Mark van Aalst

Mark van Aalst

Driving AI-first developer experience and documentation platforms

Currently
Director, Documentation and Developer Platforms at Sitecore
Experience
20+ years in software
Based in
Ede, Netherlands

Experience

  1. SitecoreCurrent

    Zeist / Amsterdam / Remote·Jan 2012 – Present (14 yrs 10 mos)

    • Architecture
    • AI
    • TypeScript
    • Next.js
    • React
    • Microsoft
    1. Director, Documentation and Developer Platforms

      Mar 2025 – Present·1 yr 8 mos

      As Director, Developer and Documentation Platforms, I manage the complete documentation infrastructure and lead its ongoing evolution. I am currently driving a full rebuild of the platform to support AI-assisted documentation workflows, enabling faster authoring and greater consistency across all content.

    2. Director, Developer Platforms

      Mar 2022 – Mar 2025·3 yrs 1 mo

      Following multiple acquisitions and a rapidly expanding product portfolio beyond the core CMS, I took on a broader role focused on developer experience across all Sitecore products. I led the launch of a centralized developer portal to guide partners and customers to the right resources, while helping coordinate internal efforts to consolidate fragmented channels from acquired companies. Building on this foundation, I initiated and delivered a global, cross-product changelog that enabled product teams to publish release information in a consistent, unified way. I later launched a public product roadmap, integrated with internal systems to surface up-to-date roadmap information across the entire product suite.

    3. Senior Developer Advocate

      Aug 2021 – Mar 2022·8 mos

      Expanding focus from SXA to broader developer experience initiatives

    4. Senior Technical Evangelist

      Aug 2019 – Jul 2021·2 yrs

      Global

      Continuation of earlier activities with a focus on SXA. Created a 20-part online tutorial series, an example website implementation, and multiple articles on SXA.

    5. Technical Evangelist

      Mar 2016 – Jul 2019·3 yrs 5 mos

      Global

      Engaged the technical audience by educating, enabling, and exciting them about Sitecore products via conferences, webinars, videos, blog posts, and other content channels. Served as a bridge between the product organization and developers implementing Sitecore.

    6. Presales / Solutions Architect

      Aug 2014 – Feb 2016·1 yr 7 mos

      Netherlands

      Worked with sales and prospects to build strong technical understanding of Sitecore offerings and implementations.

    7. Solution Architect / Technical Consultant

      Jan 2012 – Jul 2014·2 yrs 7 mos

      Netherlands

      Worked with partners and customers on implementing and integrating Sitecore, and on technical and business decisions. Delivered training for developers and system administrators, supported sales, published blog posts, hosted webinars, and presented externally. Built proofs of concept and demonstrations, and created shared source components such as WeBlog, DMS Gutters, and custom fields. Responsibilities included defining Sitecore architecture, developing sales propositions, supporting local sales, and advising customers and partners.

  2. Maxdoro

    Amersfoort, Netherlands·Oct 2010 – Dec 2011 (1 yr 3 mos)

    1. Senior Developer

      Oct 2010 – Dec 2011·1 yr 3 mos

      Worked as senior developer responsible for overall development, mentoring developers, and advising on best practices and architecture. Responsibilities included writing technical design, developing and documenting software, managing planning, organizing requirement sessions, motivating developers, and helping sales with offers.

  3. Vicrea

    Amersfoort, Netherlands·Apr 2010 – Dec 2010 (9 mos)

    1. Senior Developer

      Apr 2010 – Dec 2010·9 mos

      Worked as senior developer responsible for overall development and advising on best practices and architecture. Responsibilities included writing technical design, developing and documenting software.

  4. Evident Interactive

    Utrecht, Netherlands·Sep 2006 – Apr 2010 (3 yrs 8 mos)

    1. Senior/Lead Developer

      Oct 2008 – Apr 2010·1 yr 7 mos

      Worked as senior/lead developer responsible for overall Sitecore development and advising on best practices and architecture. Responsibilities included writing technical design, developing and documenting software.

    2. Medior Developer

      Jul 2007 – Sep 2008·1 yr 3 mos

      Worked as medior developer specializing in Sitecore CMS building large public and high-traffic (500k+ monthly visitors) portals within various sectors. Clients included Rabobank, Libelle, VTWonen, Nidos, TenneT, Hogeschool Utrecht, Dela, Donald Duck, Breakout!, VNU Exhibitions, Jaarbeurs Utrecht, GITP, DTZ Zadelhoff, Bobo, Margriet, Voedingscentrum, and HierBouwIk.

    3. Junior Developer

      Sep 2006 – Jun 2007·10 mos

      Started as junior developer in the Sanoma team building large public portals (Microsoft CMS) for brands like Libelle, Viva, VTWonen, and Disney Bookclub.

Skills

Frontend
  • React
  • TypeScript
  • Next.js
  • Tailwind CSS
  • JavaScript
Backend
  • Node.js
  • Python
  • C#
  • GraphQL
  • REST APIs
Tools & Others
  • Git
  • VS Code
  • Vercel
  • Azure
  • CI/CD