Devaka DabareSoftware Engineer · Tech Lead

Associate Tech Lead · Software Engineer · Colombo, Sri Lanka

Devaka Dabare

I build reliable backends on AWS and lead the team that ships them.

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Devaka Dabare in a black tuxedo and bow tie, standing in front of evening garden lights

01 · About

Hello, I'm Devaka.

I've spent 8+ years building software for companies in Australia, New Zealand, Israel, the UAE and India, across retail, hospitality, health-tech and logistics.

Today I lead a team of 16 developers on a retail AI platform as an Associate Tech Lead. My home ground is the backend: Node.js, TypeScript, Python and AWS serverless. I hold an MSc in Advanced Software Engineering with Distinction from the University of Westminster.

Away from the keyboard you'll find me on a cricket field, at a table-tennis table or holding a guitar.

  • 8+years in software
  • 16developers led
  • 5countries worked with
  • MScwith Distinction

02 · Experience

Where I've worked, and what I built there.

  1. Oct 2022 – present

    Associate Tech Lead · Orel IT (Pvt) Ltd, Colombo

    Lead the Arigo project and a team of 16 developers: architecture, client requirements, code review and releases. Backend work across Node.js, FastAPI, AWS Lambda, GraphQL, Redis, RabbitMQ and DynamoDB.

    • Arigo Dynamic shelf management for retail · Israel

      Automated planograms (shelf layouts), daily optimisation and real-time performance tracking for supermarkets.

      Node.js · React · FastAPI · AWS Lambda · GraphQL · EventBridge · Redshift · QuickSight · Kubernetes

    • iHelp Booking and running doctor–patient sessions · Israel

      Mobile app to schedule sessions, message patients and track daily routines and payments, on a serverless backend.

      TypeScript · AWS Lambda · GraphQL · Prisma · MySQL · Cognito · SendGrid

  2. Oct 2019 – Oct 2022

    Software Engineer · ImmunifyMe Health Tech, India

    Started full-stack, then focused on the backend. Managed releases for the APIs and the Play Store apps.

    • ImmunifyMe Child Immunization Early childhood care app

      Vaccination schedules and SmartCard records for parents and doctors, with milestone tracking, telemedicine, nutrition plans and digital prescriptions.

      React Native · Node.js · Firebase · Agora · MySQL · Keycloak · AWS EC2 · Razorpay

  3. Aug 2018 – Oct 2019

    Intern Software Engineer · Matrix Total Enterprise, Colombo

    Where it started: full-stack foundations and my first taste of project management.

    • Deeba Fleet management system

      Task assignment, a driver app and real-time fleet tracking on Google Maps.

      PHP CodeIgniter · MySQL · React Native · Firebase RTDB · Google Distance API

    • Distance Learning Portal E-learning platform

      Lesson registration, question pools, automated exam results and protected video content.

      PHP CodeIgniter · MySQL · Bootstrap · Ajax

Other engagements

  • Seatsy Premium hospitality packages for sport and live events · UAE

    Live VIP inventory from several supplier APIs, interactive seat maps, multi-currency pricing and a full admin panel.

    NestJS · Next.js · PostgreSQL · Redis · BullMQ · Algolia · Stripe

  • Alagist Salon management portal

    Appointment scheduling, client management and staff coordination for single salons and franchises.

    Serverless Node.js · AWS Lambda · Prisma · MySQL · Razorpay · Pinpoint

  • Pick2Door On-demand delivery platform

    Vendors, customers and drivers in one app, with real-time order tracking over GraphQL subscriptions.

    GraphQL · AWS AppSync · Serverless · MongoDB · Cognito

03 · Education

Always learning.

Distinction

MSc Advanced Software Engineering

University of Westminster, UK · via IIT, Colombo · 2023–2025

Research: retail demand forecasting with Prophet and department-wise store clustering with K-Means, on a cloud pipeline built with PySpark, FastAPI and AWS S3.

Bachelor's

Bachelor of Information Technology

University of Colombo, Sri Lanka · 2017–2020

The foundations: programming, databases, networks and software engineering.

04 · Toolbox

What I work with.

Languages

  • TypeScript
  • JavaScript
  • Node.js
  • Python
  • PHP

Frameworks

  • FastAPI
  • Express
  • NestJS
  • React
  • React Native
  • Next.js
  • ASP.NET Core

AWS

  • Lambda
  • AppSync
  • EKS
  • Fargate
  • SES
  • CloudFront
  • Redshift
  • QuickSight

Data & messaging

  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • DynamoDB
  • MongoDB
  • Redis
  • RabbitMQ
  • GraphQL

DevOps

  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • GitHub Actions
  • CI/CD
  • Serverless
  • Microservices

Leading

  • Architecture
  • Code review
  • Mentoring
  • Requirements gathering
  • Jira
  • ClickUp

05 · Personal projects

Things I built on my own time.

06 · Beyond code

Off the keyboard.

  • Cricket

    Played for my school from Under-13 to Under-19, with tournament wins along the way. Still bowling at club level.

    Runner-up · Colombo District Division 3 · 2023/24

  • Table tennis

    Fast hands, faster decisions. A game I keep coming back to.

  • Guitar

    Chords, not code. Strictly for fun.

  • Esports

    Team shooters are strategy under pressure. I've also competed in Valorant and COD4 multiplayer.

    Champions · Inter-company (mercantile) Overwatch tournament

08 · Contact

Let's talk.

Building something, hiring, or just want to talk backend, cricket or Overwatch? The quickest way to reach me is a LinkedIn message.