Building Scalable and Resilient Backend Systems

Backend & Infrastructure

• Built and maintained several microservices using Node.js (Fastify).
• Codebase combines class-based and functional patterns.
• Followed testing best practices using Jest for unit tests and coverage.
• Used Kafka for event-driven architecture and Confluent Schema Registry for managing schemas.
• Deployed services in Kubernetes, managed via ArgoCD.
• CI/CD setup with GitHub Actions.
• Monitored systems using Grafana, Prometheus, and Kibana.
• Defined and maintained alerts and alarms based on custom metrics.

Communication Platform Ownership

• Led the development of a Communication Microservice:
  • Consumes Kafka events to determine the best communication channel (email, push, or in-app).
  • Implemented a rules-based system for delivery logic.
• Integrated tools like SendGrid, Iterable, and CMS platforms for localized content and templates.
• Worked closely with UI/UX designers (via Figma) to align messaging with design specs.

Collaboration & Workflow

• Daily collaboration via Slack and Microsoft Teams.
• Regularly coordinated with multiple teams (Product, Design, Developer Experience, Other teams in the Cluster). This includes asking questions about requirements and other system dependencies, as well as coordinating releases and deployments.
• Participated in task scoping and prioritization, often defining and driving work based on product goals.

Key Projects & Responsibilities

• Led the development of a new integration for Amazon:
  • Built a microservice in Node.js deployed via AWS Lambda.
  • Used AWS SQS for event-driven ingestion of high-volume order data.
  • Stored data in PostgreSQL.
  • Set up CI/CD pipelines using Bitbucket Pipelines.
  • Wrote unit tests using Mocha and assertion libraries.
  • Performed end-to-end testing in a QA environment before production deployments.
  • Monitored and maintained the service using AWS CloudWatch (alerts, alarms, dashboards).
• Rewritten H&M Group integration and contributed to Shein integration, adapting to each client's requirements.
• Supported integrations over various channels:
  • Public APIs used by clients.
  • AS2 server setup and management for secure order ingestion.

Technical Improvements

• Promoted better backend practices by:
  • Reducing reliance on database logic (stored procedures, DB functions).
  • Refactoring business logic into microservices to improve testability and maintainability.
  • Implemented functional programming patterns where suitable.
  • Applied principles like separation of concerns and DRY to improve code structure and readability.

Collaboration & Workflow

• Worked directly with the CTO, Integration Manager, and external partners, including Amazon developers.
• Coordinated with internal teams responsible for order processing systems.
• Daily communication and coordination done via Slack.

Key Responsibilities & Projects

• Contributed to a large-scale migration project, transitioning a legacy PHP monolith to a Node.js microservices architecture with zero downtime.
• Developed and maintained REST APIs for multiple services.
• Worked on a Backend-for-Frontend (BFF) layer used by various internal applications.
• Helped implement microservices for Authentication and Authorization, treated as independent services.
• Built features to support a content marketing platform that improved local businesses' online presence through SEO-optimized content and indexing.
• Used ElasticSearch to index and serve content for internal search functionality.

Technical Stack

• Node.js, PostgreSQL, ElasticSearch.
• AWS SQS for message queues (e.g., high-priority vs. low-priority processing).
• Functional programming approach throughout the codebase.
• Microservice communication and orchestration based on clean separation of responsibilities.

Notable Contributions

• Led a solo project to build a data migration tool:
• Created a Node.js script that pulled data from the old database.
• Transformed the data according to new business rules.
• Inserted data into the new system by making efficient API calls to the new services.
• This project deepened my knowledge of PostgreSQL and helped enforce consistent business logic during data transition.

Team & Growth

• Coming from a C#/.NET background with experience in OOP, this role marked a significant shift to functional programming, which I came to prefer and appreciate.
• The team culture emphasized code quality, mentoring, and continuous learning, which helped me grow rapidly as a developer.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintained legacy applications written in C# and .NET using object-oriented programming principles.
• Worked with Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle databases, using Entity Framework as the ORM.
• Supported and improved various internal tools, including:
• HR web applications (e.g., vendor payment systems) built with .NET MVC.
• Windows desktop applications used for parsing and processing thousands of directory records (e.g., Yellow & White Pages).

Notable Contribution

• Worked on the re-write of a legacy Windows application used for large file parsing:
• Rebuilt the UI to improve responsiveness and usability.
• Eliminated blocking behavior during record processing, significantly improving the user experience and workflow efficiency.