Joshua Sylvester

About

Backend engineer who built and evolved a startup data-processing backend (Express.js/MySQL) handling millions of user data points, with a microservices pipeline integrating multiple social media APIs. Emphasizes reliability and security through comprehensive testing, robust error/retry handling for sequential pagination constraints, and tight IAM/JWT/OAuth-based access controls.

Experience

Education

Key Strengths

• Designed and built startup backend processing millions of user data points (Express.js + MySQL)
• Architected microservices-based data processing pipeline focused on speed and fault tolerance
• Handled complex external API constraints (sequential/chained pagination) with robust retries and error-code handling
• Strong security implementation: JWT auth, OAuth providers, and least-privilege IAM for sensitive user data
• Experienced with database schema evolution and backfills validated via QA testing before production rollout
• Effective debugging of production edge cases using logging to restore broken pipelines and improve reliability

Reference Highlights

• Very strong ownership and accountability
• Delivers features in a timely manner
• Thorough from requirements to production
• Proactive stakeholder communication
• Strong research and due diligence (APIs, compliance)
• Excellent architectural judgment and foresight
• Security-first mindset
• Effective cross-team collaborator
• Strong problem-solving under pressure
• Self-starter who thrives with minimal requirements
• Handles ambiguity well in early-stage/zero-to-one work
• Provides clear updates and flags delays promptly
• Core backend expertise (knew system ins and outs)