M. Abdullah Onus

Hey, I’m Abdullah 👋

I’m a staff software engineer who’s spent the last decade building systems that actually matter. The kind that handle millions of users and process billions in transactions. Sometimes they make someone’s job a whole lot easier.

The Short Version

I architect and build things at scale. We’re talking systems that manage 20+ million subscribers. Platforms that process nearly $5 billion in annual transactions. Tools that cut six-month manual processes down to two hours.

I’ve done this across telecom, aviation, healthcare, and e-commerce. Somewhere along the way, I also started a company. I led a team of 20 engineers building enterprise solutions.

Primary Projects as a Staff Software Engineer

Just a few pieces to give you an idea of what I do.

Aviation Systems

Overflight permissions used to take months. I architected and led the development of a system that compressed that to two hours. For an airline operating 457 aircraft across 349 destinations, that efficiency hits the bottom line directly.

I also spearheaded real-time communication tools for flight operations. Hands-on from architecture through deployment, these tools helped reduce delays and kept things running smoothly. Learn more about aviation software architecture.

Telecom Infrastructure

A national telecom network needed secure, automated SIM management at scale. I owned the architecture and led a team through development of a platform serving 20+ million users. The result: infrastructure that hums without constant manual intervention.

Healthcare Technology

Connecting caregivers, patients, and families requires seamless data flow. I designed the architecture for FHIR-based integrations and stayed hands-on through development. The data pipelines we built actually improve patient outcomes. Healthcare tech done right. See my thoughts on healthcare data integration.

E-Commerce at Scale

Marketing systems that generate billions annually need constant evolution. I own the architecture and stay deeply involved in developing AI-driven personalization. The goal: deliver the right content to the right customers at the right time. Small optimizations here move the needle in a very big way.

The Entrepreneurial Chapter

At one point, I stepped away from the corporate world. I founded a software company and assembled a team of 20 engineers. We worked with global apparel brands on quality assurance. We helped major telecom companies streamline dealer networks.

One project got selected from 65 competing startups. It joined a major carrier’s partner program. That felt pretty good.

We built intranet platforms for banks. We managed 20+ enterprise applications for a major airline. We modernized legacy systems into microservice architectures for a US-based cloud company. Five years. Five countries. One global team.

Technical Skills

I’m most at home with:

  • Backend: Java, NodeJS, Python, microservices architecture
  • Infrastructure: AWS Services, Kubernetes, relational databases, cloud-native systems
  • Emerging Tech: AI/ML integration, RAG systems, vector databases
  • Scale: Distributed systems for high-volume, mission-critical workloads

I hold a Computer Engineering degree with a minor in Industrial Engineering. I received a full scholarship to Stanford’s global management and entrepreneurship program.

Beyond the Technical Role

I usually work as a technical project lead. But I don’t stay in my lane when projects stall. I’ve stepped into product and project management roles when needed. Unblocking teams matters more than job titles.

Expectation management is something I take seriously. I set clear milestones and communicate progress honestly. No surprises. Stakeholders know exactly where things stand at all times.

Stakeholder communication is a core part of how I work. I translate technical complexity into business terms. Executives get clarity. Product teams get context. Engineers get direction.

Leadership communication ties it all together. I align teams around shared goals. I make sure everyone understands the “why” behind decisions. That clarity prevents confusion and keeps momentum.

Ambiguity is always part of the work. I love finding ways to eliminate it. There’s nothing better than watching a stuck team start moving again. I jump in, resolve the confusion, and get things back on track.

This flexibility comes from years of wearing multiple hats. Startups taught me that. Enterprise scale taught me when to apply it.

What Drives Me

I’m not just interested in building software. I’m interested in building software that creates leverage. The kind that multiplies human effort. It unlocks new capabilities. It makes impossible things suddenly practical.

Right now, I’m focused on bringing AI into systems where it has outsized impact. Not AI for AI’s sake. Practical applications that drive real business outcomes. Read about my approach to AI integration in enterprise systems.

Let’s Connect

Working on hard problems at scale? Need someone who can architect systems that work in production? Want to geek out about distributed systems and AI integration? I’d love to chat.

I’m always up for conversations about technology and building things that matter. Also the occasional debate about microservices vs. monoliths. I have opinions.

Currently based in the US. Previously built things across three continents.

Connect on LinkedIn View my GitHub

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