Employment work
Sky Go
Improve the architecture. Keep the product moving.
I led mobile engineering with hands-on delivery, architecture, Kotlin Multiplatform adoption and Compose modernisation.
Independent engineer. Part of your team.
Keep shipping.Make the codebase better.
I’m David Cruz Anaya. I help product teams improve Android apps, share code with Kotlin Multiplatform and put useful AI features into production.
A decade of mobile engineering, from Sky Go to independent products.
Selected teams, products, and company context
Engineering experience includes
Where does your team
need a hand?
Improve an existing app, share more code or bring an experienced engineer into the team. Start with the problem you need to solve.
Modernise AndroidImprove the app while keeping releases moving.
Core service
Android app modernisation
Every release takes more effort. Older Java, XML screens or tangled modules make even small changes risky.
Good fit: Legacy Java or XML, fragile architecture, slow releases, or rising crash and regression rates.
A staged Kotlin and Compose migration, clearer module boundaries, tests around critical behaviour, and a release workflow your team can maintain.
See scope and deliverablesRelated work / Sky Go
Mobile engineering, architecture and release ownership in an established product team.
Read the related case studyAdopt Kotlin MultiplatformShare business logic. Keep control of each app.
Core service
Kotlin Multiplatform adoption
The same rules are implemented twice. Android and iOS drift apart, and fixes have to follow two separate paths.
Good fit: A product team wants a shared core without pausing its roadmap or rewriting both apps.
One feature to prove the approach, a shared module with explicit Android and iOS boundaries, and a migration plan grounded in your existing apps.
See scope and deliverablesRelated work / Klarinet
A shared Kotlin audio API with native backends and a C++ DSP core.
Read the related case studyStrengthen mobile deliveryAn experienced engineer working alongside you.
Core engagement
Mobile architecture and embedded senior delivery
The roadmap needs to move, but your team also needs someone to own difficult implementation and architecture decisions.
Good fit: A team that needs hands-on delivery, clearer module boundaries, stronger engineering standards, or technical leadership now.
Hands-on feature delivery, architecture and code reviews, documented decisions, and regular knowledge sharing with your engineers.
See scope and deliverablesRelated work / Sky Go
Hands-on mobile delivery alongside team and technical leadership.
Read the related case studyNative performance workFind the bottleneck. Build the native part it needs.
Specialist capability
Native and Rust performance work
A latency or CPU-bound mobile problem needs one reliable implementation across Android and iOS.
Good fit: Real-time audio, media processing, cryptography, or parsing where measurement shows a native layer is justified.
A focused Rust or native module with clean Kotlin and Swift APIs, tests, benchmarks, and documented ownership boundaries.
See scope and deliverablesRelated work / Klarinet
Shared native audio integration using Kotlin, C++ and platform APIs.
Read the related case studyApplied AI featuresTake a useful AI feature beyond the demo.
Specialist capability
Applied AI product features
The demo works. Now the feature needs reliable access to product data, predictable failure behaviour and a cost you can manage.
Good fit: An existing product needs a contained AI feature using its own data and functions, with production constraints made explicit.
A scoped assistant or generation feature connected to your data and tools, with evaluation cases, rate limits, budget controls and documented failure behaviour.
See scope and deliverablesRelated work / Paglipat
A tool-calling concierge with grounding, cost controls and production tests.
Read the related case studyThe work behind the words.
Three different settings. The same hands-on approach to building, improving and releasing software.
Open source
Klarinet
A shared audio API, with native performance underneath. I designed the Kotlin API, Android and Apple backends, C++ DSP core and publishing workflow.
Independent product
Paglipat
From product idea to a working platform. I built Paglipat and its AI concierge, connecting product tools with grounding, cost controls and production tests.
Working together
Hands on, from the first conversation.
Understand the constraint
We look at the product, codebase and roadmap, then agree what needs to change and what a useful first delivery looks like.
Build with your team
I work in your repository and delivery workflow, make the trade-offs explicit and keep your engineers involved.
Leave a clear path forward
You keep the implementation, documented decisions and context to maintain the work after the engagement.
From the people doing the work
“His code was easy to read and, to this day, serves as the foundation for a shared video-streaming library at Sky.”
Raul Podar
Senior Android Engineer · Sky
Read the full recommendation and more
Ben Bastami
Senior Android Developer · Sky
I had the pleasure of working with David during our time at SkyGo, and later on a separate project called AirUI. Throughout both engagements, David consistently demonstrated the qualities of a well-rounded and highly capable software developer. David brings a deep and diverse programming skill set to any team. His proficiency spans across Java, Kotlin, Dart, and C, among other languages, allowing him to contribute effectively across a wide range of technical challenges. Whether working on mobile platforms, backend systems, or cross-platform solutions, David approaches problems with clarity, creativity, and a strong analytical mindset. Beyond his technical expertise, David is a collaborative and dependable team member. He communicates clearly, supports his peers, and consistently delivers high-quality work on time. His professionalism and positive attitude make him a valuable asset in any development environment. I highly recommend David for any software development role. He would be an excellent addition to any team looking for a versatile, thoughtful, and technically strong developer.
