Hello, World!

I’m Damian Poddebniak, a software engineer and IT security researcher who believes in free software, open access to knowledge, and a world with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. I always enjoyed programming but fell in love with (the) Rust (community). Thus, expect to read a lot about Rust in this blog! However, I am also human and may write about other things.

Freelancing

I recently started a journey as a freelancing software engineer to work on projects and with clients that share my passion for open-source software.

Expertise

My core strengths encompass email protocols, applied cryptography, public-key infrastructures, and diligent software design in Rust. Generally, I enjoy writing parsers for complex protocols and designing usable, misuse-resistant APIs. Still, I am inquisitive and would love to work with geo-information and embedded systems to enter the renewable energy sector.

During my Ph.D. at the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, I co-authored several research papers on end-to-end encrypted email (IMF, MIME, S/MIME, OpenPGP, …), transport encryption (TLS, X.509, …), and web security (ALPN, SOP, …) that uncovered numerous security issues, leading to protocol revisions in Internet standards such as S/MIME, OpenPGP, and the IMAP protocol.

Beyond my technical expertise, I can translate complex technical topics into accessible, engaging content for a broader audience to promote projects effectively. I’m a transparent person, and, as far as I can tell, people generally enjoy working with me :-)

Clients and rates

I am particularly drawn to projects promoting open-source software, secure communication, and clients in the renewable energy sector. These are my dream clients, as leveraging technology in these spaces is crucial for our future.

My rate is ~800€ / day, and when you choose to work with me, you’re not just hiring a freelancer – you’re investing in a partnership that delivers value beyond the project’s scope. I am dedicated to ensuring every project concludes with a diligently designed, meticulously documented, easily maintainable software artifact.

You can reach me via poddebniak@mailbox.org. Pronouns: he/him/his.

Education

Dr.-Ing. in Computer Security, 2016-2021 University of Applied Sciences Münster, Münster, DE
M.Sc. in Computer Science, 2014-2016 University of Applied Sciences Münster, Münster, DE
B.Sc. in Computer Science, 2011-2014 University of Applied Sciences Münster, Münster, DE