Sharad Baidya, Developer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Sharad Baidya

Verified Expert  in Engineering

Software Developer

Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Toptal Member Since
March 4, 2024

Sharad is a seasoned software engineer specializing in back-end systems, complemented by a proficient understanding of DevOps methodologies. He's also familiar with front-end technologies and has had experience in the eCommerce and healthcare sectors. Sharad boasts a wealth of experience in orchestrating systems scaling from inception to full maturity.

Portfolio

Medable
Node.js, MongoDB, GitLab CI/CD, React, GitLab, Jira, JavaScript, TypeScript...
Namshi
Python, Node.js, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)...
Leapfrog Technology
Python, Django, Node.js, Kubernetes, Chatbots, Terraform, Helm, Amazon EC2...

Experience

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Node.js, Python, Google Cloud, MySQL, Elasticsearch, Caching, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Express.js, Django, Microservices

The most amazing...

...project I've been a part of was the decomposition of a fashion eCommerce platform, Namshi, into a network of microservices.

Work Experience

Senior Software Engineer

2022 - PRESENT
Medable
  • Developed an advanced task scheduler that helped clinical trial officers create dynamic questionnaires with various options using Node.js and MongoDB.
  • Created a migration app to migrate data from one study to another using Node.js, reducing the manual efforts of clinical trial officers.
  • Designed a GitLab CI pipeline to run all the unit and integration tests, integrating them into Jira and significantly reducing the QA verification time.
  • Built an app that reads configuration files to automate building studies, reducing weeks of manual effort into minutes.
Technologies: Node.js, MongoDB, GitLab CI/CD, React, GitLab, Jira, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, APIs, Unit Testing, Docker, Software Architecture, JSON, Back-end, Software Design, Infrastructure, Web App Development, Google Cloud, Back-end Architecture, Back-end Development, Front-end Development, Cloud Native, Agile, Web Applications, CSS, Next.js

Senior Back-end Engineer

2019 - 2022
Namshi
  • Broke down a large monolith into 15+ microservices with the help of Kubernetes. Implemented Istio for traffic management between services. Used the sidecar proxy for authorization. Also used Google Cloud Pub/Sub for async communications.
  • Enhanced the catalog experience by mitigating latency and employing Redis as a repository for synchronized data sourced from MySQL.
  • Transferred the notification application from Node.js to Go, enhancing concurrency capabilities and reducing scaling costs.
  • Implemented Elasticsearch with keyword and full-text search capabilities, resulting in a markedly enhanced search experience for end users.
  • Led a squad of eight engineers. Was the focal point of the product manager and stakeholders. Was also responsible for code reviews of all the engineers and architectural design.
  • Created a subscription application akin to Namshi VIP, contributing nearly 5% of the company's revenue.
  • Developed a brand-follow feature, enabling users to receive notifications about new items from their followed brands.
Technologies: Python, Node.js, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Elasticsearch, Redis, MySQL, Go, SQL, APIs, Unit Testing, Docker, Software Architecture, DevOps, JSON, Auth0, Back-end, API Integration, REST APIs, Full-stack, Software Design, Technical Leadership, Infrastructure, Grafana, Back-end Architecture, Data Architecture, Symfony, Back-end Development, Leadership, Cloud Native, Agile, Data Analytics, Web Applications, Flask

Principal Engineer

2017 - 2019
Leapfrog Technology
  • Migrated different applications from Amazon EC2 to Kubernetes using Terraform and Helm charts.
  • Engineered a sophisticated chatbot on Slack designed to facilitate interactive deployment processes for tasks such as pod scaling and updating images on deployments.
  • Oversaw development processes, conducted meticulous code reviews, and provided high-level solutions. Led a team of four back-end engineers.
  • Established a comprehensive CI/CD pipeline within GitLab CI/CD, orchestrating the seamless execution of integration tests and automated version bumping processes.
  • Created a DNS service for Kubernetes that would update the service name when changing config values. Achieved this with Kubewatch and the Kubernetes API.
Technologies: Python, Django, Node.js, Kubernetes, Chatbots, Terraform, Helm, Amazon EC2, GitLab CI/CD, CI/CD Pipelines, SQL, APIs, Docker, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Amazon Web Services (AWS), DevOps, Migration, JSON, Back-end, API Integration, Architecture, Technical Leadership, Prometheus, Web App Development, Back-end Architecture, Scalable Vector Databases, Back-end Development, Leadership, Cloud Native, Agile, Web Applications, Next.js

Software Engineer

2016 - 2017
Grepsr
  • Developed an API to automatically scrape essential fields from the detail pages of eCommerce sites upon providing their URL. This innovation saved 40% of the development time spent on manual rule writing.
  • Crafted a comparison application capable of analyzing identical products across multiple portals and delivering customized results.
  • Integrated with 3rd-party APIs, including Diffbot, Stripe, and PayPal.
Technologies: Python, Web Scraping, PHP, Diffbot, PayPal, Stripe, APIs, Docker, Apache Kafka, JSON, Back-end, API Integration, Automation, Laravel, Web App Development, Back-end Architecture, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end Development, Agile, Data Analytics, Google Ads, Chrome Extensions

Full-stack Developer

2015 - 2016
Spark Technology
  • Leveraged the MEAN stack to develop a school bus monitoring application currently used by four schools in Nepal.
  • Designed a comprehensive school management software encompassing various features, including billing and student information management.
  • Delivered weekly presentations on emerging technologies.
Technologies: Node.js, Angular, MongoDB, Express.js, MEAN Stack, APIs, RabbitMQ, JSON, Laravel, C++, Web App Development, Front-end Development, Agile, Facebook Ads, CSS

Breaking a Monolith into Microservices

https://www.namshi.com/uae-ar/
Decomposed a monolithic app into 15 microservices, heavily relying on Kubernetes. Each handled specific functions like catalog, checkout, orders, product management, and marketing. Customer-facing apps and stakeholders had separate namespaces. Helm charts were created for each service. Istio managed traffic between services. Google Cloud Pub/Sub enabled asynchronous communication. Cloud SQL housed our main DB with multiple replicas. For read-only operations, services accessed replicas. Sidecar proxies provided authorization for each service, enhancing security.

