Pankaj is available for hire

Pankaj Batra

Verified Expert in Engineering

Software Developer

Location

Gurugram, Haryana, India

Toptal Member Since

April 29, 2020

Pankaj is a hands-on professional and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in product development, planning, architecture and design, team building, and business leadership. He has led teams in the business-growth phase across enterprise software, advertising, B2B SaaS, education, personal finance, food tech, and logistics. Pankaj's specialties include database design, API development, product management, and back-end development in Ruby on Rails, Java, SQL, and AWS.

Portfolio

I-Motor Pty Ltd

Ruby on Rails (RoR), JSON API, Ruby on Rails API, Docker, GraphQL, MySQL...

Playvalve S.L.

Ruby on Rails (RoR), JavaScript, APIs, SQL, CI/CD Pipelines, Heroku, Full-stack...

Toptal Client

Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS Lambda, Serverless, Ruby, OAuth, Google API...

Experience

Back-end Development - 20 years Relational Databases - 20 years Ruby on Rails (RoR) - 11 years Java - 10 years Product Management - 10 years API Integration - 10 years REST APIs - 10 years Amazon Web Services (AWS) - 8 years

Availability

Full-time

Preferred Environment

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Java, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Product Management, AWS Lambda, REST APIs, Back-end Development, Relational Databases, API Integration, Third-party APIs

The most amazing...

...project I created was a hyperlocal, logistics-delivery B2B SaaS company, Sparse Labs, which was later acquired by Zomato, the biggest food-tech player in India.

Work Experience

Senior Back-end Developer

2020 - PRESENT

I-Motor Pty Ltd

Implemented GraphQL from scratch to return on-demand vehicle data.
Built REST APIs for the vehicle CMS with CRUD operations.
Handled large model changes, database migration, and duplicate merges.

Technologies: Ruby on Rails (RoR), JSON API, Ruby on Rails API, Docker, GraphQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS Lambda, SQL, Task Analysis, Redis, JSON, Technical Leadership, Leadership, Solution Design, Relational Database Design, API Development, API Architecture, Git, Back-end Development, RSpec, Test-driven Development (TDD), RESTful Services, RESTful Development, REST APIs, Architecture, Integration, Back-end

Senior Ruby on Rails and Full-stack Developer

2023 - 2023

Playvalve S.L.

Created an optimization tool using Applovin MAX APIs.
Integrated Google spreadsheets API for read/write operations.
Worked on detailed RSpec test cases to handle large datasets.

Technologies: Ruby on Rails (RoR), JavaScript, APIs, SQL, CI/CD Pipelines, Heroku, Full-stack, RSpec, Google API, AppLovin MAX

AWS Lambda Developer

2021 - 2022

Toptal Client

Developed an app that imports data and is integrated with Gmail; used AWS Lambda to import data from Gmail.
Set up a Lambda development environment using SAM and TOML file configuration.
Implemented Google OAuth in a Lambda function using Google APIs.

Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), AWS Lambda, Serverless, Ruby, OAuth, Google API, Slack, JSON, Database Migration, Gmail, Git, Automation, Back-end Development, RSpec, Test-driven Development (TDD), Microservices, API Integration, Third-party Integration, Consulting

Senior Back-end Developer and Senior Ruby on Rails Developer

2021 - 2022

Toptal Client (Medical Educational Project)

Implemented 2-way Slack API threaded communication.
Developed web notifications using Rails Action Cable.
Investigated, evaluated, quickly comprehended, and fixed many critical issues.

Technologies: Ruby, Ruby on Rails 5, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Slack API, ActionCable, Slack, Redis, JSON, Git, Back-end Development, API Integration, REST APIs, Integration, Back-end

Co-founder

2020 - 2022

Hyrr

Led the design and development of the software platform of the recruitment marketplace (Java, Spring, and MySQL) for employers to hire faster and at a lower commission rate.
Designed the system and database architecture for a Tiktok and Tinder-style video-based hiring product for grey and blue-collar hiring, using Java, Spring Boot, MySQL, Android, React, and API design.
Spearheaded project management, sprints, best practices and systems, and process implementation. Introduced systems and processes such as Jira, Sentry, and development sprints. Implemented continuous integration using CircleCI Jenkins.
Developed the back-end API in Ruby on Rails 5 for blue-collar, bulk-hiring, and outsourced-hiring management.

