Raj Gohel — Backend Engineer & Module Lead

01 / impact

Systems built,
not just tickets closed.

A few numbers that put the scope of the work into context.

8+years of backend engineering

20+services in the microservice ecosystem

8+Golang & Node.js services built and owned

7compliance tools exposed through MCP

02 / selected work

Three systems worth
looking under the hood.

The portfolio should show how the systems fit together — and what engineering problems they solve.

CASE 01
2023 — PRESENT

CCT — Code Compliance & AI Platform

A compliance platform supplying location-specific building regulations to Dreamcatcher, with chatbot and MCP-based AI integrations over the same domain data.

Node.jsPostgreSQLGISMCPOAuth2ORY

Problem

Represent hierarchical regulations alongside geographic boundaries and jurisdictions while keeping the data usable by product and AI clients.

What I built

Regulatory models, import workflows, query/indexing strategy, a multi-step chatbot pipeline, and an MCP server exposing 7 domain tools.

Security

Connected MCP access to the existing OAuth2 identity infrastructure using ORY Hydra and Oathkeeper.

Ownership

Backend architecture, technical design, reviews, task breakdown, delivery planning, and mentoring for the 5-engineer backend team.

Compliance data→ CCT backend→ Chatbot pipeline→ Answers

AI client→ OAuth2 + MCP→ 7 domain tools→ CCT data

CASE 02
2023 — 2024

Smart Home Controller Service

Lightweight Golang middleware connecting Android and iOS applications with IoT hardware on home-automation controllers.

GolangSQLiteRESTConcurrencyIoT

Architecture

Offline-first design with local SQLite persistence for reliable operation on resource-constrained controllers.

Capabilities

Real-time device discovery, state synchronization, switch configuration, and local REST interfaces.

Engineering focus

Go concurrency patterns for device communication and background processing.

Integration

Middleware layer bridging mobile applications and controller hardware.

CASE 03
2020 — 2022

Centralized Authentication & Authorization

Shared identity and access-management infrastructure for a distributed backend ecosystem.

GolangORY HydraOathkeeperOAuth2JWTRBAC

Identity

OAuth2-based authentication and JWT handling through reusable identity infrastructure.

Authorization

Fine-grained RBAC and reusable authorization policies shared across services.

Providers

Google, Microsoft, and Facebook identity providers integrated into a unified flow.

Scale context

Built as part of the migration from a monolith into a 20+ microservice ecosystem.

03 / experience

Growing from
builder to owner.

The career story is more useful when it shows increasing scope, not just job titles.

JUN 2023
— PRESENT

Backend Module Lead

ZURU Tech · Ahmedabad

Lead backend architecture for CCT, owning technical design, task breakdown, reviews, and release planning for a 5-engineer backend team.
Designed and built a multi-step AI chatbot pipeline grounded in CCT compliance data.
Built an MCP server exposing 7 compliance tools and secured it through the existing OAuth2 infrastructure.
Architected GIS-integrated hierarchical regulatory models, PostgreSQL schemas, import workflows, caching, indexes, and optimized queries.
Partner with product and frontend leads to turn complex requirements into maintainable backend solutions.

JUL 2018
— MAY 2023

Software Engineer — Backend

ZURU Tech · Ahmedabad

Core contributor to the migration of a monolithic application into a 20+ microservice ecosystem.
Built and owned 8+ Golang and Node.js services across identity, user management, chat, activity, and product workflows.
Built centralized authentication and authorization using ORY Hydra, Oathkeeper, OAuth2, JWT, and RBAC.
Designed REST and GraphQL APIs and optimized PostgreSQL schemas, indexes, materialized views, stored procedures, and queries.
Containerized 15+ backend services with Docker and supported Kubernetes, CI/CD, and SonarQube-based quality practices.
Conducted 30+ technical interviews and contributed to backend hiring.

04 / expertise

Deep where it
matters.

Technology choices are useful here only when tied to the engineering problems they solve.

Architecture

Backend architecture, distributed systems, microservices, system design, AI-enabled backend systems.

Backend

Golang, Node.js, REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, API design.

Data

PostgreSQL, MongoDB, CockroachDB, Redis, SQLite, database design, performance optimization.

AI engineering

Multi-step AI pipelines, Model Context Protocol (MCP), tool-based integrations, AI-assisted development.

Security

OAuth2, RBAC, JWT, ORY Hydra, ORY Oathkeeper, centralized identity and authorization.

Infrastructure

Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, CI/CD, SonarQube, service deployment and operational practices.

Leadership

Technical ownership, design reviews, code reviews, mentoring, sprint planning, technical hiring.

Ways of working

Translate product requirements into service boundaries, technical specifications, implementation plans, and maintainable solutions.

05 / recognition

A little proof
outside the code.

Award · ZURU Tech · July 2024

Legend of the Year 2023

Recognized by ZURU Tech for contributions to backend engineering and technical leadership.

Education · 2014 — 2018

BE, Computer Engineering

Government Engineering College, Modasa — Gujarat, India.

06 / contact

Let’s talk
systems.

Based in Ahmedabad, India. If you’re building backend platforms, distributed systems, or AI-enabled products, I’d be happy to connect.

Email me ↗ LinkedIn ↗ GitHub ↗

AHMEDABAD, INDIA · TYPICALLY REACHABLE BY EMAIL