# Francisco Pandol

Backend Tech Lead · Python & Node.js · Scalable Systems

Francisco Pandol — Software Project Leader & Backend Tech Lead. 10+ years, Python/Django/FastAPI & Node.js/NestJS, AI-agent engineering, fintech & crypto, high concurrency, system design.

## About

I am Francisco Pandol — a Software Project Leader and Backend Tech Lead with over ten years owning architecture and delivery in fintech, crypto, and real-time systems. I lead with Python (Django, FastAPI) and Node.js (NestJS), and I am comfortable making the calls that affect scalability, latency, and operational safety — the same profile that matters for large product and payments platforms.

I have led teams on the Mercado Libre ecosystem (RealTrends), shipped exchange-grade backends with custody (Fireblocks) and KYC/AML integrations, and improved platform performance at scale (including significant gains on wealth-management workloads). More recently I've built Gemini-powered AI agent workflows and used Claude Code to automate engineering work across a production codebase. I stay close to code and reviews while aligning engineering with business outcomes.

## Contact

- Email: hire@franpandol.com
- GitHub: https://github.com/franpandol
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscopandol/en/
- Site: https://franpandol.com
- CV (Markdown): https://franpandol.com/cv_markdown_en_Francisco_Pandol.md
- CV (PDF): https://franpandol.com/CV_Francisco_Pandol.pdf

Interview availability (America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires), every day:
- 06:00–10:00
- 13:00–14:00
- 18:00–20:00

## Experience

System design, architecture, scalability, and leadership — marketplaces, fintech, and high-traffic backends (including the Mercado Libre ecosystem at RealTrends).

### Backend Tech Lead, Dexter Development

**Jul 2024 — Present**

Led end-to-end architecture and technical roadmap for a production cryptocurrency exchange, including Gemini-powered AI agent workflows and Claude Code-driven engineering automation across the codebase.

Key contributions:
- Led end-to-end architecture and technical roadmap for a production cryptocurrency exchange, focusing on scalability, security, and reliable transaction processing.
- Designed high-concurrency REST APIs using Django/DRF for real-time financial transactions, following secure coding practices.
- Built an AI agent powered by Gemini with tool calling, integrating LLM-driven workflows with backend services (AURA project).
- Developed AI-assisted engineering workflows with Claude Code, using agent-based automation for development, code analysis, and engineering tasks across the codebase.
- Integrated Fireblocks for secure digital-asset custody and MetaMap for KYC/AML identity verification.
- Designed asynchronous and event-driven backend workflows using Celery for scalable processing and operational reliability.
- Built and operated AWS infrastructure (ECS/Fargate, Docker, RDS, CloudWatch) with a focus on production reliability and observability.
- Established CI/CD pipelines and engineering practices supporting reliable deployments and rapid product iteration.

**Tech:** Python, Django, DRF, Celery, PostgreSQL, AWS (ECS/Fargate, RDS, CloudWatch), Docker, Gemini API, Claude Code, Fireblocks, MetaMap

- **UniversalCoins Cryptocurrency Exchange** — https://universalcoins.net/: Full-featured cryptocurrency trading platform supporting BTC, ETH, and USDT with bank integration.

### Senior Backend Engineer, AgioRatings

**Dec 2023 — Mar 2024**

Built high-performance APIs with FastAPI for real-time financial data analysis and deployed scalable solutions on Azure.

Key contributions:
- Built high-performance APIs with FastAPI for real-time financial data analysis.
- Designed anomaly detection systems for exchange monitoring.
- Implemented async processing pipelines for high-volume data streams.
- Deployed scalable solutions on Azure with CI/CD automation.

**Tech:** Python, FastAPI, Azure, Asyncio, Real-time Analytics

- **Financial Anomaly Detection System** — https://www.agioratings.io: Real-time monitoring system for digital asset exchanges detecting distress signals and unusual patterns.

### Senior Backend Engineer, GLASFunds

**Aug 2022 — Oct 2023**

Developed scalable backend systems for financial tools on Django with strong focus on database performance and horizontal scaling on GCP.

Key contributions:
- Developed scalable backend systems for financial tools using Django.
- Optimized database performance reducing query time by 40%+.
- Implemented horizontal scaling on GCP for high availability.

**Tech:** Python, Django, Google Cloud Platform, PostgreSQL

- **GLASFunds Wealth Management Platform** — https://www.glasfunds.com: Wealth management platform for managing financial assets.

### Senior Software Engineer, Apptim

**Feb 2021 — Jul 2022**

Developed performance analysis tools for mobile apps, led Python 2 to 3 migration, and automated testing with AWS Device Farm.

Key contributions:
- Developed performance analysis tools for mobile apps.
- Led migration from Python 2 to Python 3.
- Automated testing pipelines with AWS Device Farm.

**Tech:** Python, AWS, AWS Device Farm, Mobile Performance Testing

- **Apptim Mobile App Performance Analysis Platform** — https://www.apptim.com: Performance analysis tools for iOS and Android.

### Backend Tech Lead, RealTrends

**Feb 2019 — Feb 2021**

Led backend team building an analytics platform for MercadoLibre sellers with event-driven architecture and strong product collaboration.

Key contributions:
- Led backend team (4–6 engineers) building analytics platform for MercadoLibre sellers.
- Designed event-driven architecture and real-time systems.
- Reduced system latency by 60%+ through async processing.
- Collaborated with product to define roadmap and priorities.

**Tech:** Python, Django, PostgreSQL, Real-time Processing, Team Leadership

- **RealTrends Business Intelligence Platform** — https://www.real-trends.com: Analytics and inventory management tools for e-commerce sellers with real-time data processing.

### Lead Engineer, Al Pelo

**Jan 2018 — Feb 2019**

Lead Engineer for an on-demand delivery platform (0 → MVP): founded and led the engineering team, defined backend architecture, and shipped a production-ready MVP.