Catalog for Namshi

https://www.namshi.com/uae-ar/
As a solution architect tasked with revitalizing Namshi's catalog, I faced the challenge of accommodating the massive influx of traffic, particularly during peak periods like Black November, when we experienced nearly 10,000 requests per minute. Namshi, a leading eCommerce platform in the Middle East, demanded an agile and cost-effective solution.

The existing catalog infrastructure relied heavily on Cloud SQL, which proved inefficient and costly to scale, especially with the need to increase read replicas. To address this, I spearheaded a comprehensive architectural overhaul. Instead of directly querying Cloud SQL, we introduced a caching layer powered by Redis. Leveraging Redis's in-memory storage capabilities significantly accelerated data retrieval, ensuring swift response times even during peak loads.

Furthermore, utilizing Kubernetes allowed us to scale the number of Redis pods seamlessly, optimizing resource allocation and enhancing system resilience. This strategic shift bolstered performance and resulted in substantial cost savings for Namshi.

DNS for Kubernetes

https://www.namshi.com/uae-en/
Implemented a service that updates the DNS record when config values are updated. Upon changing the service name, we would update the config values and restart the pod. This was implemented using Kubewatch and Go. As a result, there is a seamless connection on the update of the service name.

Dynamic Questionnaire App

https://www.medable.com/
I designed and developed a versatile questionnaire application tailored for clinical trials, allowing users to create diverse questionnaires with varying answer types. This dynamic platform caters to the extensive needs of clinical trials, accommodating various questionnaire formats and response structures.

Notably, this application has been adopted by leading pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Lilly, underscoring its reliability and efficacy in the industry. The app has played a pivotal role in streamlining data collection processes and driving advancements in medical research by providing a comprehensive solution that addresses the complexities of clinical research.

Autobuild App

https://www.medable.com/
I spearheaded the development of an auto-build application for Medable, a renowned company specializing in clinical trials and drug validation. This innovative tool revolutionized the process of creating participant schedules by automating each participant's journey.

Traditionally, these schedules involved manually creating tasks and visits, consuming valuable time and resources. Leveraging the power of Node.js and MongoDB, I engineered a robust solution that streamlined the entire process. The auto-build app intelligently generates participant schedules, meticulously defining visits and associated tasks precisely and efficiently.

By automating what was once a labor-intensive task, this solution dramatically reduced the significant amount of manual work from days to mere minutes. This not only optimized resource allocation but also empowered Medable to expedite their clinical trial processes, accelerating the pace of drug validation and medical advancements

Search for eCommerce

https://www.namshi.com/uae-ar/
I spearheaded the integration of Elasticsearch at Namshi to elevate our search capabilities. By leveraging Elasticsearch, we empowered users with comprehensive full-text search functionality without the need to query the database directly. This not only streamlined the search process but also facilitated keyword-based searches and accommodated variations in spelling.

Implementing Elasticsearch significantly enhanced the overall search experience for Namshi's customers. With the ability to efficiently retrieve relevant results and support various search queries, we ensured a more intuitive and user-friendly search interface, ultimately enriching the browsing and shopping experience on the platform.

ArtOps

https://artops.net/
ArtOps is an eCommerce for art galleries. As a full-stack developer, I actively set up DevOps pipelines, which played a crucial role in the startup's evolution to a fully functioning entity.

I contributed to every stage of the journey, ensuring seamless growth from ground zero to operational success. Additionally, I focused on optimizing SQL queries, achieving notable reductions in latency and enhancing the overall system efficiency and performance.
2009 - 2013

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering

Kathmandu Engineering College - Kathmandu, Nepal

Libraries/APIs

Node.js, React, REST APIs, Diffbot, Stripe

Tools

Auth0, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), RabbitMQ, Grafana, GitLab CI/CD, Terraform, Helm, GitLab, Jira, Istio

Frameworks

Express.js, Django, Laravel, Next.js, Symfony, Flask, Angular

Languages

Python, Go, PHP, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, C++, CSS

Paradigms

Back-end Architecture, Agile, DevOps, Database Design, Unit Testing, Automation, Microservices, MEAN Stack

Platforms

Cloud Native, Docker, Apache Kafka, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Kubernetes, Amazon EC2, AWS Lambda

Storage

JSON, Google Cloud, MySQL, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis

Other

APIs, Software Architecture, Back-end, API Integration, Full-stack, Software Design, Web App Development, Back-end Development, Web Applications, Architecture, FastAPI, Migration, Technical Leadership, Infrastructure, Prometheus, Scalable Vector Databases, Data Architecture, Front-end Development, Leadership, Caching, Engineering Software, Chatbots, Web Scraping, Computer Engineering, CI/CD Pipelines, PayPal, Data Analytics, Facebook Ads, Google Ads, Chrome Extensions

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