THE SERVANT LEADER PARADOX
- Lead by getting out of the way
- Scale by doing less, not more
- Win by making others successful
Hi I'm an Engineering Leader building systems that don’t break.
Engineering Leader with 15 years of making complex things simple, teams autonomous, and turning big ideas into deliverable work that actually matters. Most leaders optimize for features. I optimize for flow.
About Me
I'm Darío Cuevas, Engineer Leader from Spain. With over 15 years in software development, I have progressed from a hands-on developer to a strategic engineering manager, shaping high-quality digital products throughout my journey. As a dedicated servant leader, my core philosophy is to empower teams through autonomy, fostering a culture of ownership and outcome-driven development. I focus on breaking down complex work, cultivating a platform mindset, and aligning technology with business goals to build high-performing, self-sufficient teams that consistently deliver value.
I'm always looking for new opportunities where I can contribute, learn and grow. If you have a good opportunity that matches my skills experience then don't hesitate to contact me.
My Experience
Professional experience that I have accumulated over several years.
Expenti, Málaga, Spain
Head of Engineering
2024-2025
As Head of Engineering, I led and mentored several development teams, including other engineering managers. My primary focus was driving adoption of best practices to deliver high-quality software. Championing the adoption of AI tools to enhance both efficiency and software quality on the games platform.
Continuous improvement
Lean
Stakeholder alignment
Kubernetes
The Workshop, Málaga, Spain
Engineering Manager
2018 - 2024
For over six years, I bring cross-functional teams through the full development lifecycle for sports betting and casino platforms. Fostering a culture centered on team autonomy, servant leadership, and continuous improvement through lean and agile methodologies.
Iterative Development
Servant Leadership
CD/CI
Good Coding Practices
The Workshop, Málaga, Spain
Frontend Developer
2014-2018
Architected and developed modern frontend solutions focused on robustness, scalability, and optimized user experience, while advocating for best practices such as automated testing and continuous delivery.
Typescript
Angular
NPM
TDD
The Workshop, Málaga, Spain
Java Software Developer
2014-2018
Designed and implemented backend systems emphasizing high availability, scalability, and real-time data, collaborating effectively within agile cross-functional teams.
Java
Spring
Agile
TDD
The Workshop, Málaga, Spain
Senior Programmer / Programmer,
2006-2010
Delivered enterprise-grade software solutions by integrating diverse technology stacks, ensuring seamless system interoperability and alignment with client business needs.
Java
J2EE
Javascript
My Operating Principles
Core beliefs that guide decision-making and leadership approach
THE WORK BREAKDOWN HERESY
- User stories aren't requirements—they're conversations
- The best breakdown reveals what you don't know
- Map the journey, not just the features
THE PLATFORM MINDSET
- Build for 10x load, not 2x
- Make failure cheap and recovery fast
- Let the user's story guide the architecture
THE AI-FIRST FUTURE PRESENT
- Anyone can use AI; few use it well.
- AI augments thinking, doesn't replace it
- Better tools = better humans
Latest Articles
Thoughts on software development, leadership, and building great teams
![MCP: The USB-C Moment for APIs [And Why You Should Care]](https://www.dariocuevas.com/images/APIvsMCP.png)
Get In Touch
Please contact me directly at dario.cuevas@gmail.com or through this form.