Key contributions:
- Founded and led the engineering team, defining backend architecture from scratch.
- Designed a scalable real-time dispatch and logistics system.
- Built AWS-based infrastructure (S3, RDS, SQS, SNS) ensuring resilience and asynchronous processing.
- Delivered a production-ready MVP optimized for scalability and future feature expansion.

**Tech:** Python, Django, AWS S3, AWS RDS, AWS SQS, AWS SNS, PostgreSQL, System Architecture

- **On-Demand Delivery Platform (0 → MVP)**: End-to-end on-demand delivery with real-time dispatch, logistics, and scalable backend.

### Python Lead Developer, PredictionLabs

**Jul 2016 — Nov 2017**

Backend tech lead for a cryptocurrency exchange platform: architecture, APIs, admin systems, and security for financial transactions.

Key contributions:
- Designed and implemented backend architecture for a Bitcoin exchange platform, including APIs and admin systems.
- Developed advanced security mechanisms (MFA, identity verification) to protect financial transactions.
- Managed secure transactional data storage using PostgreSQL and MongoDB.
- Established engineering standards and best practices to ensure system stability and scalability.

**Tech:** Python, Django, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cryptocurrency, Security

- **Bitcoin Exchange Platform**: Bitcoin exchange platform with APIs, admin, and secure custody patterns.

## Earlier career

Teaching, public-sector platforms, freelance delivery, and university engineering.

### Django Instructor, Catamarca Government & Technology Cluster

**Nov 2016 — Jun 2017**

Django instructor for a technical training program: intensive backend development curricula and mentoring.

- Designed and delivered intensive backend development training programs using Django.
- Mentored professionals on best practices, system design, and scalable architecture.
- Promoted adoption of modern development standards and engineering practices.

**Tech:** Django, Python, Technical Training, Software Architecture

### Technical Consultant, Argentina National Ministry of Economy – Government Digital Platforms

**Jan 2015 — Dec 2015**

Technical consultant on government digital platforms: secure, compliant systems and stakeholder alignment.

- Led development of secure government platforms with high compliance and reliability requirements.
- Designed systems with multi-layer authentication and data encryption for sensitive information.
- Implemented scalable AWS-based solutions aligned with regulatory standards.
- Collaborated with non-technical stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.

**Tech:** Django, Python, AWS, Security, Government IT

### Software Engineer (Freelance), Custom Software Solutions

**Jan 2013 — Dec 2015**

Freelance delivery of backend and mobile solutions with CI/CD and agile execution across clients.

- Delivered backend and mobile solutions for multiple clients across different industries.
- Designed adaptable architectures based on diverse business requirements.
- Implemented CI/CD pipelines and agile workflows for efficient delivery.
- Integrated mobile applications with scalable backend services (Firebase, Parse).

**Tech:** Django, Python, Android, Firebase, Parse, CI/CD, Agile

## Skills

### Backend

- Python
- Django
- FastAPI
- Node.js
- NestJS
- REST & API design

### Systems & Data

- Distributed systems
- Async & event-driven patterns (Celery)
- High concurrency
- PostgreSQL & MongoDB

### Cloud & DevOps

- AWS (ECS/Fargate, RDS, CloudWatch)
- Google Cloud Platform
- Azure
- Docker
- CI/CD (GitHub Actions)

### AI-agent engineering

- Gemini tool-calling agents
- Claude Code engineering workflows
- LLM-integrated backend services

### Leadership & delivery

- Architecture & technical roadmap
- Team leadership (4–6 engineers)
- Security-critical systems (Fireblocks, MetaMap, MFA)

## Projects

Production case studies and open-source backends: problem, solution, impact, and stack.

### AWS Infra Report

**Problem.** Cloud accounts accumulate idle resources, open security groups, and opaque networking — waste and risk that are hard to see without hours of console clicking.

**Solution.** Built a read-only Python auditor with boto3 that maps VPC/compute topology into an interactive Mermaid diagram, ranks findings (CRITICAL→LOW) with copy-pasteable aws CLI fixes, and estimates monthly cost waste.

**Impact.** Shows production AWS fluency — networking, ECS, ELB, RDS, CloudWatch — packaged as a single-file, shareable HTML report teams can run without granting write access.

**Stack:** Python, boto3, AWS, Mermaid

- GitHub: https://github.com/franpandol/aws-infra-report

### MURAL Python Client

**Problem.** Integrating with the MURAL Public API from Python meant hand-rolling OAuth, pagination, and untyped JSON for dozens of endpoints.

**Solution.** Shipped a typed SDK covering the OpenAPI surface: Pydantic v2 models, OAuth2 with auto-refresh, transparent cursor pagination, a Typer CLI, and a full exception hierarchy.

**Impact.** Demonstrates library-grade API design — client-side validation, 98+ mocked tests at ~99% coverage — the same patterns used for reliable third-party integrations in production backends.

**Stack:** Python, Pydantic, httpx, OAuth2, Typer

- GitHub: https://github.com/franpandol/unofficial-mural-python-client

### CV Generator

**Problem.** Professionals need portable, version-controlled CVs that render consistently across formats — without locking content into proprietary tools.

**Solution.** Built an open-source CLI and in-browser app: Pydantic validates the JSON source, Jinja2 renders it, WeasyPrint exports PDF, and a Pyodide-powered web app runs the whole pipeline client-side with no server.

**Impact.** Demonstrates end-to-end Python tooling — schema validation, templating, PDF generation — plus WebAssembly delivery for zero-dependency distribution.

**Stack:** Python, Pydantic, Jinja2, WeasyPrint, Pyodide

- GitHub: https://github.com/franpandol/lebenslauf-generator