Nihal Pandey

Backend Engineer | OSS Contributor at ParadeDB (YC S23) · Rust · Node.js · PostgreSQL

I build high-throughput backend systems in Rust and Node.js. Currently contributing to ParadeDB (YC S23) with 3 PRs merged into the production codebase touching query pipeline internals, JoinScan correctness, and PostgreSQL executor hooks. Previously built Rust security tooling at the Prime Minister's Office, Government of India.

Current Status: Open to Work

Backend Engineer · OSS Contributor at ParadeDB (YC S23)

Rust systems, PostgreSQL internals, Node.js backend infrastructure, and open source contributions.

Availability Immediate Start
Type Full-time · Bangalore or Remote
Stack Rust · Node.js · PostgreSQL · TypeScript

Engineering Highlights

4 PRs

ParadeDB (YC S23) production codebase

3 merged · 1 in review

648K msgs/sec

WebSocket throughput benchmark

Kraken Market Data Engine

1st / 2,500+ Teams

Andromeda aOS Global Hackathon

Hackathon Win

10M+ transactions

Atomic SQL guarantees, zero data loss

Production EVM Indexer

5x Winner

Hackathon wins across govt and international

SIH · Andromeda · Kaspa · Graph-e-thon · Kraken

ParadeDB — ctid Refactor (Merged)

Removed ctid from SearchIndexScore and consolidated duplicate lookup logic into a centralized resolve_ctid helper across 5 execution paths in the query pipeline.

265 lines changed across 6 filesMerged into production codebaseEliminated 5 duplicate code blocks
RustPostgreSQLTantivypgrx

ParadeDB — RAII FrameGuard Fix (Merged)

Fixed nested ExecutorRun panic in fake_aminsertcleanup on PG16. Identified a second correctness bug mid-review and replaced depth-counter approach with a proper RAII FrameGuard.

Fixes unreachable! panic on PG16RAII guard handles nested DML correctly282 lines changed
RustPostgreSQLpgrx

ParadeDB — JoinScan Sort Key Fix (Merged)

Fixed JoinScan returning wrong rows on self-joins with duplicate sort keys. Caught a column misbinding in my own fix during review and rebuilt using physical index mapping.

Fixes incorrect row ordering on self-joinsRebuilt column mapping using physical indices261 lines changed
RustPostgreSQLDataFusion

ParadeDB — Partitioned Table BM25

Added partition-aware BM25 search via SPI expansion. Fixed lifecycle panics in begin_custom_scan and rescan for partitioned index relations.

BM25 search now works on partitioned tablesFixed begin_custom_scan lifecycle panic225 lines changed
RustPostgreSQLpgrxSPI

ParadeDB (YC S23)

Apr 2026 - Present

Open Source Contributor · Rust / PostgreSQL

  • 3 PRs merged into production Rust codebase -> query pipeline, scan execution, and PostgreSQL executor hook internals; 787 lines changed across 15+ files
  • Merged PR #4765 into production codebase — refactored ctid lookup across 6 files, consolidated 5 duplicate code blocks, 265 lines changed
  • Merged PR #4924 into production codebase — fixed nested ExecutorRun panic in fake_aminsertcleanup on PG16; identified second correctness bug mid-review on recursive DML path; replaced depth-counter approach with RAII FrameGuard giving each nesting level an independent frame; 290 lines across 4 files
  • Merged PR #4763 into production codebase — fixed JoinScan returning wrong rows on self-joins with duplicate sort keys; debugged late materialization in query optimizer; rewrote physical projection to use column indices instead of name-based dedup; caught column misbinding in own fix mid-review and rebuilt; 312 lines across 5 files
  • PR #4752 in review — added partition-aware BM25 search via SPI expansion, fixed lifecycle panics in begin_custom_scan and rescan

Prime Minister's Office, Government of India

Jun 2025 - Sept 2025

Cybersecurity Research Intern

  • Built Rust/Tokio vulnerability scanner deployed across critical government infrastructure
  • Cut manual vulnerability assessment time by 60% with zero downtime across distributed systems
  • Adopted by 2 internal security teams. Details under NDA.

Winner — aOS Andromeda Hackathon 2025

Prize: $2,500

Team Lead

  • 1st place out of 2,500+ global teams
  • Built production RWA tokenization platform with ERC-721 contracts and IPFS metadata in 48 hours

Winner — Smart India Hackathon 2024 (NTRO)

Prize: INR 100K

Tech Lead & Backend Developer

  • 1st place out of 50,000+ participants
  • Built agentless Windows vulnerability scanner reducing manual security analysis by 80%
  • Client: Government of India (NTRO)

4th Place — Kaspa Hackathon 2024

Prize: $1,250

Backend Developer

  • 4th overall out of international field
  • Won Most Creative Use of Kaspa and Best Real-Time Data Project

Finalist — Kraken Forge Hackathon 2025

Prize: Global Top Tier

Backend Developer

  • Selected as global top-tier finalist in performance optimization category

Winner — Graph-e-thon 2.0

Prize: INR 175K

Blockchain Developer

  • Built blockchain-based analytics solution for Technology Business Incubator event
  • Host: TBI Graphic Era

About Me

I build high-throughput backend systems in Rust and Node.js, with a focus on performance, reliability, and correctness. Currently contributing to ParadeDB (YC S23) — 3 PRs merged into the production Rust codebase touching ctid lookup refactoring, JoinScan duplicate sort key correctness, and nested ExecutorRun panic fixes in PostgreSQL executor hooks. A fourth PR fixing partition-aware BM25 search is in review. Previously built Rust security tooling at the Prime Minister's Office, Government of India, deployed across critical government infrastructure.

On the blockchain side I have shipped production systems on Solana, EVM, and Stellar — from a Token-2022 stablecoin SDK with ZK Confidential Transfers to an EVM indexer handling 10M+ transactions with atomic SQL guarantees and a WebSocket engine at 648k msgs/sec via zero-copy deserialization.

Tech Stack

  • Rust
  • Node.js
  • TypeScript
  • PostgreSQL
  • Redis
  • Tokio
  • Axum
  • SQLx
  • Express
  • Bull
  • Docker
  • AWS
  • Solana
  • Anchor
  • Solidity

Systems Interests

PostgreSQL internals · Rust systems · Node.js backend · Real-time pipelines · OSS infrastructure

Nihal Pandey

Get In Touch

I'm open to backend engineering roles in Bangalore or remote. Currently contributing to ParadeDB (YC S23) and available to join immediately. Whether you have a role, a project, or just want to talk systems, reach out.

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