# Stefan Popa - Full Portfolio Content > Complete plain-text dump of https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio for AI agents, LLM crawlers, and automated research tools. This file contains the entire visible page content, including all expandable/collapsed details. ## Meta - Name: Stefan Popa - Title: Industrial software developer - IT/OT convergence - Tagline: Most build features. I build systems. - Canonical URL: https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio - CV (PDF): https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/cv/stefan-popa-cv.pdf - Thesis (PDF): https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/tfe/stefan-popa-tfe.pdf - Footer: © 2026 Stefan Popa - Building software that meets. --- ## Hero Stefan Popa Industrial software developer - IT/OT convergence Most build features. I build systems. I'm Stefan, an industrial software developer. I build the layer between the factory floor and the business, connecting PLCs, sensors and IoT devices to the applications, databases and dashboards people actually use to make decisions. In 2025 I won gold in Industry 4.0 at WorldSkills Belgium, and this September I'll represent the country at the international finals in Shanghai. I'm available from October 2026, straight after the finals. I'm looking for a role where industrial integration and full-stack development are both needed. I want to bring my software architecture expertise and my knowledge of industrial system integrations. Alongside my two degrees, I've run a small freelance practice as a student entrepreneur. The applications I've deployed run real businesses day to day and handle real money and real users. You'll find them in the projects section below. --- ## Experience ### R&D AI development and integration - Company: Lisam Systems - Status: Internship for end of studies thesis - Date: Feb 2026 - May 2026 Short description: Building an AI-powered data model for application module creation inside Lisam's SaaS. Full description: Building a new AI-powered sub-application inside Lisam's SaaS platform - from Python prototype through production integration on the company's native C#/.NET stack using Microsoft Semantic Kernel. Connecting the agent to existing data volumes and read-DB sources, autonomously building the object-oriented data model for the application and generating its related documentation from that model. Prototyping a multi-layer agentic pipeline in Python (LangChain + LangGraph orchestration, subagents, FAISS-backed RAG, grammar-constrained decoding), serving Phi-4 and Qwen3.5 locally via llama.cpp/Ollama with INT8 quantization and KV-cache optimization. Benchmarking against DeepSeek v4 on stress-test evaluations, closing the gap to within 25% of a significantly larger frontier model - validating that orchestration design, not raw model scale, drives system quality. Rebuilding for production on C#/.NET with Microsoft Semantic Kernel to match the SaaS's native stack, replacing the Python orchestration layer once the prototype was validated. Building the full frontend: a React app using React Flow for interactive OOP data-model visualization, and Monaco Editor to render live diffs of agent-generated documentation. Key outcomes: Defending the orchestration-over-scale thesis to academic jury and company stakeholders; system approved for continued development and integration as a permanent AI sub-application in the SaaS. --- ### System Administrator & Webmaster - Company: Code it Bryan! - Status: Freelance - Date: Nov 2023 - Present Short description: Building and running Logiscool Mons' full-stack CRM as the school's daily system of record and administrative program. Full description: Identifying a critical operational gap as a teacher at Logiscool Mons - a single shared Excel spreadsheet causing recurring errors and versioning conflicts across ~150 students and 50 staff - and proposing, then building, a full CRM platform to replace it end to end. Now the school's mission-critical daily system, actively evolving into an AI-agent-driven platform. Designing and building a full-stack CRM (React, Express JS, PostgreSQL, Docker) from scratch to replace the school's error-prone shared spreadsheet. Scaling catch-up session handling from ~40-50/year (manual) to up to 150/year, now automatically filtered and tracked by the system. Building management dashboards and data-mining tools giving leadership real-time visibility and early warning on student disengagement. Integrating Discord login