About

I’m Robin Cussol, a Staff Engineer and Frontend Platform Lead at Kiwi.com, where I’ve been working for over seven years. My journey into software development began with a PhD in mathematics, and I’ve since transitioned into a rewarding career in JavaScript and frontend technologies.

My Journey from PhD to Developer

Originally from France, I completed my PhD in mathematics at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Feeling burnt out and uncertain about academia, I discovered web development through a Udemy course and embarked on a self-taught path to becoming a JavaScript developer.

I moved to Prague in 2017 and dove headfirst into coding. I attended meetups, built projects like MarkeTool.email (a newsletter personalization tool), and honed my skills in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and later frameworks like React and Node.js.

For a detailed account of this transition, including the challenges, resources, and lessons learned, check out my post: How I went from PhD to JavaScript developer.

Professional Experience

At Kiwi.com, I’ve grown from a medior developer to my current role as Frontend Platform Lead. Here’s a quick timeline:

  • 2017-2018: Started as a medior developer, working on React applications
  • 2018-2019: Dabbled with React Native and Expo for cross-platform mobile development. I wrote about this experience in Build Standalone Expo APK/IPA with Turtle CLI and Tequila-Powered Cross-Platform Development with Expo
  • 2019: Promoted to Senior Developer
  • 2019-2020: Moved to the Frontend Platform team, expanding my skills in platform engineering
  • January 2021: Became a Staff Engineer
  • 2023-Present: Lead of the Frontend Platform team

I’m currently very interested in AI tooling and how it can enhance developer productivity and user experiences.

Personal Life

Outside of work, I’m a proud father of two boys and a loving husband. I enjoy growing my own food in the garden and building things with wood – whether it’s furniture, or small and big projects around the house.

Get in Touch

Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect, discuss technology, or share ideas. You can find me on Twitter or check out my blog for more thoughts on development, AI, and life as a developer.