Backend Web Developer Resume Example
A backend web developer resume is evaluated on service ownership measured by system reliability and uptime, not feature delivery without infrastructure context.
This resume is for backend web developers who own end-to-end feature delivery and system optimizations, but aren't yet responsible for org-wide technical strategy.
- Ownership of core backend services and API design
- Evidence of measurable performance tuning or cloud cost reduction
- Ability to scale systems while maintaining high reliability and uptime
- Technical skills categorized by language, database, and infrastructure
- Professional experience listed in reverse-chronological order
- Bullet points lead with specific technical actions followed by outcomes
Karim Khalil
Summary
Experience
- Engineered a Python-based connector framework that reduced source integration time by 35% across 12 unique data sources.
- Optimized PostgreSQL query patterns for the metadata service, cutting p95 latency from 145ms to 62ms for 450k monthly active users.
- Mentored 2 junior engineers on distributed systems patterns while leading the migration of 8 legacy services to a microservices architecture.
- Scaled the internal logging system using Redis, handling a peak throughput of 14k requests per second without service degradation.
- Developed 6 core REST API endpoints for the alerts platform using Java and Spring Boot, supporting 85k enterprise users.
- Reduced cloud infrastructure costs by $42k annually by identifying and refactoring redundant data processing loops in the ingestion pipeline.
- Implemented a Kafka-based queuing system to decouple ingestion from processing, increasing system reliability from 99.7% to 99.98% uptime.
Education
Skills
Python · SQL · Git · REST APIs · Go · Java · PostgreSQL · Redis · Kafka · Docker · AWS · Microservices · System Design · Performance Optimization
What makes this resume effective
- This resume meets the hiring bar for backend web developers by demonstrating framework engineering, database optimization (PostgreSQL latency reduction), and infrastructure cost management.
- At Airbyte, Karim Khalil shows ownership by engineering a Python-based connector framework that improved integration speed by 35%, signaling high-level technical autonomy.
- See how the New Relic experience uses Kafka within a Java/Spring Boot service to increase reliability from 99.7% to 99.98% uptime, proving expertise in system reliability.
How to write better bullet points
Wrote Python code for data connectors.
Engineered a Python-based connector framework that reduced source integration time by 35% across 12 unique data sources.
It transforms a vague task into a measurable architectural improvement with clear scope.
Improved database performance for users.
Optimized PostgreSQL query patterns for the metadata service, cutting p95 latency from 145ms to 62ms for 450k users.
It specifies the technology and provides exact latency metrics to prove technical proficiency.
Used Kafka to help with system reliability.
Implemented a Kafka-based queuing system to decouple ingestion from processing, increasing system reliability from 99.7% to 99.98% uptime.
It explains the architectural reasoning and the resulting impact on system availability.
Backend Web Developer resume writing tips
- Connect every technical refactor to a specific performance metric like the p95 latency reduction (145ms to 62ms) or throughput (14k requests/sec).
- Highlight instances where you led a technical migration or mentored 2 junior engineers to show leadership potential.
- List specific databases (PostgreSQL) and messaging queues (Kafka, Redis) used to prove experience with distributed systems.
Common mistakes
- Listing languages without context; instead, describe how you used them to solve a specific scaling or performance problem.
- Focusing only on feature tickets; backend roles require showing you understand the underlying infrastructure, like Docker or AWS.
- Omitting mentorship or code review experience; even without a manager title, showing you level up the team is a key differentiator.
Frequently asked questions
Is this resume right for someone with 3 to 6 years of experience? Yes, if you have moved beyond simple CRUD apps to owning complex services and infrastructure rather than just basic feature implementation.
Yes, if you have moved beyond simple CRUD apps to owning complex services and infrastructure rather than just basic feature implementation.
Yes, if you have moved beyond simple CRUD applications to owning complex services and infrastructure. It is less suitable for those still exclusively focused on front-end tasks or those who haven't yet managed production databases.
What if my backend experience is in a different stack than the one listed here? Focus on architectural patterns like microservices or API design; managers value your ability to solve scaling problems over specific syntax.
Focus on architectural patterns like microservices or API design; managers value your ability to solve scaling problems over specific syntax.
Focus on the architectural patterns like microservices or API design rather than specific syntax. Most hiring managers value your ability to solve scaling problems over knowing a specific language like Go or Java.
What if I don't have exact latency numbers like the 145ms to 62ms improvement shown here? Use proxies like reduced server load or halved deployment time, or describe the scale of the system using total users or daily request volume.
Use proxies like reduced server load or halved deployment time, or describe the scale of the system using total users or daily request volume.
You can use proxies like reduced server load or halved time spent on manual deployments. If you lack exact numbers, describe the scale of the system, such as the number of users or requests handled daily.
How much should I change the skills section before applying? Reorder your core languages to match the job's primary stack, ensuring that specific databases and messaging queues are listed prominently.
Reorder your core languages to match the job's primary stack, ensuring that specific databases and messaging queues are listed prominently.
Keep the core languages you are proficient in, but reorder them to match the job description's primary stack. In this resume, Karim Khalil lists Python and SQL first, which should be adjusted if the target role is Java-heavy.
What do hiring managers focus on for backend web developers? Evidence that you understand the full request lifecycle and can provide specific metrics regarding system uptime and database optimization.
Evidence that you understand the full request lifecycle and can provide specific metrics regarding system uptime and database optimization.
In this resume, the focus on the 99.98% uptime metric is the level of specificity recruiters expect. They look for evidence that you understand the full lifecycle of a request, from the API layer down to the database.
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