• Lead the design and scaling of distributed systems using Kotlin, Java, and Spring Boot, ensuring the platform can handle massive traffic spikes during live global events. • Build and optimize high-throughput applications using Postgres, Kafka, and Redis/Redis PubSub, prioritizing data integrity and low latency. • Drive performance across services and infrastructure, implementing strategies for backpressure, circuit breaking, and "Exactly-Once" processing. • Partner with product and engineering leadership to align technical strategy with business goals, making "big bet" decisions on build vs. buy. • Foster a mindset of well-designed systems and test-driven development. Lead deep-dive code reviews, maintain technical documentation, and mentor engineers. • Set company-wide standards for observability, schema evolution, and deployment patterns within a cloud-native environment.