and notifications, automatic invoicing, automatic email sending, Excel import/export, a MinIO object storage drive, and Redis caching into a single operational platform. Developing an AI agent layer: a SQL agent that answers natural-language questions and draws conclusions directly from live operational data, a semantic search system spanning the database and documentation simultaneously, an action-capable agent, an agent that generates JS charts on the fly in chat, and per-user agent memory. Key outcomes: Running the platform as the school's system of record for ~150 students and 50 staff daily - critical infrastructure where downtime risks missed alerts and unannounced student arrivals. --- ### Computer Science Teacher - Company: Logiscool Mons - Status: Volunteer - Date: Nov 2021 - Present Short description: Volunteer teacher delivering courses on Python, JavaScript, Unity (C#), and AI to students aged 7 to 20, with an average of 6 hours taught per week. Full description: Lead volunteer computer science teacher at Logiscool Mons. In this role I delivered Logiscool-designed lessons and programmes. As a teacher, I always advocated for curriculum adaptation depending on the audience and the focus of the lesson, balanced between what students are interested in and the technical content. I also organised workshops on my own initiative to introduce younger children to AI. Key outcomes: Parents were happy with my teaching. I was often asked to continue as their children's teacher. I even received chocolate from students a few times, which is perhaps the best sign of appreciation a teacher can get. --- ### Freelance Full-stack Developer - Company: Self-employed - Status: Freelance - Date: Jan 2023 - Present Short description: End-to-end freelance development with clients: analysis, build, deployment, and maintenance, with the user at every step. Full description: I work with clients to conceive solutions tailored to their needs. I focus on building products that keep the user at the centre at every step. My role spans business analysis, development, and infrastructure: I deploy and maintain the services myself, and I am responsible for uptime and cyber security. I use my own Git workflow and VPN network to operate and maintain the deployed services. My usual stack is Traefik as a reverse proxy with containerised full-stack solutions. I prioritise bash scripts and SSH connections. Key outcomes: Delivered: Les Amitiés Françaises de Mons, Logiscool Mons CRM, Code it Bryan showcase website, and Rudy et Fanny website. --- ### R&D Software Development - Company: Aproove - Status: Internship for end of studies thesis - Date: Feb 2023 - May 2023 Short description: Shipping an Adobe Illustrator extension and a Three.js 3D proofing prototype for We Aproove. Full description: Building a production Adobe Illustrator extension for the We Aproove creative-review suite, then a browser-based 3D proofing prototype in Three.js after finishing the primary objective ahead of schedule. Building an Adobe Illustrator extension (Adobe CEP, JavaScript) that communicates directly with We Aproove's backend to submit file versions and fetch reviewer annotations. Translating annotation geometric data into controllable, interactive layers inside Illustrator, giving reviewers a native in-app proofing workflow. Shipping the extension as a permanent part of the We Aproove production suite. Prototyping a browser-based 3D proofing tool with Three.js, accepted for further integration after the core extension shipped early. Key outcomes: --- ### Software Development - Company: AGC Moustier - Status: Student job - Date: Jun 2022 - Jun 2022 Short description: Two-week contribution to a .NET industrial data system, adapting plant-specific features into reusable, site-agnostic queries. Full description: Short student job (~2 weeks) within the IT team. Working on a .NET system handling data from sensors and other diverse sources. The task was to clone features already working at Moustier and enable them for other plants. Extended upon existing code, and changes were merged in production as far as I know. I used SQL DISTINCT and queries that could fetch data for any plant, rather than hardcoded values - keeping the code adaptable across sites. Key outcomes: The approach to building adaptive features was very appreciated by my supervisor. --- ## Achievements Subtitle: Recognitions and competitive achievements ### Selected for the WorldSkills Industry 4.0 world finals in Shanghai - Date: 2026 - Type: Competition Short description: One of twelve national gold medallists selected to represent Belgium at WorldSkills 2026 in Industry 4.0. Full description: One of twelve national gold medallists selected to represent Belgium at WorldSkills 2026, competing in Industry 4.0 alongside team partner Fabian Henry under expert Michael Welgraphe. Training covers the full industrial IT/OT stack - from physical automation hardware to real-time data visualization. Building end-to-end digital twin/shadow chains at speed: sensor data via OPC-UA and MQTT, orchestrated through Node-RED, historized in InfluxDB, and surfaced in Grafana dashboards for fast, user-friendly decision-making. Developing complex Node-RED flows to process and expose industrial data in real time, built for operational insight and quick decision support. Managing industrial network infrastructure on Siemens Scalance hardware - VPN access, trunk links, and VLAN segmentation across a full training network. Configuring MES-CRM integration to connect production/execution systems with business-side workflows. Writing SQL to structure and query the metrics feeding the monitoring/dashboard layer. Commissioning pneumatic installations hands-on, wired to Siemens PLC automation cells. Training at least two days a week across this full stack in preparation for the Shanghai finals. Press articles: - https://www.sudinfo.be/id1084080/article/2025-12-16/de-mons-shanghai-un-jeune-prof-de-la-logiscool-de-mons-selectionne-pour - https://www.agoria.be/fr/positionnement/wallonie/les-talents-technologiques-belges-meritent-votre-soutien-rencontrez-fabian-stefan-candidats-worldskills-2026 --- ### WorldSkills national gold medal in Industry 4.0 - Date: 2025 - Type: Competition - Medal: Gold Short description: Won gold at the Belgian National Final of WorldSkills Industry 4.0 (Startech 2025). Full description: Won gold at the Belgian National Final of WorldSkills Industry 4.0 (Startech 2025). Competing in an 8-hour national final covering networking configuration, MES setup, Node-RED flows for real-time data processing, PLC-driven automation logic, SQL for data structuring and metrics, and early-stage digital twin modeling linking OT sensor data to actionable dashboards - judged on both hard technical skills and operator process quality. Selected for the national finals after a 4-hour pre-selection test programming a pneumatic system in Siemens TIA Portal. Press articles: - https://www.helha.be/cinq-medailles-aux-startech-days-2025-et-une-passion-commune-pour-les-metiers-techniques-et-technologiques/ --- ### Hackathon project integrated in the school - Date: 2025 - Type: School Short description: Hackathon project defended by our teachers that secured an educational grant for a dedicated, high-end machine to run AI models locally at the school. Full description: Hackathon project defended by our teachers that secured an educational grant for a dedicated, high-end machine to run AI models locally at the school. Our teachers successfully defended the project with school leadership, securing funding for a dedicated local machine for AI prototyping. Running a wide range of AI models locally for testing, fine-tuning, and general AI experimentation. Exposing a subset of the machine's services to students over a private network, turning it into shared in-house AI infrastructure. Presenting the project in front of the section. --- ### 3rd Place - Microsoft x Proximus AI Hackathon - Date: 2024 - Type: Competition - Medal: Bronze Short description: Won the bronze medal on a hackathon about AI building a RAG x FAISS AI agent. Full description: Building an AI agent using RAG and vector search to analyze large datasets and return personalized, source-cited answers, in what was my first AI-based project. Built in 2024, when RAG was still an early, fast-moving technique rather than the standardized, heavily-tooled approach it is today. Handling persistence with FAISS and shipping the interface in Python with Gradio. Citing sources automatically on every answer, letting users trace each response back to its originating document or data. Project built in a team of 6. --- ### Dev vs Wild Hackathon - Date: 2023 - Type: Competition - Medal: Participation Short description: Participation - VR multiplayer game on Meta Quest, dedicated server, live floor testing - team of 5. Full description: Participation at the Dev vs Wild hackathon. Our team shipped a VR multiplayer online game in Unity for Meta Quest, backed by a dedicated