Forward Deployed Engineer
Embedding with your team to ship production systems — from architecture to deployment, on-site or remote.
KUNAL KHANNA
Open to FDE, Senior Engineering & Freelance RolesForward Deployed Engineer & Senior Full-Stack Developer — Laravel, FastAPI, React & AI
10+ years embedding with client teams to ship 11 production systems — 1M+ bookings processed, 50K+ users supported across SaaS, EdTech, FinTech, CRM, and real estate — building Laravel, Node.js, Next.js, React, React Native, and Python/FastAPI systems with AI/LLM integrations (OpenAI GPT-4, Claude, RAG pipelines) on AWS cloud infrastructure.
LaravelNode.jsReact / Next.jsReact NativePython / FastAPIOpenAI GPT-4AWS
10+Years Exp.
System Architecture
Python, FastAPI, Node.js, Laravel, Next.js, React Native, Cloud-Native (12-Factor), Microservices
1M+Bookings Processed
Database & Cloud
MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Supabase, AWS (EC2, Lambda, RDS, SQS), Docker, Kubernetes
3Live AI Platforms
AI & LLM Integration
OpenAI GPT-4, Claude API, RAG Pipelines, LLMOps, AI Voice Synthesis, Predictive Lead Scoring
99.9%Uptime
Security & Integrations
OWASP Top 10, OAuth2/OIDC, RBAC, JWT, Stripe, Twilio, Zapier, Auth0
12Engineers Led
Leadership
Technical Lead, Agile/Scrum, Sprint Planning, Code Review, Mentoring, Cloud Cost Optimisation
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Full Stack Engineering, Leadership & Scalable Delivery
Forward Deployed Engineering
Embedding directly with your team to ship production systems end-to-end — requirements, architecture, build, deployment, and handoff. On-site or remote.
Discuss an EngagementCRM & Lead Management
Custom-built CRM systems to automate lead tracking, manage customer data, and streamline business workflows for better efficiency.
Request a QuoteSaaS & Admin Dashboards
Scalable SaaS platforms and intuitive admin dashboards designed for multi-user management and complex data visualization.
Discuss ProjectWorkflow & Data Automation
Building powerful automation tools and seamless API integrations to eliminate manual work and optimize business processes.
Learn MoreMobile App Development
Cross-platform mobile applications built with React Native — from booking engines and live tracking to push notifications and offline-ready workflows.
Discuss ProjectAI Integration & LLM Features
Integrating OpenAI, Claude, and other LLMs into real products — AI-powered lead scoring, voice drops, adaptive study plans, smart search, and AI-assisted development workflows using Cursor and Copilot.
Explore AI Work
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Architecting High-Impact Core Business Systems
I started building software because I watched real businesses lose money to bad tools and broken processes.
Over 10+ years, I've shipped 11 production systems — processing 1M+ bookings and supporting 50K+ users across SaaS, EdTech, FinTech, CRM, and real estate — Python/FastAPI backends, async event-driven architectures on AWS, React/TypeScript frontends, and AI/LLM integrations running in live products.
I care about what happens after the code ships: did it save someone's day? Did the client close more deals? That's what I build for.
Emailinfo@kunalkhanna.me
Phone+91 8058488999
LocationJaipur, Rajasthan, India — open to remote & relocation
10+
Years in Software Development
11
Production Systems Shipped
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Core Stack, Platforms & Integrations
Backend
Python, Node.js, PHP, JavaScript, TypeScript — async/event-driven architecture, background task processing
Frameworks
FastAPI, Express.js, Laravel, React, Next.js, Vue.js, React Native, Django ORM / SQLAlchemy (ORM patterns)
Databases & Cloud
MySQL, MongoDB, Redis (caching), Supabase, AWS (EC2, Lambda, RDS, SQS), Azure, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes
Architecture
Cloud-native (12-factor), HLD/LLD, REST API design, OpenAPI/Swagger, Microservices, Event-driven, CI/CD, Terraform, Helm
AI & Streaming
OpenAI GPT-4, Claude API, RAG pipelines, LLMOps, AI Voice Synthesis, Predictive Lead Scoring, Kafka (messaging), RabbitMQ patterns
Security
OWASP Top 10, OAuth2/OIDC, JWT, SSL/TLS, RBAC, SAST/DAST practices, Secure SDLC, Dependency scanning
Frontend
React, TypeScript, Next.js, Vue.js, component-based architecture, state management (Redux/Vuex), modular UI design, Cypress (UI testing)
Leadership
Technical Lead, Agile/Scrum, Sprint Planning, Code Review, Mentoring, Cloud Cost Optimisation, Stakeholder Management
ENGINEERING CASE STUDIES
Shipping Scalable Solutions Across CRM, SaaS, Mobile & AI
Profit Closer CRM
AI Sales Automation Platform
Technical Lead & Developer · Team of 4
Challenge
Insurance agents were losing high-intent leads — average manual follow-up response time was 4+ hours.
