Maria D'Costa

Backend-focused engineer with full-stack grounding, building and owning core financial infrastructure for a platform serving millions of users. Work spans Expensify card, payments, invoicing, bank accounts, wallets, KYC, fraud prevention and P2P transfers - the critical systems that handle real money at scale. What I've owned: - Authored technical design documents and specifications for multiple projects, shaping architecture decisions across the engineering team - Led cross-functional project teams from scoping through delivery, coordinating frontend & backend engineers and stakeholders to ship features end-to-end - Onboarded, trained, and mentored engineers joining the team, accelerating their ramp-up and raising overall code quality - Investigated and resolved complex bugs across backend APIs and web applications in a high-stakes fintech environment where reliability directly affects user trust Technologies: PHP 7 & 8, C++, JavaScript, React, React Native, SQLite

Built and maintained cross-stack features across Expensify's web and mobile platforms, working closely with global teams to deliver product improvements at scale. This period laid the foundation for deeper backend specialization in financial infrastructure. - Designed and developed full-stack features spanning frontend (React, React Native) and backend (PHP, C++), taking ownership from planning through to production - Contributed to technical specifications and architecture discussions, bridging product requirements and engineering decisions - Diagnosed and resolved bugs across backend APIs and web applications, maintaining reliability for a high-volume user base - Collaborated with distributed, global engineering teams across time zones to ship features and improvements Technologies: PHP 7 & 8, C++, Java, JavaScript, React, React Native, SQLite

Co-leading one of the UAE's most active communities for women in technology, growing WiTDXB to 6,000+ members across platforms (LinkedIn, Meetup, Instagram, WhatsApp) over 7 years. The community runs regular in-person and virtual events focused on career development, networking, and professional growth for women in tech across the region. What I've built and delivered: - Scaled community membership significantly from founding, building presence across four platforms with an engaged, active audience - Drive the strategic vision for Women in Tech Dubai, ensuring alignment with the community's needs and goals. Built and managed a volunteer team, defining roles, onboarding contributors, and retaining talent aligned with the community's mission - Lead the planning and execution of a variety of in-person and virtual events focused on networking, skill-building, and professional development - including initiatives around AI, governance, and emerging tech - Secured sponsorships and strategic partnerships with regional and international organizations, including a formal partnership with AnitaB.org and other sister communities such as AI Safety UAE, Women in AI UAE, Women Who Thrive and Financially Savii Women - Provide guidance and mentorship to emerging leaders within the community, fostering their growth and development. - Launched new programs and initiatives in response to community needs, demonstrating an ability to identify gaps and drive solutions from zero to execution Through these efforts, I am committed to creating a dynamic and inclusive environment where women in technology can thrive and succeed.

As an Executive Leader, I serve as the primary liaison between AnitaB.org and the Women in Tech Dubai community. My role focuses on delivering the community's vision and mission by collaborating with the team on essential programs and initiatives. I am dedicated to forging community partnerships and driving initiatives that advance our vision of connecting, inspiring, and empowering women in technology. Key Responsibilities: Leadership and Coordination: - Conduct monthly meetings with the Community Leadership Team and the AnitaB.org Community Manager. - Organize and articulate the goals and ideas of the Local Community Leadership Team, identifying new initiative opportunities. Community Development: - Problem-solve to drive positive change within the community. - Delegate tasks effectively to keep the team focused and moving in the right direction. - Identify key contacts and resources to achieve community goals. Volunteer Management: - Attract, develop, and retain volunteers, ensuring the right skills and motivations meet strategic needs. - Define and communicate specific roles and responsibilities for volunteers to ensure clarity and transparency. In this role, I am committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive environment where women in technology can thrive and contribute to a supportive and innovative community.

• Responsible for designing, engineering, testing and building licensed web and mobile software • Enhanced and maintained existing codebase and migrating to a microservice, cloud-based architecture • Technologies used: Angular 2+, PHP 7.3, Laravel, Git, Javascript, Node.js, Heroku, AWS, HTML, CSS, ElasticSearch, Redis • Amazon Web Services used: API Gateway, Lambda, AppSync, EC2, DynamoDB, Kinesis

• Involved in all technical development, coding and graphical aspects of building website applications • Developed RESTful API using Laravel 5.4 and frontend using Angular JS (Angular4) • Involved in testing, bug fixing and improvement of application performance • Coordinated and developed strategies to see projects through from beginning to end • Established standards, tools and procedures for use on the IT project, including issue, risk, change and information management • Conducted training sessions and provided technical support

• Subject coordinator and lecturer for Introduction to Programming and IT • Responsible for creation, review and modification of course content and assessments • Introduction to algorithms - logical structures, flowcharts and pseudocode • Introduction to system analysis, software development and project management • Web design and development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP • Taught MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access)

- Develop database and steer upon database quality - Data Entry - Enrich current data via research (working with digital and social channels)

Double major in Computer Science and Business Information Systems (BIS). • Awarded the Sir Walter Murdoch 100% Scholarship, 2013 • Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence 2014 & 2015 • Valedictorian for the Class of 2016