Worked on improving the reliability of metadata access in distributed HBase environments by addressing Meta RPC timeout handling. Focused on backend development using Java, the developer delivered targeted fixes to both the apache/hbase and HubSpot/hbase repositories. By introducing dedicated Meta RPC read timeouts for meta replica reads, the changes separated these operations from general read timeouts, resulting in more predictable and configurable meta-region behavior. This approach enhanced stability for clients relying on meta metadata and increased consistency across repositories. The work demonstrated a strong understanding of distributed systems and HBase internals, with an emphasis on robust, maintainable backend solutions.