Raul Podar
Senior Android Engineer · Sky
I worked closely with David during our time at Sky. I initially heard about him from others as “this great coder who had left our team”, but later I had the chance to personally get to know him and to discover many great components and features he had designed. His code was easy to read and, to this day, serves as the foundation for a shared video-streaming library at Sky. David’s passion for coding makes him one of the most hard-working people I have had the chance to meet. He is constantly learning new things and sharing his knowledge with others. He is also comfortable challenging the status quo to improve both products and processes. I have seen this a few times while at Sky when he proposed different technologies stack that led to better products. I would trust David with any project that needs to be brought to life and built for maintainability and long-term success.
Junaid Younus
iOS Contractor · JustEat
Working with David as my manager was a positive experience, and I recommend him for his solid technical skills. He adeptly combines strategic vision with hands-on expertise, simplifying complex projects. His guidance created a collaborative and innovative team environment, and his dedication to our success was evident in every project. David is not only a seasoned professional but also a trusted mentor with a friendly approach. I would eagerly work with him again, confident that any team would benefit from his technical expertise.
Jakub Homlala
Senior Mobile Engineer · OLX
David is a top-notch Android and Flutter developer. He understands the latest technologies and is always up-to-date on the latest trends. He is a great problem solver and is always able to come up with creative solutions. He has a great eye for detail, and he is always thinking about ways to improve his apps. I have no doubt that he will continue to be a great asset to any team he works with. I would highly recommend David for any Android or Flutter development positions.
Volodymyr Nedashkivskyi
Senior Software Engineer · Sky
I was working with David in SkyGo Android team. He is very productive and hardworking person, always looking for new chandelling tasks and helps other team members. It's a please to work and have a chat over a cup of coffee with him.
Bomee Ryu
Android Developer · Sky
I worked with David in Sky Go Android team. Not only he has strong technical skills, but also he was always happy to share his knowledge with the team and always ready to help team members. It was an absolute pleasure to work with him.
Marios Christodoulou
Software Engineer · Ravelin Technology
I had the pleasure to work on a 3-month project with David. David was a great scrum master, he always made himself available whenever we had questions and was quick to help us resolve any issues that arose. David is very skilled at his job and he would be a great asset to any team.
Patrick Ellis
Retired · Sky
Had the pleasure of working in a software delivery team under David's guidance as Scrum Master. I learnt much to develop my own mentality and approaches to software development. Both smart and professional, as well as a valued mentor of mine, I can easily recommend both his character and technical skillset.
Jason Quach
Senior Software Engineer · Sky
David was our scrum master for my graduate project at Sky. He has been brilliant in guiding us as a team and helping us learn to use the Scrum framework. He has always been willing to help and answer our questions. It has been a pleasure working with him and I hope we get the chance to work together again in the future.
Ian Nagot
Principal Engineer · Sky
During my years as a developer, I have worked with several people. However, only a handful are as talented as David. He is simply outstanding and doesn't matter what's the task, he will get it done in no time. It was a pleasure to work with him in the Sky Go team!
Mark Rymer
Lead Software Engineer · Sky
David and I worked together on the Android Sky Go project, where I found him an absolute joy to work with. He tackled every request made of him with zeal, and nothing was too much trouble. He excelled at detailed investigations on a complex codebase, constantly strove to improve his skills, and gladly shared his knowledge and his time with the rest of the team. I would never hesitate to recommend him for any work he wished to set his mind to.
Joel Allen
Software Engineer · Sky
I worked with David where he was the scrum master for my graduate project. I learned a lot from him about how to work in a scrum team and he was always ready to help our team when we needed it. It was a pleasure to work with David and I would happily work with him again in the future.
Benjamin Laurie-Machin
Software Developer · Sky
David was my scrum master during a project at Sky. As I was new to the scrum way of working, David was especially good at teaching me to work in an agile manner. He was always ready to help and quick to respond to messages.
Eduardo Calçada
Engineering Program Manager · Apple
I had the pleasure of working with David on a key company project for a large international client. As Android team lead, David's engagement and eagerness to convey ideas and feedback were pivotal in not only the success of the final product, but also in the learning process of the junior developers he mentored. These are qualities I value in strong technical team leaders. David has my full recommendation.
Jose Terrones Arroyo
Sabbatical · Freelance
Great person to work with, as a colleague and mentor. David has a strong understanding of the Android ecosystem, not only of the development side but also the tools and programming paradigms that surround it.
Sep Pourtaymour
iOS Engineer / Founder / Project Manager · Freelance
Great person to discuss ideas and features. Has a solid understanding of design patterns and OOP. Quick to find solutions to problems and challenges, and apply good programming practices. I had a great time sitting next to him and bounce ideas and solutions.
