Nikolay Kostov

Born: June 1990

Email: blog@nikolay.it

Website: https://nikolay.it/

GitHub: https://github.com/NikolayIT/

Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/users/1862812/nikolay-kostov

CV last updated on 10 December 2025

Summary

Senior software engineer, solutions architect and technical trainer with extensive experience in building large-scale web platforms, cloud solutions and developer tooling on the Microsoft stack. Strong expertise in C#, .NET, ASP.NET Core, SQL Server, JavaScript and Azure, with deep understanding of software architecture, algorithms and data structures. Proven track record in leading engineering teams, designing complex systems, delivering high-quality software on time and teaching thousands of students and professionals.

Court-appointed expert witness (software engineering and digital forensics) in the Bulgarian courts, experienced in complex technical analyses and formal expert reports. Former Microsoft Certified Trainer (2014–2022), recognized in Forbes Bulgaria "30 under 30" and as "Student of the Year in Bulgaria".

Computer Skills

Programming Languages

  • Expert: C#, JavaScript, SQL
  • Very good: C/C++, PHP, Python, Java
  • Good: F#, Assembly, MSIL, Adobe Flex (MXML, ActionScript)

Software Technologies

  • Web development with the ASP.NET stack: ASP.NET Core, Blazor, ASP.NET MVC, Razor, ASP.NET Web Forms, ASP.NET Web API, SignalR, Entity Framework, Dapper, LINQ, SQL Server, WCF, Kendo UI, AutoMapper, Ninject
  • Microsoft Azure (App Services, storage, databases and related services)
  • Web development with PHP and MySQL: PHP, MySQL, Smarty, jQuery
  • Web development with Node.js: Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB
  • Microsoft .NET Framework and .NET: C#, ASP.NET Core, ASP.NET MVC, Windows Forms, WCF, CLR, Mono, ASP.NET Web Forms, WPF, Silverlight
  • Client-side technologies: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, AJAX, jQuery, Kendo UI, AngularJS, Flex, Flash
  • Distributed systems and multi-tier architectures
  • Databases – design and optimization of relational databases (SQL Server, MySQL), good knowledge of MongoDB
  • Object-oriented programming and modeling (excellent knowledge of design patterns and SOLID principles)
  • Deep knowledge of algorithmic problems – data structures, graph theory, combinatorial problems, dynamic programming, etc.
  • Source control systems – Git (GitHub, Azure DevOps), TFS, SVN
  • HTTP, web crawling, Windows API, sandboxing in Windows

Administration Skills

  • Administration of Windows Server, IIS and Microsoft SQL Server
  • Virtualization – running own servers on vSphere and Hyper-V
  • Windows and Linux administration

Other Skills

  • Excellent presentation and communication skills
  • Video and audio editing skills
  • Excellent skills with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint

Experience

Technical Trainer, SoftUni 09/2018 – present
  • Design and deliver courses in programming, algorithms, data structures and software engineering.
  • Teach large groups of students in both online and in-person formats.
Expert Witness, Bulgarian Court 05/2020 – present
  • Act as court-appointed expert in software, web systems and digital evidence.
  • Prepare detailed technical analyses and formal expert reports for civil and other court cases.
Solutions Architect, ZenCodeo 05/2016 – present

Design and development of cloud-based legal-tech and business systems.

Selected projects

  • StratusBK – Bankruptcy case management system for attorneys with integration with US courts for automated case filing and case information gathering, finance management, document processing, CMS, CRM, calendar with case events, etc. (http://stratusintelligence.com)
  • AccentInsights – Platform to manage and track public employee activities, helping managers retain team members and reduce retraining costs. (https://accentinsights.zencodeo.com)
  • Customer Experience Enhancer – Modern, secure, cloud-based plug-and-play solution enabling multiple interaction channels with customers (phone, email, SMS, chat, web form), agent work tracking, agent management, detailed marketing reports and machine-learning-based optimization suggestions. (video)
  • Delinquency Cases System – System for attorneys and creditors with extended information about US bankruptcy cases (Chapter 13), integrating several data providers into a unified platform for analysis and visualization.
  • Court Calendar – Online system to download US court events and systemize them in an easy-to-use UI. (http://courtcalendar.azurewebsites.net)
  • Semrad Portal – Client and employee web portal with information about cases, leads, appointments and marketing data. (https://portal.debtstoppers.com/)
Manager Software Engineering and Technical Trainer, Telerik (Progress) 05/2011 – 05/2016
  • Delivered more than 350 lectures in Telerik Academy.
  • Main architect of TelerikAcademy.com (http://telerikacademy.com): learning management system (LMS), test system, attendance system, forum system, anti-cheat system, certification system and others.
  • Main architect and developer of BGCoder.com – Open Judge System (http://bgcoder.com, source code):
    • Web interface for users and administrators (ASP.NET MVC).
    • Windows service for compiling, executing and checking user submissions.
    • Restricted process executor using Windows APIs.
    • Compiler wrappers and custom checkers.
    • Anti-cheat system for detecting code similarity.
  • Showcase Systemhttp://best.telerikacademy.com, source code
  • Trainer in Telerik Software Academy, Telerik School Academy, Telerik Algo Academy, Telerik Academy Plus.
  • Co-author and editor of the book “Introduction to programming with C#” (Bulgarian and English) – http://www.introprogramming.info/.
  • Video lectures: https://nikolay.it/Videos
Web Developer (freelancer) 09/2005 – present

Selected websites

.NET Projects 06/2004 – present
Participation in Programming Competitions 02/2005 – present
  • Active participant in TopCoder algorithmic tournaments
  • National Olympiad in IT (2007; 2008 – 1st place in IT test and 1st place in desktop applications project category; 2009 – 1st place in Internet applications project category)
  • National Olympiad in Informatics (2006; 2007; 2008; 2009)
  • National Autumn Competition in Informatics (2007; 2008; 2009)
  • National Winter Competition in Informatics (2006; 2007; 2008; 2009)
  • National Spring Competition in Informatics (2006; 2007; 2008; 2009)

Co-author of Books

Achievements and Awards

  • Microsoft Certified Trainer – active from December 2014 to December 2022
  • 30 under 30 – Forbes Bulgaria, November 2015
  • Student of the Year in Bulgaria 2015, December 2015
  • Top 100 most influential IT people in Bulgaria, 2022

Education

New Bulgarian University 2016 – 2018

Master’s degree in “Software Technologies in the Internet”.

New Bulgarian University 2015 – 2016

Bachelor’s degree, Computer Science (module: Computer Programming).

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” 2009 – 2014

Computer Science.

Telerik Academy 2010 – 2011

Graduated with best results.

School camps in informatics (Ministry of Education, Bulgaria) 2005 – 2009

Participation in various national training camps in informatics.

National High School of Science and Mathematics 2004 – 2009

Specialty: Chemistry and Biology. Graduated with excellent marks.

105 SOU “Atanas Dalchev” 1997 – 2004

Graduated with excellent marks.

Exams and Certificates