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Edwin Beshel Ayabie

Python Backend Engineer · Fintech · Payments · AI Platforms

Backend Engineer specializing in Python, FastAPI, Django, PostgreSQL, Redis, Celery, RabbitMQ, and REST APIs, building distributed systems for fintech, payments, and AI platforms. Experienced designing and deploying high-throughput transaction systems, asynchronous processing pipelines, third-party API integrations, and production infrastructure on AWS, end-to-end from database setup through deployment.

Core Technologies: Python · FastAPI · Django · Celery · PostgreSQL · Redis · RabbitMQ · Kafka · GraphQL · RAG pipelines · LLM integration · VAS · mobile network DCB · USSD gateways · SMS gateways · bill payments · crypto on/off-ramp · virtual card issuance · real-time card authorization · idempotent billing · ETL pipelines · microservices · end-to-end deployment · AWS · CI/CD · GitHub Actions · Nginx · fintech · distributed systems

Experience

  • Backend Developer & Data Scientist · Synterra Digital

    Contract · Jul 2026 - present
    • Building the data and API layer for an early-stage AI product ahead of public launch.
    • Operating in a dual backend engineering and data science capacity.

  • Backend Engineer · SCIDaR

    Contract · Feb 2026 - Jul 2026
    • Rebuilt the API layer behind an internal program-coverage tool, cutting response times by 80%+ to consistently under 100ms.
    • Built an ETL pipeline feeding downstream program analysis for a research organization running 15+ transformation programs across 15+ states.

  • Backend Engineer · AuvraAI

    Contract · Nov 2025 - Aug 2026
    • Built backend pipelines and pathway logic for an AI voice-call and customer-support platform.
    • Powered virtual agents handling live customer calls.

  • Backend Developer · Ashinity Synergy

    Contract · Jul 2025 - Sep 2025
    • Engineered and maintained a RAG pipeline and LLM integration for mood classification and personalized response generation.
    • Built secure data-ingestion pipelines for sensitive user data.
    • Developed FastAPI inference services powering the app, contributing to a reported 40% lift in user engagement.

  • Lead Backend Engineer · Tiango Logistics (Yumbarn)

    Contract · May 2025 - Dec 2025
    • Architected and deployed the core REST API serving the customer, vendor, and rider apps.
    • Built real-time order fulfillment with geolocation-based rider assignment and payment processing.
    • Introduced Redis caching that cut API latency by 25%+ at 10,000+ daily orders.

  • Technical Lead · AET Technologies

    Full-time · Mar 2025 - present
    • Built the backend behind a nationwide airtime-based rewards platform, including consent and fraud checks on every entry.
    • Scaled the platform to hold up at thousands of subscriptions a minute across 5M+ users served.
    • Lead architecture and performance decisions across the engineering team.
    • Mentor 10+ junior developers in Python, JavaScript, and distributed systems (a reported 30% productivity lift on critical projects).
    • Resolve production incidents in background task execution, API failures, and database performance; communicate technical risk to senior stakeholders.

  • Backend Engineer · Techmakeeasy (NectaBills / NectaSwap)

    Contract · Jan 2025 - Apr 2026
    • Built backend for two products, NectaBills and NectaSwap, sharing wallet and transaction infrastructure.
    • Implemented idempotent billing workflows preventing duplicate charges across 100,000+ monthly transactions.
    • Built async payment pipelines on Celery and RabbitMQ for execution, retries, and reconciliation.
    • Built real-time card authorization for NGN/USD virtual cards.
    • Integrated multiple VAS aggregators and payment providers over REST and SOAP.

  • Backend Developer · AET Technologies

    Full-time · Apr 2024 - Feb 2025
    • Designed and built USSD, SMS, and web APIs for an airtime-based rewards platform.
    • Built the consent and fraud-check gateways users pass through before entry.
    • Integrated mobile-network DCB (direct carrier billing), external aggregators, and ISPs over REST and SOAP/XML.
    • Built the billing logic behind these workflows.

  • Lead Backend Developer · Sefy Technologies (Paysefy)

    Full-time · Feb 2024 - Nov 2024
    • Built the backend end-to-end for Paysefy, a fintech bills-payment platform: architecture through implementation.
    • Authored technical documentation covering system design and backend standards.
    • Worked closely with the frontend team on API integration.

  • Lead Backend Developer · Zeelpay

    Full-time · Feb 2024 - Jan 2025
    • Designed backend services supporting both the cryptocurrency and bills-payment sides of a hybrid Web2/Web3 fintech app.
    • Built NGN/USD virtual cards with real-time authorization.
    • Enforced code quality through automated testing and review.