Sanja Stojanovska
Senior QA Engineer · Nion
It is a pleasure to work with David. He is a responsible Lead developer and a hardworking person with excellent problem solving and technical skills. He is a person to have on any team. I am always impressed by David’s ability to complete the work assigned to him on time and he repeatedly runs on his programs before making them public to ensure there aren’t any hiccups. This skill came in handy when he presented an android application to clients. His professional development courses and trips helped more people to easily learn new techniques and perform their tasks
Jon Knowles
Compliance & Certification · Freelance
David is a determined and driven software developer who has an incredible knack of picking up new skills rapidly and honing them to expertise. I have been amazed at the level of dedication David demonstrates even in the teeth of difficulties that would defeat many others. I worked with him testing his Android code for native apps and found him to be thorough, reliable and very agreeable. He is an asset to any team and unlimited potential.
Danny Bravo
App Developer · Freelance
If there’s something to say about David is that he’s got grit. He is a person who’s not afraid to tackle a challenge head on, making him an avid developer willing to learn by himself in order to achieve his goals. He’s got a natural sense of exploration and perseverance which is refreshing to see in a developer. I had the pleasure to work with him while developing the “playMGM” app geared for casinos in Las Vegas and would highly recommend him to any team.
Paolo Gagge'
Quality Engineer and Quality Assurance · Freelance
I’ve worked alongside David in 2012. He has been a key player on our team, aways focused on improving his skills and finding solutions to the challenges we faced. David has important qualities like competence, adaptability, loyalty and he is an hard worker.
Usha Shivaram
QA Software Engineer · Precisely
David is a dedicated software developer with a vast experience in all aspects of software development process and always eager to learn something new. He always tries to find innovative ways to come up with a solution to solve problems. He has shown his excellent problem analysis skills when working on some hard to recreate bugs. I would without a doubt recommend him for any future roles in software development field.
Chris Costello
Director, iLottery Instant Win Content · IGT
I have had the pleasure to work with David for over 12 months. In this time David has proven to be a first-class software engineer with a first-class attitude. David can turn his hand to anything in his pursuit of understanding and overcoming any technical challenge, and always in an efficient manner. David is a well-rounded, grounded and determined software engineer. He is a pleasure to work with and would be an asset to any team. I can recommend him without reservation.
Elviani Huseyin
Front End Developer, Angular (Contract) · Freelance
David is very hardworking, extremely efficient, and always does his best to do the tasks assigned to him. He is continuously learning, improving his skills and increasing his knowledge. There is no issue that he is unable to fix, he always works his best to find solutions for each of the issues he is facing. Technical knowledge is not only his best skill, David also has an amazing personality, always bring a good positive energy inside the team. It is a pleasure to work with David as his colleague and his line-manager.
Stuart Bridgeman
Design Team Lead · Zappar
I have had the pleasure of working with David for two years now, throughout my time at IGT he has proven to be a valuable member of the game development team, he is always interested in trying new things and achieves a very high standard which each project he delivers. He is a joy to work with and is always a very positive person, I would definitely recommend working with him.
Alfredo Salvati
Software Engineer · Freelance
Mr Cruz has been working with me for the last 2 years and I have to say that the only thing that overcomes his speed in his development is the quality of his work, always spot on and delivered most of the time before the deadline. Also he is very outgoing and always available to help out or discuss possible problems and options in the implementation of the products. Definitely I would recommend him as a Software Developer.
Luca Borrione
Senior Frontend Engineer | Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) · Freelance
"Ridiculously efficient" is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about David. If you ever need someone to deliver under pressure, no slip-ups, just results, David is your go-to person. David is a very productive developer thanks to the multi-skills he masters and his proactive personality. As a bonus David is able to create great relations with any colleague with his always-smiling and positive attitude.
Bence Varga
Frontend Development Manager · Freelance
David worked as solid member of my team as Game Developer. His good work ethic, time management skills and above all commitment made all his projects successful and ready on time. He was instrumental in carrying out interactive HTML5 games to Norwegian, Italian and UK market along with maintaining our excisting games cataloge. Not only was he a solid member of my team, but he also demonstrated his eagerness of improving and learning new technologies. I would gladly recommend him to any IT company as I can guarantee he will always strive delivering what hes is told to do and try achieveing the maximum.
Ankor Inclán
Autor de la web · Ideas y Pensamientos
Un gran profesional,rápido y eficaz... he quedado muy contento con su trabajo y no dudaré en repetir.
Decisions worth
writing down.
Android, Kotlin and native engineering, explained through the decisions behind the code.
Browse the writingTechnical writing
Cryptography with Rust on Android: ring and RustCrypto Instead of Rolling Your Own
Technical writingHeavy Parsing with Serde: Offloading JSON and CSV Crunching to Rust
Technical writingLow-Latency Audio DSP with Rust: AAudio and Oboe from a Rust Core
Support for individual developersOne-to-one mentoring
Work with David
What needs to move
forward?
Tell me about your product, the challenge and the team. We can work out whether I’m the right person to help.
Discuss a project