev Systems — Brasília, DF, Brazil (Remote)
Sep 2025 – Present
Links: PlayForge, Movooh, Chutaí
  • Spearheaded technical leadership for multidisciplinary remote engineering teams, enforcing strict TypeScript standards, automated linting, code reviews, and continuous delivery pipelines across multiple simultaneous SaaS products.
  • Architected and developed full-stack SaaS platforms (PlayForge Academy, Movooh, Chutaí) utilizing Next.js, React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and Firebase.
  • Integrated Generative AI (Claude API, Gemini API, Genkit) into production features and internal workflows, including automated PR code review bots via GitHub Actions and Gemini API, boosting engineering throughput by over 40%.
  • Architected and implemented sophisticated gamification mechanics, competency matrices, and dynamic evaluation engines (Módulo Evolução).
  • Executed UX Research initiatives, triangulating qualitative user interviews with automated Playwright browser journeys to identify and resolve critical friction points in user funnels (e.g., SESC DF).
  • Managed client technical relationships and delivery roadmaps for clients such as SESC DF and a startup linked to Record TV.
  • Provided continuous technical mentorship, architectural guidance, and pair programming to junior and mid-level software developers.
Key Success Story: Delivered multiple production SaaS platforms concurrently on tight schedules (PlayForge Academy, Movooh, and Chutaí League) with automated AI code evaluation in CI/CD, drastically reducing review cycle times.
Developer & Product Manager (freelance)
NetDev Systems — alongside full-time roles
2000 – 2025
  • At least one project a year: internal workflow and request-tracking systems for companies, landing pages and WordPress sites.
  • Back end chosen by each client — MySQL, PostgreSQL or Firebase, in the cloud or on premises.
Technology Project Manager & Systems Lead
Artplan BSB — Brasília, DF, Brazil
Jul 2021 – Aug 2025
Links: Artplan
  • Managed technology initiatives, digital operational workflows, and automation solutions for premier commercial brands and Federal Government accounts.
  • Extensively customized the enterprise work-management platform (Skills) to standardize and accelerate inter-departmental workflows across creative, media, and tech teams.
  • Engineered Robotic Process Automation (RPA) workflows utilizing Microsoft Power Automate, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint, eliminating dozens of repetitive manual labor hours every week.
  • Designed and deployed interactive executive dashboards in Microsoft Power BI for real-time campaign performance tracking and SLA monitoring.
  • Mapped and documented inter-departmental triggers, successfully resolving cross-functional operational friction between teams.
  • Led database-to-AI integration initiatives aimed at operational efficiency and internal knowledge retrieval.
Key Success Story: Engineered mission-critical automation pipelines (RPA) and Power BI reporting suites for high-profile accounts, eliminating dozens of manual hours weekly while maintaining 100% operational availability and SLA compliance.
Media Operations & Technology Manager
Núcleo de Mídia da Caixa — Brasília, DF, Brazil
Oct 2019 – Jun 2021
Links: Caixa
  • Directed strategic technology coordination between Caixa Econômica Federal (one of Latin America's largest financial institutions) and major national advertising agencies.
  • Managed and optimized the centralized digital workflow management platform (SIGEP), enforcing strict federal compliance, verification, and audit standards.
  • Mapped end-to-end operational processes, authored technical documentation, and established performance tracking KPIs.
  • Conducted hands-on data visualization training for cross-functional squads using Microsoft Power BI.
Key Success Story: Standardized digital delivery and accountability pipelines across dozens of media agencies nationwide, eliminating compliance bottlenecks and expediting federal audit clearances.
Process Architect, BPMN & Systems Development
Exata Tecnologia — Brasília, DF, Brazil
Sep 2017 – Aug 2019
Links: Exata Tecnologia
  • Engineered business process models in BPMN and conducted systems analysis for SIGEP (Advertising Governance System for Caixa Econômica Federal).
  • Designed and implemented multi-step validation and financial reconciliation pipelines for nationwide media veiling and billing.
  • Structured automated compliance workflows with comprehensive audit logs adhering to Brazilian federal auditing guidelines (TCU / CGU).
  • Integrated legacy databases with approval workflows across multi-tiered executive authority levels.
Key Success Story: Designed and deployed an automated audit-ready workflow engine managing multi-million-dollar national media contracts, guaranteeing 100% compliance across all regional broadcast channels.
Contract Manager (Customer Success Manager)
Spread Teleinformática — Brasília, DF, Brazil
Feb 2010 – Jun 2017
Links: Spread
  • Managed large-scale federal government technology contracts for major ministries: MDSA, MJ, and FNDE.
  • Implemented and championed Agile methodologies (Scrum / XP) across high-stakes, mission-critical government software systems.
  • Led software engineering teams covering requirements elicitation, development, and rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) testing.
  • Managed client executive stakeholders, backlog prioritization, sprint planning, and contractual financial/schedule balance sheets.
Key Success Story: Delivered mission-critical nationwide software systems (SICON, SISPAA, SIGAF) under budget and compliant with federal transparency mandates.
Project Coordinator / Senior Systems Analyst
MSA Service Ltda — Brasília, DF, Brazil
Apr 2006 – Feb 2010
  • Coordinated software engineering teams on modernization contracts for the Brazilian Army (Exército Brasileiro).
  • Led functional requirements analysis, database schema modeling, and systems specification.
  • Built and implemented a centralized multi-project management framework and dashboard incorporating PMBOK project governance standards.
  • Measured and verified software deliveries for federal billing.
Key Success Story: Successfully delivered and validated core financial and cost-accounting software systems for the Armed Forces (SISCUSTOS and SIGAF).

Earlier Experience (1994 – 2005)

CEUB — Brasília, DF, Brazil (2004 – 2005) — Requirements Analyst / .NET Developer: Requirements specification, systems analysis and .NET development for university management and academic administration software.
Positivo Informática — Curitiba, PR / Brasília, DF, Brazil (2004) — Requirements Analyst / Software Developer: Software engineering and functional specification for enterprise and educational software suites.
STE — client: DNIT (2003 – 2004) — .NET Developer: Built the internal system of DNIT, Brazil’s National Department of Transport Infrastructure.
Politec Informática — Brasília, DF, Brazil (1996 – 2001) — Programmer Analyst: Systems development for high-throughput public sector and banking institutions; transactional SQL procedures and relational schema design.
Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa (FAP-DF) — Brasília, DF, Brazil (1995) — Programmer Analyst: Development of grant management, scientific scholarship tracking, and research funding systems.
Gabinete do Vice-Governador do DF — Brasília, DF, Brazil (1994) — Programmer Analyst: Development of internal administrative automation and early workflow tracking tools for the Vice Governor's office.

Education

MBA in Project Management — UPIS (União Pioneira de Integração Social), Brasília, DF, Brazil (2008 – 2009)
Technology in Marketing Management (B.S. equivalent) — UNOPAR (Universidade Norte do Paraná), Brazil (2005 – 2007)

Certifications & Professional Training

• PMP Certification Prep (Project Management Professional - PMBOK)
• Business Process Modeling & Architecture (BPM / BPMN)
• Agile Methodologies (Scrum / XP / Kanban)
• Conflict Mediation & People Management

Languages

• Portuguese: Native speaker
• English: Professional Working Proficiency (fluent for technical architecture, leadership, and executive communication)