Key Work
Built an async Python-based AI pipeline: GPT-4 conversation scoring, event-driven SQS message queue for voice drop sequences, and ML-based lead prioritisation with a FastAPI backend.
Result
Slashed follow-up overhead by 65%, lifted closure rates by 28%, and cut average lead response time from 4 hours to 8 minutes.
PythonFastAPIReactOpenAI GPT-4AI Voice SynthesisPredictive Lead ScoringAWS SQS
AcePrep
AI Adaptive Learning Platform
Lead Architect & Developer · Team of 3
Challenge
Generic study tools gave all students identical content, ignoring individual retention gaps and learning pace.
Key Work
Architected an async Python RAG pipeline and real-time performance tracking engine generating personalised study plans, with a TypeScript/React frontend built on component-based modular UI architecture.
Result
Boosted student retention by 42% and scaled to 50,000+ active users with sub-2s AI response time.
Next.jsReactTypeScriptPythonOpenAI GPT-4SupabaseNode.jsRAG Pipeline
Safar Cabby
Ride-Hailing Platform
Lead Developer · Team of 6
Challenge
500+ transport operators needed unified real-time booking and dispatch with event-driven status updates.
Key Work
Architected an async event-driven backend with SQS message queues for dispatch events, real-time tracking APIs, and AWS auto-scaling infrastructure with full OpenAPI documentation.
Result
Processed 1M+ bookings at 99.9% uptime; operator onboarding time reduced from 2 days to 4 hours.
React NativeNode.jsLaravelMySQLAWS (EC2, RDS, SQS, Auto Scaling)
PLM Cloud
Real Estate SaaS
Full Stack Developer · Team of 4
Challenge
200+ real estate firms needed automated property data retrieval and async workflow orchestration at scale.
Key Work
Implemented an async Laravel (PHP) data pipeline with AWS SQS event queues, an automated property retrieval engine, and cloud-native multi-tenant SaaS architecture on 12-factor principles.
Result
Reduced manual operations by 45%; processes 10,000+ property records daily across 200+ firms.
PHPLaravelAWS (SQS, S3)MySQLVue.jsREST APIs
REIControl
Real Estate Investor Platform
Technical Lead · Team of 5
Challenge
Investors had no unified platform to run cross-channel marketing campaigns across millions of property records.
Key Work
Formulated the system architecture, REST API layer with OpenAPI documentation, and event-driven campaign engine with async background processing.
Result
Sustained 99.9% uptime on millions of records; campaign launch time reduced from days to under 1 hour.
PHPLaravelMySQLReactTypeScriptREST APIsOmni-channel Campaign Engine
ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING WORK
Prior High-Impact Case Studies
CRM System for Lead Management & Automation
Custom Corporate Lead & Workflow Engine
Processed 10,000+ leads through automated workflows, cutting manual follow-up time by 60% and boosting team efficiency by 3x.
LaravelPHPMySQLVue.js
Real Estate Platform with Data & Workflow Automation
Intelligent Property Analysis & Marketing Ecosystem
Reduced manual data processing by 50% and improved reporting speed by 50%, enabling faster investment decisions across multiple firm portfolios.
LaravelJavaScriptMySQLAWS
SaaS Dashboard for Business Management
Scalable User & Internal Workflow Infrastructure
Served 500+ active business users with page load times under 1.2s, reducing support tickets by 40% through improved UX and backend optimization.
LaravelReactMySQLAPI Integration
Safar Cabby — Mobile App
Cross-Platform Cab Booking Mobile Application
Delivered a seamless mobile experience for 500+ operators already on the platform, extending reach to iOS and Android users.
React NativeGoogle Maps APIReduxPush Notifications
Live on Google PlayeSafeX
Secure Enterprise Cloud Collaboration
Successfully achieved sub-second document retrieval speeds and onboarded dozens of high-value corporate accounts.
