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Backend engineer with 10+ years, mostly Python, who typically owns the whole backend and ships weekly. I care about async code that fails cleanly, Postgres performance under load, and delivering production-ready systems with pragmatic engineering. I’ve worked across legacy monoliths and modern FastAPI stacks, and I built Electra end to end (four Solana Anchor programs, FastAPI backend with indexers, and a Next.js frontend). I do best on small teams close to the product, and I’m open to relocating to align with US or European hours.…Backend engineer with 10+ years, mostly Python, who typically owns the whole backend and ships weekly. I care about async code that fails cleanly, Postgres performance under load, and delivering production-ready systems with pragmatic engineering. I’ve worked across legacy monoliths and modern FastAPI stacks, and I built Electra end to end (four Solana Anchor programs, FastAPI backend with indexers, and a Next.js frontend). I do best on small teams close to the product, and I’m open to relocating to align with US or European hours.

Vladimir Nikolaev

Back-End Developer, Software Engineer, Full Stack Developer, +1

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Backend engineer with 10+ years, mostly Python, who typically owns the whole backend and ships weekly. I care about async code that fails cleanly, Postgres performance under load, and delivering production-ready systems with pragmatic engineering. I’ve worked across legacy monoliths and modern FastAPI stacks, and I built Electra end to end (four Solana Anchor programs, FastAPI backend with indexers, and a Next.js frontend). I do best on small teams close to the product, and I’m open to relocating to align with US or European hours.…Backend engineer with 10+ years, mostly Python, who typically owns the whole backend and ships weekly. I care about async code that fails cleanly, Postgres performance under load, and delivering production-ready systems with pragmatic engineering. I’ve worked across legacy monoliths and modern FastAPI stacks, and I built Electra end to end (four Solana Anchor programs, FastAPI backend with indexers, and a Next.js frontend). I do best on small teams close to the product, and I’m open to relocating to align with US or European hours.

Available to hire

Backend engineer with 10+ years, mostly Python, who typically owns the whole backend and ships weekly. I care about async code that fails cleanly, Postgres performance under load, and delivering production-ready systems with pragmatic engineering.

I’ve worked across legacy monoliths and modern FastAPI stacks, and I built Electra end to end (four Solana Anchor programs, FastAPI backend with indexers, and a Next.js frontend). I do best on small teams close to the product, and I’m open to relocating to align with US or European hours.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Language

Russian

Fluent

English

Advanced

Work Experience

Founder & Lead Engineer at Electra (Independent Product)

January 1, 2025 - Present

Built an end-to-end P2P marketplace on Solana with on-chain escrow and off-chain indexers. Architected four interconnected Anchor programs (escrow with dispute resolution and arbitrator timeout, seller bond with slashing, holder staking, rewards distributor) with cross-program PDA wiring and a shared treasury. Implemented an async Python/FastAPI backend that assembles unsigned transactions for client-side signing, runs Helius chain indexers with Redis distributed locks, and uses PostgreSQL as the source of truth, including real-time updates for deals and chat. Developed a Next.js/TypeScript frontend with wallet-only auth and an admin console for sellers, moderators, and operations. Shipped the full flow: listings, deals, chat, reviews, onboarding, and moderation; all programs deployed on devnet.

Senior Software Engineer (Backend) at Novakid

April 1, 2024 - Present

Worked across Landings, Learning Engine, and Platform teams in a fully async distributed environment. Maintained and refactored a large legacy Python monolith while shipping new features in FastAPI and Pyramid (Python 3.10–3.12). Led an authentication refactor by removing persistent token storage in PostgreSQL to improve security and simplify session lifecycle management. Designed and built Student Cursor Service from scratch as a stateless FastAPI service tracking student progress and integrated with Directus so the content team could configure flows without engineering involvement. Authored and optimized complex PostgreSQL queries on high-traffic read/write paths and collaborated cross-functionally across time zones.

Lead Backend Developer at DO-MAIN (Casino Sochi)

March 1, 2022 - April 1, 2024

Sole backend engineer for mobile and web properties of a resort gaming venue with full ownership of architecture, implementation, and operations. Designed and delivered 8 FastAPI microservices from scratch, owning API contracts for Flutter mobile clients and web frontends. Ran production traffic in the hundreds of thousands to millions of API requests per day. As a greenfield setup, defined service boundaries, data models, and deployment layout independently.

Backend Developer at Connectome.ai

December 1, 2020 - February 1, 2022

Developed FastAPI services integrating edge devices and computer-vision pipelines into access-control and monitoring platforms. Collaborated closely with CV/ML teams on integration boundaries and owned the Python service layer around their models.

Research Engineer at Sella Engineering

January 1, 2020 - December 1, 2020

Implemented a stereo-camera calibration algorithm for drone vision pipelines and connected live drone feeds to an Unreal Engine simulator for closed-loop testing with flight-control algorithms for autonomous navigation.

Automation Software Engineer at Danfoss

May 1, 2017 - June 1, 2019

Built C++ control and monitoring software for district-heating substations and delivered a unified dispatch system connecting 50+ substations. Administered PostgreSQL and provided SCADA support.