Technologies: Jenkins, CircleCI, Jira, Amazon Route 53, Amazon ElastiCache, Relational Database Services (RDS), Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Amazon EC2, Spring, MySQL, Java, Android, AWS Lambda, Ruby on Rails 5, Code Review, Task Analysis, Technical Hiring, Interviewing, Team Management, Source Code Review, Image Processing, JSON, Requirements Analysis, Database Migration, Project Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Team Leadership, Technical Leadership, Leadership, Automation Tools, New Relic, Solution Design, Relational Database Design, Entrepreneurship, API Development, API Architecture, Linux, DevOps, Agile, Git, Automation, jQuery, Back-end Development, API Integration, Startups, RESTful Services, RESTful Development, Third-party Integration, Enterprise SaaS, Software Architecture, REST APIs, Consulting, Architecture, Back-end

Senior Back-end Developer

2020 - 2021

BangTheTable

Optimized the API response, which reduced the response time by half.
Implemented tag management and bulk data migration for legacy models.
Trained junior developers in project management and agile practices.

Technologies: Ruby on Rails API, Ruby on Rails (RoR), MySQL, Task Analysis, Redis, Continuous Integration (CI), JSON, API Development, Agile, Git, Back-end Development, RSpec, Test-driven Development (TDD), Consulting

Senior Back-end Developer

2020 - 2020

SunReign

Developed data visualization using Mapbox to help solar installation companies identify the best position location for break-even years.
Set up the deployment process, AWS, and the database for the application.
Built the product from scratch for the MVP and investment pitches.

Technologies: Mapbox, Ruby on Rails (RoR), JavaScript, MySQL, JSON, Linux, Git, Back-end Development, Consulting

Senior Back-end Developer

2020 - 2020

Toptal Client (Online Tutoring Platform Based in Canada)

Developed a web app for online international education communities, connecting English language students to native English-speaking tutors on a social learning platform.
Set up the deployment process, AWS, and the database for the application.
Oversaw the launch process and MVP product testing.

Technologies: Ruby on Rails (RoR), PostgreSQL, JSON, Relational Database Design, Linux, Git, jQuery, Back-end Development, API Integration, RESTful Services, RESTful Development, Consulting, Architecture

Founder and CEO

2018 - 2020

Croftr

Built a four-acre farm and a successful B2C brand from scratch.
Designed and developed crop planning and customer management product using Ruby on Rails and MySQL hosted on Amazon EC2 and RDS.
Recognized with startup status by India's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Technologies: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Relational Database Services (RDS), Google Cloud, Java, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Code Review, Task Analysis, Team Management, Requirements Analysis, Project Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Team Leadership, Technical Leadership, Leadership, Automation Tools, Solution Design, Relational Database Design, Entrepreneurship, Back-end Development, Startups, RESTful Services, RESTful Development

Product Strategist and Digital Transformation Consultant

2017 - 2019

Freelancer

Developed a generic web-scraping framework using JUnit, Java, and other scraper frameworks.
Initiated an online lead-generation system and marketing campaign for a leading real-estate consulting firm, using Java and Ruby on Rails. Grew their incoming queries by 50% MoM.
Created processes and a document-management system for a leading chartered accountant using the Ubuntu server and Dropbox. This greatly helped them recover from a major malware attack.
Delivered a strong online presence, communication system, and processes for a playschool using DropBox, Google Drive, and Google Cloud.
Developed a document-management system using Java and Dropbox APIs.
Set up an online presence for a top-rated resort and booking engine using WordPress, resulting in a doubled revenue increase.

Technologies: Trello, Asana, Jira, Dropbox, Google, WordPress, Java, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, HTML, Project Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Leadership, Automation, jQuery, Back-end Development, Consulting

Vice President of Product

2016 - 2017

Zomato

Integrated Zomato with third-party POS systems that solved a significant challenge for restaurateurs, using Ruby on Rails, Java, and AWS.
Designed a callback system and database architecture for third-party API integration systems.
Upgraded Ruby on Rails to its fifth version and completed many feature enhancements in a delivery optimization SaaS product.
Developed the back-end API in Ruby on Rails for an online food ordering system.

