Mahavir Ganapati Dash
AI Automation Engineer | Backend Engineer | Rust · Python · ML
Profile
AI Automation Engineer at TCS with 3+ years of production backend experience in Rust and Python, now applying machine learning and LLM tooling to enterprise automation. Previously at CO2 Network I ran a Rust authentication microservice (Axum, Tokio, Biscuit tokens, Diesel over PostgreSQL) serving 10,000+ users at 99.9% uptime, with distributed rate limiting and DDoS protection, alongside the main app backend in Python and FastAPI. Outside of work I build coredump.digital and ai.coredump.digital, free learning platforms for Rust and for Python/ML/AI. Polkadot Blockchain Academy graduate (Singapore 2024), Web3 Foundation grant recipient, and author of multiple Rust crates on crates.io.
Achievements
- Received a Web3 Foundation grant for a self-sovereign identity research deliverable in a blockchain gaming context, selected competitively.
- Graduated from Polkadot Blockchain Academy 2024 (Singapore), the selective protocol-engineering program by Web3 Foundation and Parity Technologies.
- Designed a custom consensus mechanism for a private blockchain that reduced infrastructure costs by eliminating empty blocks.
- Built and launched coredump.digital, a free Rust learning and interview-prep platform. Auto-graded exercises through the Rust Playground, 32 topic tracks, head-to-head coding duels, and a curated board of around 300 Rust jobs.
Work Experience
AI Automation Engineer05/2026 – Present | India
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
- Building AI-driven automation for enterprise workflows, applying machine learning and LLM tooling to business processes at scale.
- Bringing production backend and reliability practices to AI systems: integration, evaluation, and dependable delivery.
Backend Engineer05/2023 – 04/2026 | Remote
CO2 Network (via Redrob)
- Designed and ran a dedicated Rust authentication microservice (Axum, Tokio) for 10,000+ users at 99.9% uptime. Token-based authorization with Biscuit capability tokens, session management, distributed rate limiting with DDoS protection, and SQL optimization via Diesel ORM over PostgreSQL. Reduced average API latency by 30% through query optimization, caching, and database indexing.
- Built and owned the main CO2 Network application backend in Python and FastAPI. REST and GraphQL APIs, async workers, PostgreSQL data layer, the business-logic surface used by the frontend, partners, and the on-chain integration layer.
- Shipped backend systems for on-chain modules including runtime upgrades, state management, and a Node.js / TypeScript SDK for partner integration. Migrated an internal web app from JavaScript to TypeScript.
- Deployed on AWS with Docker and GitHub Actions CI/CD. Structured logs, metrics, and alerting tuned for uptime and latency targets.
Backend Engineer (Rust / Substrate)09/2022 – 05/2023 | Bhubaneswar, India
Squbix Digital
- Engineered backend infrastructure for a custom blockchain using Rust and the Substrate framework, including distributed consensus and state management.
- Developed and optimized runtime modules (pallets) implementing business-logic requirements, focused on performance and reliability.
- Wrote unit and integration tests covering consensus edge cases and runtime upgrades.
- Built a Node.js SDK providing a developer-friendly API for frontend-to-blockchain communication, improving integration velocity for client teams.
Technical Instructor & Speaker06/2024 – 07/2025 | Bhubaneswar, India
Independent (STPI / Silicon University)
- Taught Rust programming, backend development, and system design to university students and industry professionals.
- Ran workshops in collaboration with STPI (Software Technology Parks of India).
- Delivered 110+ hours of hands-on curriculum covering Rust fundamentals, database design, and API development.
Projects
- Built an on-chain World Cup fan platform on Solana: non-transferable Fan Cards, score predictions locked by chain timestamp, and a permissionless settlement flow with a custom ESPN oracle. Anchor program with seven instructions; no backend, all state in PDAs. DEV Weekend Challenge, Best Use of Solana.
- Implemented the x402 HTTP payment protocol across the Polkadot and Solana ecosystems, enabling pay-per-request API monetization with automatic transaction signing and settlement.
- Built the full payment infrastructure: an Axum-based API server, a Subxt-powered facilitator for on-chain transaction verification, and a frontend client.
Free Transaction (Rust, Substrate)
- Designed a blockchain economic model that enables gasless transactions through a credit-based system. Developed during the Polkadot Blockchain Academy.
- Implemented stake-based credit accumulation where users earn transaction credits by staking. Built the runtime logic for credit calculation, transaction validation, and state transitions.
Skills
- Languages: Rust (primary, 3+ years production), Python with FastAPI, Node.js with TypeScript, SQL, Bash, Linux.
- AI / ML: LLM tooling, ML workflows, in-browser Python (Pyodide), automation of enterprise processes.
- Rust Ecosystem: Axum, Actix-web, Hyper, Tokio, Diesel ORM, Subxt, Substrate, Cargo, crates.io publishing.
- Backend & Architecture: REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, gRPC, microservices, distributed systems, authentication architecture, rate limiting, DDoS protection.
- Data: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, DynamoDB, query optimization, indexing.
- Blockchain: Substrate, Polkadot SDK, Subxt, Solana, Anchor, custom consensus, on-chain settlement, x402.
- Infrastructure: AWS, Docker, GitHub Actions CI/CD, observability (metrics, logs, alerting), SLO and SLA monitoring.
Education
Polkadot Blockchain Academy06/2024 | U Town, Singapore
Polkadot / Web3 Foundation. Protocol Engineering Program by Polkadot and Web3 Foundation.
Bachelor of Technology05/2023 | Bhubaneswar, India
Silicon Institute of Technology. Electronics and Communication Engineering. CGPA 8.64 / 10.
School of Solana12/2025 | Remote
Ackee. Solana development program.
Turbin3 Builders Program01/2026 – 02/2026 | Remote
Turbin3. Solana development cohort program.
Open Source
- coredump.digital: Free Rust learning and interview-prep platform. Auto-graded exercises, daily interview questions, head-to-head coding duels, and a curated board of around 300 Rust jobs. React + Cloudflare Pages + D1.
- ai.coredump.digital: Free Python, ML and AI learning platform. In-browser Python via Pyodide, auto-graded exercises, spaced-repetition review, timed drills, and a curated AI/ML job board. React + Cloudflare Pages + D1.
- auth-middleware-pkg (crates.io): Authentication middleware library for Rust web frameworks (Axum, Actix-web), modular auth patterns.
- x402-solana-rust (GitHub): x402 HTTP payment protocol server for pay-per-request API monetization on Solana. 12 stars.