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Mhd Zayd Skaff
Portrait of Mhd Zayd Skaff

// Engineer · Technical partner · Backend lead

Systems that keep running.

From architecture to production.

I'm Zayd, a backend and infrastructure engineer based in Damascus. I design, build and run the backend systems products depend on, for startups, SMEs and international teams. I work in three ways: building a system end to end, acting as a technical partner for founders, or leading backend and infrastructure part-time for small teams.

Download my CV (PDF, one page)
Monthly infrastructure cost reduction
61.5%
SyncOS, Firebase to Redis
From engineer to lead
<1 yr
SyncOS
Faster deployments
40%
Scandinavia Tech
PostgreSQL databases run in production
100GB+
SyncOS

// Working together

Three ways to work with me

Build

When you need it

A defined system: an API, a platform, a migration

What I own

Delivery from proposal to production

Technical partner

When you need it

A founder with an idea and no technical lead

What I own

Architecture, build decisions, the first version

Part-time backend lead

When you need it

A small team without a senior backend or infra person

What I own

Direction, reviews, infrastructure, hiring input

// Experience

Five roles, from volunteer team lead to infrastructure lead

  1. Syncrow IOT Solutions logo

    Backend & Infrastructure Lead

    Syncrow IOT Solutions · Remote (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

    AWSTerraformPostgreSQLTimescaleDBRedisWebSockets
    Responsibilities (7)
    • Promotion and leadership

      Joined as a Backend Engineer in April 2025 and was promoted to Backend & Infrastructure Lead in early 2026. Lead a team of 2–3 engineers and run sprint delivery.

    • Architecture ownership

      Own Syncrow's system architecture and make technical and infrastructure decisions across the platform. Run the design review meetings where designs are approved before implementation.

    • Consolidating on AWS with Terraform

      Moved the dev and staging environments from Azure to AWS and closed every Azure resource, so dev, staging and production now run on AWS, 100% defined as infrastructure-as-code in Terraform, with the IaC repository under CI.

    • Platform simplification

      Replaced the Firebase real-time database with Redis for storage and WebSockets for real-time communication, cutting monthly infrastructure costs by 61.5% and reducing third-party dependencies. Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) is still used for push notifications.

    • White-label, multi-tenant platform

      Designed and built the foundation that lets one codebase power multiple brands, with a tenant-aware backend and automations engine and build-time branded mobile apps. It was built for a customer who asked for their own branded application, which is about to launch. New brands can be onboarded without forking the codebase.

    • Telemetry and PostgreSQL at scale

      Moved device telemetry to TimescaleDB on top of PostgreSQL after one large log table made analytical queries slow, choosing a fix that needed minimal migration and cutting query time by about 50%. Run PostgreSQL at the 100GB+ scale and keep it under control.

    • AI integration

      Lead backend integration of AI-driven automation proposals and the consolidation of the platform's authentication into a single system.

    Case studies: SyncOS

    Apr 2025 - Present

    61.5% Monthly Infrastructure Cost Reduction

  2. Scandinavia Tech logo

    Backend & DevOps Engineer / Tech Lead

    Scandinavia Tech · Remote (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

    NestJSMongoDBMongooseDockerRabbitMQMinIO
    Responsibilities (2)
    • Technical Lead (Dec 2024 – Apr 2025)

      Maintained and monitored production servers to ensure stability and uptime. Designed and implemented new features while improving and refactoring existing ones. Collaborated with UI/UX teams to translate ideas into user-focused solutions. Transitioned and guided frontend development tasks. Supported cross-functional teams and responded to customer queries.

    • Backend & DevOps Engineer (Mar 2024 – Dec 2024)

      Designed, built, and maintained backend services and APIs. Managed databases and optimized queries for performance and scalability. Automated deployments and maintained CI/CD pipelines. Monitored infrastructure and ensured system reliability, availability, and security. Integrated backend with third-party services. Collaborated with product and design teams to deliver features aligned with business needs. Wrote clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.

    Case studies: Copax-FMS

    Mar 2024 - May 2025

    40% Deployment Time Reduction

  3. SheenValue logo

    Backend Developer

    SheenValue · Damascus, Syria

    PHP SymfonyLaravelNestJSStripePayPalE-commerce
    Responsibilities (4)
    • E-commerce Development

      Developed multiple e-commerce platforms using PHP Symfony and Laravel, implementing product management, inventory tracking, and order processing features.

    • Payment Integration

      Integrated multiple payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, and My Fatoorah, improving checkout reliability by 25%.

    • API Development

      Created RESTful APIs for mobile applications and frontend integration, ensuring secure and efficient data exchange.

    • Database Design

      Designed and optimized database schemas for e-commerce platforms, implementing efficient queries and indexing strategies.

    Case studies: Ivory Fashions, Ilhem Taher Platform

    Aug 2023 - Mar 2024

    25% Checkout Reliability

  4. Global Share logo

    Software Engineer & HR Member

    Global Share · Volunteer

    NestJSReactJSERP SystemsTeam Training
    Responsibilities (4)
    • Software Engineer (Jan 2023 – Jan 2025)

      Worked as a software engineer contributing to organizational projects and technical solutions.

    • Training Specialist (Oct 2021 – Apr 2024)

      Provided training and mentorship to team members, enhancing technical and collaborative skills across the organization.

    • Content Writer (Oct 2021 – May 2023)

      Created and maintained technical and educational content for the organization, supporting knowledge sharing and team growth.

    • ERP Development

      Developed a custom ERP system using NestJS and ReactJS, streamlining organizational workflow. Trained 20 team members in collaborative tools, enhancing productivity by 30%.

    2021 - Present

    20 Team Members Trained

  5. RBCs Team logo

    Project Manager & Team Leader

    RBCs Team · Volunteer

    Project ManagementTeam LeadershipContent CreationEvent Planning
    Responsibilities (4)
    • Team Leadership

      Led and coordinated a team of 100+ members across multiple educational initiatives, developing leadership structures and communication protocols.

    • Project Planning

      Developed comprehensive project plans including timelines, resource allocation, and risk management for educational outreach programs.

    • Content Development

      Oversaw the creation of educational content for 19 videos explaining complex scientific subjects, ensuring accuracy and accessibility.

    • Stakeholder Management

      Coordinated with university administration, school principals, and community leaders to organize educational events across 13 schools in rural Damascus.

    Oct 2020 - Oct 2023

    117,000+ Total Video Views

// About

Systems from architecture to production

I'm a backend and infrastructure engineer based in Damascus. I lead backend and infrastructure for an IoT platform, where my team builds the system that connects devices to the apps people use every day. Long before that, I was running my own self-hosted infrastructure, and I co-founded Moushref, a platform that lets schools go cashless with NFC bracelets while giving parents a clear view of their children's spending.

I work with startups, SMEs and international teams in three ways: building a system end to end, acting as a technical partner for founders, or leading backend and infrastructure part-time for small teams. Every engagement starts with a written proposal, in English or Arabic, so you know what will be built, when, and for how much.

I hold a B.Sc. in Software Engineering from Damascus University.

Backend

Nest.jsLaravelSymfonyNode.jsRESTful APIs

DevOps

DockerGitLabMinIORabbitMQCI/CD pipelines

Databases

PostgreSQLMySQLMongoDBMongooseTypeORMPrisma

Project management

JiraClickUpAgile/ScrumTeam leadershipStakeholder communication

Languages

JavaScript/TypeScriptPHPPythonC/C++

Principles

Clean architectureSOLIDMVCMicroservicesCode reviews

// Contact

Have a system that needs building or fixing?

Message me and you'll get a written proposal within a week.