About

I’m Luiz, a software engineer exploring the intersection of AI agents, virtualization, and infrastructure. Originally from Brazil, now based in the United States.

I recently stepped away from a long career in big tech to focus on a more personal, sovereign approach to technology. I’m drawn to local-first software, declarative systems, and tools that keep your data private by default. I’m particularly interested in how strong primitives and virtualization can support the next generation of autonomous tools while keeping control firmly in the hands of users.

This blog is a place for me to write about what I’m building and learning.

Background#

I tend to follow my curiosity. Over 13 years at Facebook and Instagram, I gradually moved across the stack.

I started in web frontend, building interfaces and backends for advertisers on Facebook, part of one of the first teams to adopt React in production before it was open sourced. From there I moved into backend work, building tools for news publishers around Instant Articles, Facebook’s fast-loading native article format.

Later at Instagram, I worked exclusively on backend systems. I shipped features like Instagram Save and supported Shopping and Checkout by building infrastructure for in-app purchases, product drops, and creator tools.

Eventually I found myself drawn to security and privacy infrastructure, building systems that helped thousands of engineers handle user data responsibly at scale without sacrificing developer velocity.

Outside of software#

Outside of software, I enjoy building things with my hands. I’m into manufacturing in various forms, including 3D printing, CNC machining, and electronics. I’m also obsessed with home automation.

I’ve been fascinated by space since I was a kid and have been dabbling in astrophotography, pointing telescopes and cameras at the sky and trying to capture what’s out there.