Technologies: MySQL, Java, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Task Analysis, Team Management, Memcached, JSON, Requirements Analysis, Database Migration, Project Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Team Leadership, Technical Leadership, Leadership, Automation Tools, New Relic, Solution Design, Relational Database Design, API Development, API Architecture, Ruby on Rails 4, Amazon EC2, Linux, DevOps, Git, Automation, Back-end Development, API Integration, Startups, RESTful Services, RESTful Development, Third-party Integration, Capistrano, Software Architecture, REST APIs, Consulting, Architecture, Integration, Back-end

Founder and CEO

2014 - 2016

Sparse Labs

Bootstrapped a B2B SaaS startup for hyper-local delivery optimization. It was acquired in 2016 by Zomato after finding it to be a great fit. As part of the acquisition, joined Zomato as the vice president of products.
Designed the system architecture, APIs, and database. Integrated with third-party system APIs, such as POS and online food ordering systems, and provided a callback mechanism.
Developed Android mobile apps (Java), web apps (AngularJS), back-end API (Ruby on Rails), ServerSocket (Java), and hardware-based products, namely GPS trackers.

Technologies: DigitalOcean, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google API, Cloud Telephony, Android, MySQL, Java, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Code Review, Technical Hiring, Interviewing, Team Management, Source Code Review, Redis, Pub/Sub, HTML, Memcached, JSON, Requirements Analysis, Database Migration, Project Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Team Leadership, Technical Leadership, Leadership, Automation Tools, New Relic, Solution Design, Relational Database Design, Entrepreneurship, API Development, API Architecture, Ruby on Rails 4, Amazon EC2, Linux, DevOps, Gmail, Web Development, Git, Automation, jQuery, Back-end Development, RSpec, API Integration, Startups, RESTful Services, RESTful Development, Scraping, Third-party Integration, Capistrano, Enterprise SaaS, Software Architecture, REST APIs, Consulting, Architecture, Integration, Back-end

Blogger

2007 - 2014

Personal Finance Blog

Built and published one of the most downloaded income tax calculators in India. Developed the blog in WordPress.
Authored articles on personal finance such as income tax and investments. Thousands of people have benefited from reading these articles.
Considered one of India's top personal finance blogs and seen as the top website for multiple finance-related terms on Google search.

Technologies: DigitalOcean, Linode, PHP, WordPress, HTML, Project Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Leadership, Automation Tools, Web Development, Consulting

Technical Architect

2010 - 2011

Educomp

Built Eduignite, a career counseling and assessment product, using Ruby on Rails and MySQL in collaboration with one of the best minds in India in the education space.
Empowered students to understand themselves and make the best academic and career choices in life. Led a team of 10 people consisting of marketers, content writers, and teachers.
Designed the system architecture and database for the assessment and counseling system.

Technologies: PHP, MySQL, Spring, Java, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, Architecture, Code Review, Technical Hiring, Interviewing, Team Management, Source Code Review, HTML, Project Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Team Leadership, Technical Leadership, Leadership, Automation Tools, Solution Design, Relational Database Design, Web Development, Back-end Development, Software Architecture, Consulting, Integration

Founding Member and Technical Architect

2007 - 2010

StudyPlaces

Built a lead management system in Spring, Java, and MySQL to capture lead lifecycle and better utilization rate.
Developed a call management system in Spring, Java, and MySQL for telemarketers and automatic distribution with a matching engine.
Created India's first online college application platform in Spring, Java, and MySQL.
Delivered a marketing automation product (campaign management system) in Spring and Java with landing page generation for SEM and other online marketing requirements.
Designed system architecture and database for the lead management system, college online application system, and marketing automation.

Technologies: PHP, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby, MySQL, Java, Code Review, Task Analysis, Technical Hiring, Interviewing, Team Management, Source Code Review

Product Team Lead

2006 - 2007

Tribal Fusion, Exponential Interactive

Developed a contextual ad serving platform in Java. Built Scraper to scrape website contents and crawl them regularly.
Created geographical targeted serving platforms in Java for the advertising industry.
Delivered Facebook API integration in Java on the launch for an ad product.

Technologies: Web Scraping, Facebook API, Spring, Java, Code Review, Task Analysis, Technical Hiring, Interviewing, Team Management

Senior Software Engineer

2003 - 2006

Fiorano

Chosen ahead of other team players from IITs for US-based client-facing opportunities. One of the best performers in the company. Received a 4X salary hike in six months due to outstanding performance.
Saved over $2,000/per month for the company in the first month of joining by building an in-house email marketing automation tool, VerticalResponse, to replace their previous one.
Developed integration adapters, such as DB, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, File, JMS, MSMQ, TIBCO, and HTTP for Fiorano SOA 2006 and Fiorano ESB in Java.
Operated as a sales engineer and built a proof-of-concept for various prospects-applications using Fiorano ESB and FioranoMQ.
Participated as a core team member of the world's first JMS compliant server, FioranoMQ.

