Developed and integrated Cloud SQL IAM authentication for the bcgov/lear legal API, focusing on secure and scalable database connectivity. Leveraged Python, Flask, and SQLAlchemy to implement lazy initialization of the Cloud SQL connector, optimizing application startup and resource usage. Enhanced local development workflows by sourcing environment variables from 1Password, reducing setup friction and improving security for developers. All changes were aligned with the main branch and accompanied by updated local development guidance. This work established a foundation for safer production deployments and accelerated feature delivery, with no major bugs reported during the period and a clear focus on backend development best practices.