server. I owned the server side, API calls, and network architecture. The hackathon stood out because we delivered something tangible - groups of friends tested it live on the floor and had a lot of fun. A strong lesson in combining different skill sets under deadline. --- ### Space Office Hackathon - Date: 2022 - Type: Competition - Medal: Participation Short description: Participation - Space resource-management simulation with deep learning - team of 4. Full description: Participation at the Space Office hackathon. In a team of four, we developed a Java/JavaFX application simulating resource consumption and risk management in space environments. The simulator produced datasets visualised on a dashboard and used to train deep learning models for identifying critical resources and adaptation needs in hazardous scenarios. --- ### Accounting tool - HELHa Mons - Date: 2022 - Type: School Short description: VBA tool for expenses, invoices, and budgets - adopted by the accounting department. Full description: During my first year at HELHa Mons, students were asked to build a tool for the accounting department covering expenses, invoices, budgets, and related financial data. Built in VBA, my solution was selected for departmental use. Some sections are used in combination with the best parts of other students' work. I was asked to present the project in front of students and other teachers to showcase what HELHa students can deliver in practice. --- ## Education ### Bachelor's in Industrial Computing - Systems & Networks - School: Haute École Louvain en Hainaut (HELHa), Charleroi, Belgium - Date: 2023 - 2026 (expected graduation: 2026) Description: Comprehensive, hands-on curriculum covering the full stack of industrial systems. Industrial Automation & Control - PLC programming, SCADA/HMI development, industrial network protocols (Profinet, Modbus, OPC-UA). Electronics - PCB design, assembly, and soldering. Embedded Systems - microcontroller development on Arduino/ESP32 platforms (C/C++). Networking & Systems Administration - enterprise IT networking (routing, switching, VLANs), Linux/Red Hat system administration. Cybersecurity - industrial and network security fundamentals for OT/IT environments. A written recommendation from the HELHa Industrial IT program coordinator is available. --- ### Bachelor's in Management Computing - Application Development - School: Haute École Louvain en Hainaut (HELHa), Mons, Belgium - Date: 2020 - 2023 - Distinction Description: Rigorous, developer-focused curriculum covering the full software engineering lifecycle across multiple languages and paradigms: Backend Development - C#, .NET, Entity Framework, PHP. Frontend Development - Angular, HTML. Software Design - design patterns, SOLID principles, and core programming principles applied across multiple languages and paradigms. Databases - in-depth relational database design, querying, and management. Cybersecurity - application and network security fundamentals. Systems & Infrastructure - Windows Server administration, Cisco networking. Version Control & Workflow - Git, collaborative development practices. --- ## Soft & Hard Skills Subtitle: I learn and adapt quickly - proficiency levels vary by context. See the projects section for where each skill was applied. ### Hard Skills (summary) Automation, IoT, AI integration, SLM/LLM optimisation, RAG & agentic workflows, AR/VR, industrial programming, networking, full-stack development, infrastructure & databases, project management. #### Hard skills TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, C#, .NET, React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, PLC Programming, Industrial Networks, IoT, Docker, Linux, Git, LLM / Agentic AI, Databases ### Soft Skills Adaptability, Communication, Teamwork, Patience, Entrepreneurship, Creativity ### Languages - FR - Native - RO - Native - EN - Professional (C1) - NL - Basic (A1) --- ## References Subtitle: Official recommendation letters and professional references - contact details available upon personal request. ### Rudy Renaux - Role: Client - Rudy et Fanny - Content: Professional reference for the Rudy et Fanny project. Contact details available upon personal request. ### Pietro Antoniadis - Role: Director, Logiscool Mons / ASBL Code it Bryan! - Content: Professional reference for Logiscool Mons and Code it Bryan! Contact details available upon personal request. ### Bertrand Michaux - Role: Titular teacher & coordinator, Industrial Computing option - HELHa Charleroi - Note: Contact details available upon personal request. Official recommendation letter: MICHAUX Bertrand Coordinateur de la section informatique Industrielle Grand'Rue 185 6000 - Charleroi Charleroi Juin 2026 Objet : Lettre de recommandation - Stefan POPA À qui de droit, Je vous adresse cette lettre afin de vous recommander formellement Monsieur Stefan POPA. En ma qualité d'enseignant et coordinateur au sein de la section Informatique Industrielle, j'ai supervisé son parcours au cours des trois dernières années. Stefan se distingue par un profil académique complet, ayant obtenu un diplôme de Bachelier en Développement d'applications, complété par un second Bachelier en Informatique Industrielle. Cette double compétence lui permet d'avoir une maîtrise transversale, allant du développement logiciel jusqu'aux environnements industriels exigeants. Durant sa formation, notamment lors de son « Projet industriel » et de son stage, il a fait preuve d'une grande ténacité face aux problématiques techniques complexes. Très autonome, il possède une excellente capacité d'auto-apprentissage, ce qui lui a permis de se former seul sur les modèles de langage (SLM et LLM) pour répondre efficacement aux besoins de son stage. Sur le plan interpersonnel, Stefan fait preuve d'une forte adaptabilité, comme en témoigne sa mobilité Erasmus en Flandre. Très impliqué dans la vie de notre section, il est naturellement devenu une personne de référence pour ses camarades, tant sur le plan technique que relationnel. Enfin, son niveau technique et sa gestion de la pression ont été récompensés par une médaille d'or aux qualifications nationales des WorldSkills. Il aura d'ailleurs la charge de représenter la Belgique et notre établissement lors de la finale internationale à Shanghai. Rigoureux, autonome et doté d'une forte capacité d'adaptation, Stefan POPA constitue un atout solide pour vos équipes. Je le recommande vivement et me tiens à votre entière disposition pour tout renseignement complémentaire. Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées. Bertrand MICHAUX Coordinateur de la section Informatique Industrielle de la HELHa --- ## Projects ### Codeitbryan showcase website [BETA] - Type: Professional - Date: 2026 - Present - Live URL: https://codeitbryan.net Short description: Showcase website for Code it Bryan!, the ASBL operating Logiscool Mons. Full description: Showcase website for Code it Bryan!, the non-profit behind Logiscool Mons. Built in React to present the organisation, its activities, and its link to the educational centre. Part of the same ecosystem as the Logiscool Mons Intranet CRM I maintain as webmaster for the ASBL. Deployed as a containerised stack behind Traefik. Tech stack: React, TypeScript, Docker, Traefik --- ### Rudy et Fanny [IN PRODUCTION] - Type: Professional - Date: 2025 - Present - Live URL: https://rudyetfanny.be Short description: Food ordering and delivery platform with kitchen IoT ticket printing, Google Auth, and transactional email. Full description: A professional-grade food ordering website with a customised delivery management system. Mobile-first design and real-time order tracking; it is the restaurant's primary ordering channel. The stack integrates Google Auth for customer sign-in and a mailing API for order confirmations and status notifications. In the kitchen, a Raspberry Pi 3 runs headless Linux, connected by USB to a receipt printer. It polls the platform and prints incoming orders automatically. Metrics (as of 31 July 2026): 600+ users 1550+ orders +40 000 € total revenue 300+ successful deliveries Tech stack: React, Node.js, Express JS, PostgreSQL, Prisma, Docker, Traefik, TypeScript, IoT, Google OAuth, Mailing API --- ### Logiscool Mons Intranet [IN PRODUCTION] - Type: Professional - Date: 2025 - Present Short description: Modular CRM for ~150 students and ~50 staff - catch-ups, billing, automated invoice mailing, calendar, AI assistant, Discord alerts. Full description: Iteration of the Logiscool Mons CRM, rebuilt for modularity and performance. Handles student registrations, attendance, automated billing, and catch-up session scheduling - scaling from ~40-50 catch-ups per year to up to 150, immediately filtered. Includes Discord bot integration and operational alerts. The centre runs on it daily. A previous version (deprecated) was built during a one-year Microsoft partnership using Power Automate, Power Apps, and Microsoft Admin-managed accounts. Metrics (as of 24 June 2026): 300+ catch-ups 120+ invoices 