Technologies: MySQL, JMS, Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), Java, BizTalk Server, MSMQ

Founder and CTO

2002 - 2005

Net4Engineers

Created a social network for engineers. This was an internet startup ahead of its time, developing the first portal to create Facebook-like pages for collages.
Created SMS4India, an online platform to send messages from the web to mobiles, an industry first.
Delivered ExamOnline, a web-based solution that can be used on the intranet and the internet to conduct multiple-choice question-based tests.

Technologies: MySQL, Java

Experience

Automotive Marketing Platform | B2B SaaS

A CMS and web platform that powers more than thousands of car dealers.

Key Deliverables:
• Implemented GraphQL from scratch to return on-demand vehicle data.
• Built REST APIs for vehicle CMS with CRUD operations.
• Handled large model changes, database migration, and duplicate merges.

HYRR | Short Video-based Hiring App

http://hyrr.co

HYRR is a next-gen short video-based hiring platform that disrupts the way hiring is done today by reducing (and in some cases) eliminating the need for CVs.

Key Deliverables:
• Designed the system and database architecture for a Tiktok and Tinder-style video-based hiring product for grey and blue-collar hiring, using Java, Spring Boot, MySQL, Android, React, and API design.
• Spearheaded project management, sprints, best practices and systems, and processes implementation. Introduced systems and processes such as Jira, Sentry, and development sprints. Implemented continuous integration using CircleCI Jenkins.
• Developed the back-end API in Ruby on Rails 5 for blue-collar bulk-hiring and outsourced hiring management.

Logistics Tech B2B SaaS Product

http://sparselabs.com

Key Deliverables:
• Founded Sparse Labs, a B2B SaaS product. Zomato acquired it in 2016.
• Conceptualized product, architecture, and database design and developed the back-end API in Ruby on Rails.
• Completed third-party integration with POS and food ordering platforms. Led the Android and web front-end team.
• Used the following technologies: Java, Ruby on Rails, PHP, MySQL, Android, AWS EC2, Lambda, RDS, ElastiCache, Google cloud, Exotel, Bitbucket, API Gateway, and SNS.

Recruitment SaaS Platform

https://unihyr.com/

Key Deliverables:
• Defined the system and database architecture.
• Led product ideation and the go-to-market strategy.
• Developed recruitment products.
• Delivered the API design for the employer and candidate side for mobile and web apps.
• Led the back-end development in Java and Spring Boot.
• Managed the front-end development in native Android and React.
• Oversaw project management, sprint planning, best practices, systems, processes, and implementation.
• Used the following technologies: Java, MySQL, Spring, AWS EC2, S3, RDS, ElastiCache, Route 53, Rekognition, QuickSight, Jira, CircleCI, Jenkins, SendGrid, and GitHub

Online Food Ordering Applications

Key Deliverables:
• Developed the back-end API in Ruby on Rails for an online food ordering system.
• Designed a callback system and database architecture for third-party API integration systems.
• Integrated Zomato with third-party POS systems and reduced order confirmation time by 70%. This further improved the merchant happiness score due to the removal of the manual order entry process.
• Upgraded Zomato Trace to the latest technologies.
• Used the following technologies: Java, Ruby on Rails, PHP, MySQL, Android, AWS EC2, RDS, ElastiCache, Google Cloud, Ubuntu, GitHub, and Lambda.

Marketing Automation System and Landing Page Creator

An online system to manage dynamic landing pages and SEM/online-marketing requirements.

Key Deliverables:
• Developed marketing-automation systems for the education industry with a landing-page generation for the SEM.
• Built a lead-management system from scratch to capture lead lifecycle and better utilization rate. This included support for telemarketers and automatic distribution with a matching engine.
• Used the following technologies: Java, Spring, and MySQL.

Career Counseling and Assessment Product

http://www.educomp.com/

The Eduignite program empowers students to understand themselves and make the best academic and career choices.

Key Deliverables:
• Conceived of Eduignite, a career counseling and assessment product, along with the best minds in the education space.
• Led a team of 10 people consisting of marketers, content writers, and teachers.
• Used the following technologies: Ruby on Rails, Java, Spring, and MySQL.