  • Backend Developer · Gexipay Technologies

    Full-time · Nov 2023 - Jan 2025
    • Built the full backend for Gexipay: bill payments, bank transfers, crypto/gift-card trading, virtual cards, betting-wallet funding.
    • Implemented secure, compliant transaction-processing workflows and real-time card authorization.
    • Optimized database performance through indexing and query refactoring.
    • Integrated third-party services over JSON and XML APIs.

  • Backend Developer · Tobopay

    Contract · Nov 2023 - Dec 2024
    • Built the backend for Tobopay end-to-end and solo: wallet and ledger, bills, and airtime-to-cash conversion.
    • Built Tcash, a voucher-style cash-equivalent product.
    • Built NGN/USD virtual cards with real-time POS/ATM authorization.
    • Owned the infrastructure and deployment pipeline solo.

  • Backend Developer · Shazz Tech (Shazzy)

    Contract · May 2023 - Mar 2025
    • Built the crypto wallet and card functionality for Shazzy, including real-time card authorization.
    • Improved database performance through query optimization.

  • Backend Developer · Zappy Global Technology

    Full-time · May 2023 - Jan 2025
    • Built backend for instant Nigerian bank transfers.
    • Built a dual NGN/USD wallet with real-time FX conversion and airtime-to-cash.

  • Backend & Web Developer · early career · Various — internships & freelance

    2020 - 2023
    • Started in freelance web design and blogging.
    • Moved into Python backend development through internships: HNG Internship, KodeCamp, Zuri Team, Sidehustle, and Workshopapps.
    • Took on early freelance backend work for Naijabase Media.

Projects

  • Yumbarn · lead backend engineer · Food ordering and delivery platform: core REST API, geolocation rider assignment, and Redis-cached endpoints handling 10,000+ daily orders.
  • NectaBills · backend engineer · Fintech app for bills, airtime, eSIMs, and savings: idempotent billing across 100,000+ monthly transactions on Celery/RabbitMQ pipelines.
  • NectaSwap · backend engineer · Crypto-to-Naira swap app from Techmakeeasy with NGN/USD virtual cards for global spending, on shared wallet and transaction infrastructure with NectaBills.
  • Moodcraft · backend developer · AI mental-health companion: RAG pipeline and LLM integration for mood classification and personalized emotional support.
  • Zeelpay · lead backend developer · Hybrid Web2/Web3 fintech app: bills, airtime, gift-card trading, and BTC/USDT trading with NGN/USD virtual cards.
  • Shazzy · backend developer · Crypto wallet app: buy/sell tokens and spend directly via card, in-store and online.
  • Gexipay · backend developer · freelance · Consumer fintech app: bill payments, bank transfers, airtime-to-cash, crypto and gift-card trading, virtual cards, and betting-wallet funding.
  • Paysefy · lead backend developer · Fintech bills-payment platform; built the backend end-to-end as lead backend developer.
  • Tobopay · backend developer · Nigerian payments app: wallet, bills, airtime-to-cash, Tcash vouchers, and NGN/USD cards with real-time authorization, built end-to-end solo.
  • Waitstream · backend developer · freelance · AI-powered waitlist-management platform for streamlining bookings and reducing no-shows, built solo freelance.
  • Gxpanse · backend developer · freelance · A social media and marketplace platform merged into one product; built the backend freelance.

Additional Projects

  • AuvraAI · backend engineer · AI voice-call and customer-support platform: pipeline and pathway logic for virtual agents.
  • Zappy · backend developer · Payments app: instant Nigerian bank transfers and a dual NGN/USD wallet with real-time FX conversion.

Education

  • Master of Science (MSc), Space Environment · Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

    Expected Aug 2027

    Alexandria, Egypt

  • Bachelor of Science (BSc), Physics · Air Force Institute of Technology

    2019 - 2023

    Kaduna, Nigeria

Skills

Languages
Python · JavaScript · SQL
Backend & data
FastAPI · Django · Celery · PostgreSQL · Redis · RabbitMQ · Kafka · GraphQL · pySpark · Microservices · WebSockets · REST · SOAP · XML · JSON
Telecom & VAS
VAS (Value-Added Services) · Mobile network DCB (direct carrier billing) · USSD gateways · SMS gateways · SOAP/XML aggregator integration
Payments & fintech
Bill payments & VAS aggregators · Crypto on/off-ramp (BTC · USDT) · Virtual card issuance (NGN · USD) · P2P transfers & FX conversion · Idempotent billing & reconciliation · Payment gateway integrations · Gift-card & betting-wallet rails
AI & data
RAG pipelines · LLM integration & tool use · Mood / intent classification · Secure data-ingestion pipelines · Voice-agent pipelines · ETL & analysis pipelines
Reliability & infra
End-to-end deployment ownership (DB setup → production) · AWS (EC2 · S3 · RDS · Lambda) · GitHub Actions · CI/CD pipelines · Nginx · Docker · Linux · Git · Database indexing & query optimization · Redis caching · Background task reliability (Celery retries)