Elena Jfremova
Senior Engineering Manager
Email:
Address:
UK, West Susex
A Journey of Creativity and Engineering
My journey began with a deep love for art, a passion that grounded me during my formative years in the post-Soviet era. Painting was my way of expressing myself and connecting with the world. In my twenties, I moved to Ireland, where I expanded into spatial and interior design, blending aesthetics with practical design.
Curiosity led me to explore web development, transitioning my creative focus to engineering. What began as hands-on technical work evolved into senior management roles at global organizations like Sainsbury’s and Fidelity International. I learned that leadership is its art—requiring vision, empathy, and the ability to inspire others to dream bigger and achieve more.
Even while leading engineering teams, art remains a constant in my life, reflecting nearly 20 years of creative practice. This blend of artistry and technical expertise shapes how I lead with curiosity, intention, and a vision that looks beyond today to create a better future.
Education and Professional Development
My educational background has supported my journey through art, design, and leadership:
Higher National Diploma in Spatial Design (Level 8)
COLAISTE DHULAIGH College of Further Education: Specialized in interior and spatial design.
Diploma in Computer Science
National College of Ireland: Strengthened my technical foundation for engineering roles.
Creative Milestones
Art has been a constant in my career, and this is shown through exhibitions exploring emotions and abstract themes in oil painting.
Exhibitions:
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2011: Group Show, Russian Art, Dublin City Council, Dublin
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2010: Solo Exhibition at ART FAIR 2010, RDS, Dublin; various group exhibitions in Co. Meath
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2009: “When I Close My Eyes,” Toradh Gallery, Co. Meath
Special Skills and Creative Expertise
Certificate in Creative Web Communication (NFQ Level 6)
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown: Merged my creative and technical skills in web development.
Strategic Management & Leadership Practice (Level 7)
Chartered Management Institute (UK): Completed significant coursework in transformational leadership, conflict resolution, and high-performance culture development.
Engineering and Leadership | Experienced in progressing from hands-on engineering roles to leading teams as a Senior Engineering Manager.
Design and Technical Synergy | Strong background in spatial design and technical development, blending creativity and functionality.
Artistic Techniques | Nearly two decades of practice in oil painting, focusing on abstraction and deep emotional themes.
Career at a Glance
PROFILE
With over a decade in tech, I lead teams to deliver impactful digital experiences by aligning creativity with functionality. I drive collaboration across Product, Design, and Engineering to create user-focused outcomes and foster inclusive, trusting environments where diverse teams thrive.
My background spans Engineering, Digital, and Data, with management experience in global companies like Sainsbury’s and Fidelity. Committed to continuous improvement, I transform business goals into scalable, reliable solutions that make a difference.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Strategic & Leadership
Strategic & Leadership Skills
Strategic Planning & Execution | Technical & Operational Strategy | Financial Management & Budget Oversight | Building & Leading High-Performing Teams | Agile Methodologies | System Development | Architectural Oversight | Product Road-Mapping & Strategic Alignment
Industry Expertise
Industry & Domain Specialties
FinTech | E-commerce | Design Systems | Digital Transformation | Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Vendor Management | System Design | Microservices | Cloud Services (AWS) | CI/CD | DORA Metrics | ServiceNow | Analytics | SLOs/SLAs
Technical Proficiencies
JavaScript | React | UI Development | Single Page Applications (SPAs) | Micro-frontends
Python | Ruby on Rails | Node.js | REST APIs | AWS | CI/CD | Docker | Version Control Systems
HTML5 | CSS3 | E-commerce | Content Management Systems (CMS)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
March 2024 - Present
Feb 2020 - Jan 2024
Jun 2016 - Feb 2020
SENIOR ENGINEERING MANAGER
Sainsbury's
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As Engineering Manager at Sainsbury’s, my primary focus is enhancing customer experiences by delivering consistent, high-quality services powered by advanced technical capabilities. I built and led a new team of engineers to quickly address our initial project backlog, refining processes and strengthening partnerships to elevate the quality and reliability of our customer service.
GLOBAL ENGINEERING SENIOR MANAGER
I led a team of engineers in establishing Global Design Standards (GDS) at Fidelity International, enhancing user experiences and setting new code standards across 226 websites. As part of the Engineering Excellence community at the SLT, I drove GDS adoption, aligning efforts with company goals and providing governance and support for digital initiatives.
I managed the entire process, from strategic communication to execution, ensuring high-quality software delivery and effective tool selection.
As the Senior Manager of the Global Engineering Team, I pioneered the development and delivery of design systems. Through matrix management, I developed accessible, cross-platform solutions that reduced deployment issues and significantly improved the user experience.
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I built and led the engineering team, set the technical vision, and oversaw all development phases—from architecture and design to hands-on coding - while establishing a robust testing strategy.
TEAM LEAD & SENIOR ENGINEER
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Led technical advancements in eSure's Marketing division, focusing on customer marketing and digital acquisition. Successfully led a team of engineers, overseeing the Drupal site optimisation for enhanced customer experience.
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Led technical strategy for the Web/UI stack, using A/B testing to improve CRO, user engagement, and business performance through iterative optimisation of interfaces and marketing funnels.
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Collaborated with Marketing and IT teams to develop customer-centric websites, integrated advanced data analysis for personalised insurance products, and contributed significant digital innovations in the B2C insurance sector.
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I led a team of engineers, focusing on regular performance reviews and fostering a supportive Agile mindset. Implementing an Agile backlog management system reduced sprint cycle time by 20%, while continuous feedback helped identify growth opportunities and boost team productivity.
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