Lead Management System

http://www.studyplaces.com

Key Deliverables:
• Developed system architecture and a database to manage leads, telecalls, and distribution with an order matching engine.
• Built a lead management system in Spring, Java, and MySQL to capture the lead lifecycle, better utilization rates, and for telemarketers and automatic distribution with a matching engine.

India's First Online College Application Platform

Key Deliverables:
• Developed India's first online college, web-based application platform where students can apply to colleges online.
• Designed the system architecture and database.
• Led a team of ten developers.
• Managed the QA resources.
• Used the following technologies: Spring, Java, MySQL, PHP, and Linux.

Adapters for a Service-oriented Architecture Product

https://www.fiorano.com/products/fiorano_adapters

Key Deliverables:
• Developed integration adapters (DB, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, File, JMS, MSMQ, Tibco, HTTP) for Fiorano SOA2006 and Fiorano ESB.
• Worked as a sales engineer and built the proof-of-concept for various prospects and applications using Fiorano ESB and Fiorano MQ.
• Used the following technologies: Java, Mail APIs, SQL, JMS, Tibco, and web services.

Contextual and Geo-targeted Ad Server

http://exponential.com/

Key Deliverables:
• Developed parsers and a scraper to crawl the content website for Exponential's (Tribal Fusion) display ad server.
• Revitalized contextual and geo-targeted ad serving platforms and developed self-serve advertiser applications to create location targeting and content-targeted display ads.
• Used the following technologies: Java, JUnit, HttpUnit, scraping, JavaScript, and Oracle.

E-MarketMail | Email Marketing Automation Tool

A web-based application for managing mailing lists, sending bulk emails and newsletters to the audience in the various lists, and monitoring the campaign's effectiveness by generating real-time reports.

Key Deliverables:
• Built an in-house email marketing automation tool to replace the previous one, VerticalResponse.
• Used the following languages and tools: JavaMail, servlets, JSP, JDBC, MySQL, and Java.

ExamOnline | Online Testing System

A web-based solution that can be used both on an intranet and the internet for conducting multiple-choice question-based tests. Languages and tools used: servlets, JSP, JDBC, MySQL, JavaMail, Linux, Tomcat, and Java.

Skills

Languages

JavaScript, Java, Ruby, SQL, PHP, HTML, GraphQL, C++, CSS

Frameworks

Ruby on Rails (RoR), Ruby on Rails 4, Spring, Ruby on Rails 5, Spring Boot, ActionCable

Libraries/APIs

JSON API, Devise, REST APIs, API Development, Ruby on Rails API, jQuery, JMS, Google API, Facebook API, Slack API

Tools

Capistrano, Apache Tomcat, Git, Jira, RSpec, Slack, Jenkins, CircleCI, Trello, Asana, Amazon ElastiCache

Paradigms

REST, Automation, Requirements Analysis, DevOps, RESTful Development, Database Design, B2B, Agile, Microservices, Test-driven Development (TDD), API Architecture, Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), Continuous Integration (CI)

Platforms

Linode, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon EC2, Linux, Android, New Relic, DigitalOcean, AWS Lambda, Docker, Mapbox, Dropbox, WordPress, Shopify, Heroku

Storage

Database Migration, MySQL, Relational Databases, JSON, Memcached, Google Cloud, PostgreSQL, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Redis, MariaDB, Databases

Other

Scraping, Web Scraping, Automation Tools, Leadership, Technical Leadership, Team Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Project Leadership, Back-end Development, API Design, Third-party Integration, APIs, Startups, Entrepreneurship, Google, API Integration, Software as a Service (SaaS), Solution Design, Relational Database Design, Relational Database Services (RDS), RESTful Services, Code Review, Task Analysis, Technical Hiring, Interviewing, Team Management, Source Code Review, Consulting, Back-end, Product Development, MSMQ, Gmail, Web Development, Product Management, Enterprise SaaS, Software Architecture, Architecture, Integration, Back-end Performance, Full-stack, Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), Pub/Sub, Image Processing, Cloud Telephony, Amazon Route 53, Internet of Things (IoT), Serverless, OAuth, Third-party APIs, Programming, Information Technology, Computer Science, Operating Systems, AWS DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, AppLovin MAX, BizTalk Server

Education

1999 - 2003

Bachelor of Technology Degree with Honors in Information Technology

Kurukshetra University - Haryana, India

Certifications

DECEMBER 2020 - PRESENT

Basics of GraphQL with Ruby on Rails

Udemy

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