TharunEngineer, Leader, & Problem Solver
Lead Engineer with 6+ years of experience building scalable platforms, leading full-stack teams, and integrating AI into production systems. Proven record delivering education and career-tech solutions adopted by over 1M+ users across government and enterprise. Skilled in Node.js, GraphQL, PostgreSQL, DevOps, and AI (Azure OpenAI).
The Origin Story
"Curiosity was the spark."
It all began with Windows 98. While other kids were playing games like 'Dave' or messing around in Paint, I found myself exploring the Control Panel, fascinated by the inner workings of the operating system. That curiosity was the spark.
By 2009, I had built my first HTML website on Freeservers. It was basic, but it opened the door to WordPress. I quickly moved to self-hosted blogs, spending countless hours in the computer lab customizing themes, tweaking scripts, and learning the hard way how the web actually worked.
In 2010, I took a massive leap and founded a hosting business. At its peak, I was managing bare-metal servers for over 500 international clients. I handled everything from Linux VPS configuration to customer support, learning the importance of reliability and performance at a young age.
From 2012, I transitioned into freelance development, calling myself an 'Indie Developer'. But the real professional journey began in 2015 at an Enterprise Travel Tech Provider, where I maintained critical Smalltalk backends. It was a masterclass in legacy systems and stability.
During my MCA years (2016-2019), I didn't just study. I managed remote projects for UAE petroleum companies and, more importantly, created a micro-outsourcing network. I delegated tasks to college friends, helping them earn financial aid while delivering professional work. It was my first taste of leadership.
In 2019, I joined a Global EdTech Platform and shifted gears to modern web stacks. What started with microsites and PHP backends quickly scaled. By 2021, I was architecting government-scale career counseling platforms for millions of users, integrating complex data pipelines and ensuring secure data exchange.
Today, as a Team Lead, I'm at the forefront of the AI wave. I'm not just building apps; I'm integrating Voice AI and LLMs into production workflows, helping students find their careers through conversational interfaces. It's a long way from Windows 98, but the curiosity remains exactly the same.
Engineering Philosophy
User-Centric Architecture
Scale means nothing if it doesn't solve the user's problem. I build systems that are robust under the hood but invisible to the user.
AI as an Accelerator
I believe in practical AI—using LLMs and Voice AI not just as gimmicks, but as core utilities that enhance human capability and productivity.
Ownership & Mentorship
Great engineering is a team sport. I strive to empower my team through ownership, code reviews, and automating the mundane.
Experience
Team Lead
Global EdTech Platform
- Leading cross-functional teams across backend, frontend, and AI; driving sprints, mentoring, and architecture reviews.
- Delivered AI-driven coaching features used by thousands of students and coaches, enabling real-time voice interaction.
- Introduced AI coding assistants to the engineering workflow, improving developer productivity and reducing delivery cycle times.
- Scaled platform microservices for reliability and performance.
Senior Software Engineer
Global EdTech Platform
- Engineered government-scale education platforms reaching millions of users across multiple regions.
- Designed high-performance backend systems; optimized queries and data models for scale.
- Integrated Large Language Models for psychometric-based coaching; implemented comprehensive analytics dashboards.
- Built real-time notification systems, cloud telephony integrations, and secure data exchange protocols.
Software Engineer
Global EdTech Platform
- Developed core backend features and automated critical API data processing pipelines.
- Built optimized microsites and managed DNS, SSL, and mail server configurations for high-traffic campaigns.
Freelance Developer
Independent Web Developer
- Managed remote projects for UAE-based petroleum companies, delivering fire & safety compliance websites and design assets.
- Created a micro-outsourcing network within college, delegating tasks to peers to support their financial aid while ensuring professional delivery.
Software Engineer
Enterprise Travel Tech Provider
- Maintained and deployed backend systems for travel booking engines.
- Migrated legacy modules and modernized API interfaces; coordinated with frontend teams for seamless integration.
Freelance Developer
Independent Web Developer
- Delivered custom web solutions for small businesses, managing the full lifecycle from requirements gathering to deployment.
- Managed hosting infrastructure for clients, ensuring high availability and secure server configurations.
- Collaborated with international clients to build and maintain content management systems and e-commerce sites.
Founder & SysAdmin
Managed Hosting Services
- Founded and scaled a web hosting business serving 500+ international clients.
- Managed bare-metal Linux servers (CentOS/CloudLinux), ensuring 99.9% uptime and security hardening.
- Handled L1/L2 technical support, billing automation (WHMCS), and server migrations.
Consistent impact through code. Visualizing contributions across the entire engineering ecosystem.
Selected Works
Explore My Projects
From government-scale platforms to AI voice assistants — a showcase of technical endeavors and creative problem solving.
View All ProjectsAcademic Foundation
College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET)
Master of Computer Applications (MCA)
2016 — 2019 • Trivandrum, KeralaThe first engineering college in Kerala, established in 1939 by the Travancore Royal Family. A prestigious technical institution situated on a lush 125-acre campus, contributing 80+ years of excellence in engineering and technology.
National College, Trivandrum
Bachelor of Computer Science (BSc)
2013 — 2016 • Trivandrum, KeralaEstablished in 1995 by the Manarul Huda Trust and affiliated with the University of Kerala. Celebrating over 25 years of excellence in quality education, the college prioritizes academic performance alongside institutional values, ethics, and the holistic development of students.