200 students in db 59 active users Tech stack: React, Node.js, Express JS, PostgreSQL, Prisma, Docker, Traefik, Discord, JavaScript, TypeScript --- ### Remote IOT regulator - Type: School - Date: 2025 Short description: Remote autonomous IoT plant regulation system using secure ESP-NOW and LoRa mesh. Full description: Developed a dual-part ecosystem for plant regulation. Part 1: A movable, battery-powered control box with embedded I2C and UART for user control and display. Because it had to run untethered, I implemented power-saving measures and EMC protection so the control box could operate reliably in the field. Part 2: A 12V 5A sensor/actuator hub handling watering, heating, and cooling. The system uses secure ESP-NOW for wireless transmission and a LoRa mesh connected to ChirpStack for long-range tracking on a dedicated React Native mobile app. Tech stack: React Native, Express JS, Custom PCB, I2C, UART, ESP-NOW, LoRa, LoRa Mesh, ChirpStack, Embedded Systems --- ### VR Digital twin - Type: School - Date: 2025 Short description: Prototype 3D digital twin using MQTT to retrieve live data from Siemens PLCs, with a supervision website. Full description: Built a prototype digital twin in 3D that uses MQTT to retrieve live data from Siemens PLCs. A supervision website was also developed for real-time monitoring alongside the VR experience. Both the VR application and the supervision website used InfluxDB to store value evolution and uptime metrics over time. Getting the headset to run the VR reliably was challenging enough on its own - detailed 3D design was not the main focus of the project. Tech stack: Godot, Python, Express JS, MQTT, Siemens PLC, Node.js, React, InfluxDB, VR, 3D modelling --- ### Automated warehouse IoT system - Type: School - Date: 2024 Short description: IoT warehouse automation using computer vision and microcontrollers. Full description: An end-to-end industrial automation project. Used April Tags and computer vision to identify items on a 3D printer frame. Stock levels were synchronised with a web app allowing remote ordering. The system automatically picked and placed items into a delivery zone using integrated hardware. Tech stack: Next.js, Node.js, MySQL, Microcontrollers, SSE, Embedded systems --- ### Les Amitiés Françaises de Mons [IN PRODUCTION] - Type: Professional - Date: 2023 - Present - Live URL: https://les-amities-francaises-de-mons.web.app/ Short description: Optimised showcase website for a non-profit cultural association. Full description: A voluntary project for a local association. Built with focus on SEO and minimal maintenance. Deployed using Google Firebase to ensure high availability and free hosting for the organisation. This was a key project for learning real-world SEO and performance optimisation. Tech stack: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Google Firebase --- ### Small brother - Type: School - Date: 2022 Short description: Full-stack platform for lost animal reporting and recovery. Full description: Developed a cross-platform solution including both a web application and a mobile app. Focused on robust backend logic with Kotlin and C# to handle user reports, geolocation data, and animal matchmaking logic. Tech stack: Angular, C#, .NET, Entity Framework, Kotlin, OOP, MySQL --- ## Contact - Let's Work Together Subtitle: I'm open to opportunities in industrial computing, automation, and software development. Let's connect and explore how we can collaborate. - Email: contact@popa-stefan.be - Phone: +32 486 06 50 45 - Location: Soignies, Belgium - Mobility: Driver's licence + vehicle - LinkedIn: https://be.linkedin.com/in/stefan-popa-2ab261232 - CV download: https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/cv/stefan-popa-cv.pdf --- ## Crawling policy All AI agents and search crawlers are welcome. Robots: https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/robots.txt Sitemap: https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/sitemap.xml Site sitemap index: https://popa-stefan.be/sitemap.xml Meta JSON: https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/meta.json Structured data: https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/structured-data.json LLMs (well-known): https://popa-stefan.be/portfolio/.well-known/llms.txt ## Related site Webmaster & IT services (French): https://popa-stefan.be Services LLMs summary: https://popa-stefan.be/services-informatiques/llms.txt Services meta JSON: https://popa-stefan.be/services-informatiques/meta.json