Node.jsNext.jsSecure Storage APIs
SLBC Digital Platform
Secure Collaborative Banking Infrastructure
Digitized 100% of critical banking workflows and drastically improved inter-bank communication speed for 15+ institutions.
PHPCustom CMSSecurity-Hardened Modules
ILBS Transformation
Unified Digital Content & Identity Platform
Unified digital presence for enterprise accounts and improved organizational publishing efficiency by over 55%.
PHPCustom CMSSecure Auth Engines
WORK EXPERIENCE
Leadership Journey At Lucenta Solutions
Trainer & Developer ➔Web Developer ➔Senior Web Developer ➔Team Leader / Technical Lead
Team Leader / Technical Lead (January 2022 – Present)
Led a team of 8–12 engineers across 3 concurrent product streams
- Cloud-Native ArchitectureArchitected cloud-native, event-driven SaaS platforms on Python + Node.js + AWS microservices using 12-factor principles and message-queue driven workflows — reducing API response time by 40% and sustaining 99.9% uptime across all client deployments.
- API DesignSpecified and documented RESTful APIs with OpenAPI/Swagger consumed by 3+ downstream applications; enforced versioning, rate limiting, and API gateway security across all services.
- AI & LLM IntegrationIntegrated OpenAI GPT-4, RAG pipelines, and AI Voice Synthesis into 3 live production systems using async Python workers — boosting agent efficiency by 35% and cutting manual intervention by 50%.
- Secure SDLCEnforced OWASP Top 10 compliance, OAuth2/OIDC authentication, RBAC, JWT token management, and dependency scanning across 4 production platforms — eliminating 100% of flagged vulnerabilities.
- CI/CD & QualityEstablished CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions + Docker + Kubernetes and automated test suites — reducing regression bugs by 60% and cutting deployment cycles from days to under 2 hours.
- Cloud Cost OptimisationOptimised AWS infrastructure (reserved instances, Lambda right-sizing, SQS tuning, Helm-managed EKS deployments) — reducing monthly cloud spend by 25% and rollback time by 70%.
- Stakeholder ManagementCoordinated technical roadmaps with US/UK C-suite and product owners across 10+ Agile sprint cycles, maintaining 100% on-time delivery.
Senior Web Developer (Jan 2019 – Dec 2021)
Team of 5–6 engineers
- Microservices MigrationSpearheaded migration of a PHP monolith to cloud-native microservices with async background processing — page load times fell 55%, uptime rose from 95% to 99.5% while processing 1M+ property records.
- Database EngineeringRedesigned MySQL schemas with advanced indexing and query profiling for 10M+ records, achieving sub-second query speeds under peak concurrent load.
- API LayerConstructed a RESTful API layer with full OpenAPI/Swagger documentation consumed by 3 downstream React and Vue.js frontends, with versioning and rate limiting enforced.
- Testing & MentorshipIntroduced an automated PHPUnit + integration testing pipeline (QA cycle time down 40%, 3x more regressions caught pre-release) and mentored 4 developers, lifting team code quality scores by 30%.
Web Developer (Jan 2016 - Dec 2018)
Team of 3–4 engineers
- Frontend DevelopmentCrafted React and Vue.js component-based UIs with TypeScript for 8+ client platforms, applying modular design patterns and state management to cut average frontend load time by 30%.
- Backend & DataDesigned normalised MySQL schemas and async backend logic supporting 50,000+ monthly active users across 3 concurrent SaaS applications.
- IntegrationsIntegrated Stripe, Twilio, and Zapier APIs with event-driven webhook processing, enabling automated billing and notification workflows that saved clients 15+ manual hours per week.
Web Developer (Dec 2014 - Jan 2016)
Karni IT Service Pvt Ltd — Independent contributor
- Backend ServicesDeveloped and maintained backend services for 15+ clients; resolved 200+ production bugs and integrated 10+ third-party APIs including payment gateways and messaging providers.
- End-to-End DeliveryOwned the full project lifecycle — requirements, database design, backend logic, frontend build, deployment, and client handoff — for 8 projects delivered on time and within budget.
Trainer and Developer (Sep 2013 - Dec 2014)
Girnar Technology — Independent contributor
- Technical TrainingTrained 30+ students in Python, PHP, MySQL, and web fundamentals — achieving an 85% batch placement rate.
- Development WorkDeveloped 5 internal web utilities using async patterns, reducing admin workload by 20%.
