Led cross-functional development team of 3–5 engineers, doubling delivery speed through improved sprint structure, code review standards, and reduced rework. Architected and maintained secure, high-performance backend systems (Laravel, REST/GraphQL APIs, PostgreSQL) supporting live production traffic across multiple applications. Diagnosed and resolved performance bottlenecks via query optimization and caching strategy redesign, eliminating degradation under growing user load. Integrated AI APIs (OpenAI / GPT, Google Gemini) and built RAG-based systems with Pinecone to power intelligent product features. Enforced secure coding standards and led code review processes across the team. Conducted sprint planning and mentorship, translating business requirements into technical specifications for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.