Background
Software engineer (M.Sc.). I build reliable systems, Java/Spring services and local-first tools for LLMs. Comfortable in ambiguity, allergic to heroics, big on documentation.
Aris Zounarakis
I’m Aris Zounarakis, a Barcelona based software engineer at ADP. I build country-compliant payroll features on a global HCM platform, and local-first developer tools you can verify. Outside work, it is music and side projects. If you like it here, write to me.
About
What I value
- ClarityExplicit contracts, runbooks that onboard.
- IntegrityTests, traces, receipts that replay.
- MomentumSmall PRs, steady compliant releases.
- RespectCode reviews that teach, docs that de-stress.
Recent work
- Large-scale HCM SaaS: features + cross-regional fixes.
- Talos: local-first workspace operator for governed developer tasks.
- TrueRolls: verifiable dice with signed drand receipts and documented limits.
Art's paramour
Moved by music, image, and story, with a lifelong commitment to the craft. I play, I learn, I feel it in my chest, and I let it change me.
Contact
Best way to reach me is email (aris@zounarakis.com).
Now
- Steady releases at work, meeting SLAs.
- Building governed local AI workflows with traceability and approval gates.
- Building Talos (local workspace operator) and TrueRolls.
- Enjoying Barcelona.
Skills
Systems Thinking
Backend & Infrastructure
- Java
- Spring Framework
- API Design
- RESTful Web Services
- JUnit5 & Mockito
- SQL & PostgreSQL
- Local LLM Tooling
- Workspace Operators
- Approval Gates
- Traceable AI Workflows
- Apache Lucene
In practice. Country-compliant payroll services in Java and Spring Boot at ADP, and Talos, a local-first operator with approval gates and durable traces.
User Interface
Frontend & UX
- React
- Angular
- TypeScript
- JavaScript
- WebGL
- Responsive Design
- i18n/l10n
- Accessibility (a11y)
In practice. Features for two live EU statistical platforms in React and Angular, and this site, built in vanilla JavaScript and WebGL.
Scientific Rigor
Environmental Research & Analysis
- Python
- Data Analysis & Modeling
- Environmental Chemistry
- In-Situ/Ex-Situ Sampling & Testing
- Lab Reporting
- ISO 17025
In practice. Water, soil and wastewater analysis in chemistry labs, and greenhouse-gas emissions reporting.
The rest of my life
- Guitar
- Piano
- Music composition
- Sound mix & design
- Horror visual art design
In practice. Guitar and piano most days, and horror art in the same necrography language this site speaks.
Blog
Work
INITIALIZING...
Work history
-
Environmental Engineering & Lab Work
- B.Eng Environmental Engineering (University of Western Macedonia)
- Water / soil / wastewater quality analysis in chemistry labs
- Greenhouse-gas emissions and environmental reporting work
-
Transition to Software, Data & AI
- Data analysis and reporting for private clients using Excel, Python, SQL, Google Data Studio, JavaScript and TypeScript
- Dynamic dashboards, multi-page reports and property comparisons for a private real estate engagement
- Coordination of data requests and follow-ups between the client and contacts at Greek banks
- Greek and English transcription & translation on work-on-demand platforms, i18n/l10n projects
- M.Sc. Software Engineering (University of Thessaly)
- Software Engineer at Netcompany-Intrasoft: Full-stack development on EU statistical platforms (Java/Spring, React/Angular)
- Early data annotation & AI-related work
-
ADP (Lyric HCM)
- Software Engineer on Lyric HCM payroll platform
- Development & cross-region integrations under strict compliance
- Authoring developer runbooks, ADRs & troubleshooting guides
-
Data Annotation & Personal Projects
- AI model evaluation for code generation, reasoning and content quality
- Prompt, rubric and acceptance-test design for coding, refactoring & debugging tasks
- Design and development of developer tools & prototypes (e.g. Talos, TrueRolls)
- Experiments with governed local AI workflows, workspace context and developer productivity tooling
Projects
-
TrueRolls
Verifiable dice with Ed25519-signed receipts seeded from a BLS-verified public drand quicknet beacon. Receipts replay offline. Witnessed fairness against operator suppression remains a v2 goal.
View on GitHub -
Talos, Local Workspace Operator
Local-first Java CLI workspace operator for governed developer tasks. Talos combines bounded tools, explicit approval gates, local model backends, durable traces, context handling and verification-oriented outcomes.
Visit the site View on GitHub