Education
- Master of Commerce (M.Com), 2013Specialization: Accounting and Business Statistics (ABST) — Rajasthan University, Jaipur
- Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), 2011Rajasthan University, Jaipur
Certifications & Learning
- AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerIn progress
- Agile Scrum FundamentalsUdemy, 2023
- OpenAI GPT-4 API + RAG PipelinesProduction-implemented across 3 live platforms
- OWASP Secure Development PracticesApplied across 4 production systems
ENGINEERING PROOF
Impact Highlights Across Projects
"Leading a team of 8–12 engineers across 3 concurrent product streams, delivering cloud-native, event-driven SaaS platforms on Python, Node.js, and AWS microservices."
Lucenta Solutions
Role: Team Leader / Technical LeadLUCENTA SOLUTIONSSAFAR CABBYPROFIT CLOSERREICONTROLPLM CLOUDESAFEXACEPREP
Lucenta Solutions
2022 - Present | Role: Team Leader / Technical Lead
Engineering Leadership
Leading a team of 8–12 engineers across 3 concurrent product streams, delivering cloud-native, event-driven SaaS platforms on Python, Node.js, and AWS microservices.
Available For Senior RolesLucenta Solutions - Key Achievements
Reduced API response time by 40% and sustained 99.9% uptime across client deployments. Established CI/CD with GitHub Actions, Docker, and Kubernetes — cutting regression bugs by 60% and deployment cycles to under 2 hours. Reduced monthly AWS spend by 25%.
Safar Cabby - Key Achievements
Architected an async event-driven backend with SQS message queues for dispatch events and full OpenAPI documentation. Processed 1M+ bookings at 99.9% uptime for 500+ transport operators. Reduced operator onboarding time from 2 days to 4 hours.
Profit Closer - Key Achievements
Slashed manual follow-up overhead by 65% with GPT-4 scoring and event-driven voice drop sequences. Lifted closure rates by 28% for top-tier insurance partners through predictive lead scoring. Cut average lead response time from 4+ hours to 8 minutes.
REIControl - Key Achievements
Formulated the system architecture, REST API layer with OpenAPI documentation, and event-driven campaign engine with async background processing. Sustained 99.9% uptime on millions of records. Reduced campaign launch time from days to under 1 hour.
PLM Cloud - Key Achievements
Implemented an automated property retrieval engine in Laravel with AWS SQS event queues, built on 12-factor principles. Reduced manual operations by 45%. Processes 10,000+ property records daily across 200+ real estate firms.
eSafeX - Key Achievements
Delivered sub-second document retrieval through optimized storage indexing and access control logic. Onboarded dozens of high-value corporate accounts onto a security-hardened cloud platform. Implemented automated project-based permission management, reducing admin overhead significantly.
AcePrep - Key Achievements
Architected an async Python RAG pipeline generating personalised study plans, with a TypeScript/React component-based frontend. Boosted student retention by 42%. Scaled to 50,000+ active users with sub-2s AI response time.
PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS
Leadership, Quality & Continuous Improvement
10+ Years, 11 Production Systems Shipped
From fintech CRMs to EdTech platforms, every system I've built has gone live — serving real users across insurance, real estate, and SaaS industries.
I solve the business problem, not just the ticket
At Profit Closer CRM, manual overhead was the real issue — not just missing features. I built automated follow-up sequences that cut it by 65% and lifted closure rates by 28%.
Systems that grow without breaking
AcePrep scaled from zero to 50,000 active users on infrastructure I architected. PLM Cloud processes 10,000+ property records daily across 200+ firms on async Laravel + AWS SQS pipelines I built.
Hybrid Laravel + FastAPI architecture
Profit Closer and REIControl pair Laravel/PHP application cores with Python/FastAPI services for AI pipelines and async processing — I design, build, and migrate hybrid Laravel/FastAPI systems that let each stack do what it does best.
Performance that holds under load
REIControl runs at 99.9% uptime managing millions of property records. Safar Cabby processed 1M+ bookings with zero downtime during peak hours.
Clients rehire. Timelines get met.
Led multi-year engagements at Lucenta Solutions, Safar Cabby, and AcePrep — a track record that speaks to delivery quality and trust built over time.
CONTACT
Let's Build Something Exceptional
I’m currently open to job opportunities and freelance work. If you’re looking for a developer to build or improve your system, feel free to reach out.