AWS Backend Modernization
Aug 2025 - Sep 2025
Project Coordinator
Led a focused backend modernization engagement for a confidential ShepherdTech client, migrating core services from Firebase to AWS while strengthening authentication security, improving resilience, and preparing the platform for long-term scale.
01 // The Problem
The existing backend needed modernization to support growth, stronger security controls, and more reliable mobile-facing operations.
The main gaps were straightforward:
- legacy infrastructure that limited long-term scalability and flexibility
- authentication and token handling that needed tighter security controls
- limited overload protection and operational resilience under higher traffic
- observability that made troubleshooting slower than it should be
02 // Approach
I coordinated a tightly scoped delivery from August 1 to September 9, 2025 across infrastructure, security, observability, and release engineering.
The workstream broke down into five core tracks:
- AWS replatforming to move core services off Firebase and onto a more scalable backend foundation
- Authentication hardening to improve sign-in safety, token handling, and related security practices
- Redis-based rate limiting to protect the platform under load and reduce overload risk
- Logging and tracing improvements to give the team faster operational visibility during incidents
- SNS notification delivery with iOS device registration to support production-ready push workflows
In parallel, I also helped upgrade Docker and AWS deployment automation so the new stack could be shipped and maintained more safely.
03 // Outcome
The engagement delivered a stronger backend foundation on AWS with measurable improvements in the areas that mattered most:
- lower security risk in authentication paths
- better platform stability and overload protection
- faster troubleshooting through improved telemetry
- production-ready push notification support for the mobile app