// About
About Francesco Petrungaro
I’m a Principal Software Engineer, Technical Lead and AI Consultant, and the founder of Bytes Cove. I have worked in software for nearly 20 years, more than 15 of them building mobile applications and leading engineering teams.
I help companies decide what to build and how people should use it. I work with founders and product teams on roadmaps and priorities, set the direction for UX and UI with designers and review the experience before it ships. Because I also design the architecture and lead the engineers, the plan stays realistic: what we agree on is what gets built.
I have led the technical direction of apps for iOS, iPadOS and macOS, worked on local data storage and synchronisation, and built AI features that run on the device. I also work across Android and Kotlin Multiplatform, and on web and backend services with TypeScript, React, Next.js and Cloudflare Workers.
My career spans banking and payments, sport, telecoms, energy and consumer products, with more than a decade in Ireland and the UK. I have worked on products for Formula 1, EE, E.ON, HSBC and Stonegate Group, including my time at Monitise, IBM and Digitas.
As an AI consultant, I help teams decide where AI is worth using, build workflows and integrate AI features into their products. I have built workflows for QA triage, structured GitHub issues and first-pass code reviews, with clear limits on what the tools can change and checks through builds, tests and human review.
// Experience
Where I’ve worked
Bytes Cove
2023 – today
Founder · product, UX and AI consulting
Geo
2023 – 2026
Principal Mobile Engineer · iOS, iPadOS, macOS, on-device AI · remote, San Francisco
Publicis Sapient Italy
2025 – 2026
Technology & Architecture Consultant · enterprise programmes
Digitas UK · Publicis Groupe
2015 – 2023
iOS Tech Lead, then Principal Mobile Engineer · Formula 1, EE, E.ON, Hastings Direct, Stonegate
IBM
2014 – 2015
Senior iOS Engineer & Tech Lead · banking apps, Visa R&D, build and test automation
Monitise
2013 – 2014
Senior iOS Developer & Tech Lead · HSBC, RBS, NatWest, Co-operative Bank, Ulster Bank
net mobile AG
2012 – 2013
Senior iOS Developer · the first official Playboy iOS app, built from scratch
Carma Technology · Avego
2011 – 2012
iOS Engineer · Avego Driver, real-time ride-sharing · Cork
// Skills
What my work covers
strategy
Software architecture, technical roadmaps and team leadership
product
Product direction, UX/UI collaboration and delivery
mobile
Swift for iOS, iPadOS and macOS · Android · Kotlin Multiplatform
web & backend
TypeScript, React, Next.js, Cloudflare Workers, SQL
ai
Claude Code, Codex, MCP, coding agents, RAG, local models
quality
Modernisation, performance, data synchronisation and security
AI-assisted. Human-led.
// People I’ve worked with
References
“Francesco is an exceptional technician and mobile developer. He has deep expertise in iOS and mobile architectures in general and is also able to solve the hardest problems effectively leading to positive outcomes.”
On top of his exceptional capability, he is great to work with: highly collaborative, leads by example and delivers high quality work under pressure. I would work with Francesco again tomorrow!
Lloyd Tuckey
Head of Technology, Digitas UK
“Francesco is an excellent iOS team lead and it was evident especially when we worked together in the Formula 1 project. He guided the team through complex technical challenges, ensuring that the project was not only completed successfully but also exceeded client expectations.”
Artur Tworzydlo
Mobile Technical Architect, Digitas UK
“I worked with Francesco on a number of high-profile mobile banking projects during his time at both Monitise and IBM. He is an exceptionally talented developer with a very disciplined approach to his work and a great eye for detail.”
Gary McCarville
Delivery Project Executive, IBM
What are you working on?
Tell me about the product, the team or the technical question you need help with. Pick the time that suits you.