How I Work
Outcome first, always
I don't just write code to a spec. I understand the problem, own the approach, and deliver a result you can measure. Then I make sure your team can carry it forward without me.
A typical engagement
Every project is different, but the shape is usually the same.
Step 1: Understand the problem
Before I touch a keyboard, I need to understand what you're trying to achieve and why. What does success look like? What are the constraints — technical, organisational, regulatory? Who are the stakeholders? This usually takes a day or two and it's the most important part of the engagement.
Step 2: Assess and recommend
A clear-eyed assessment of where you are and what needs to change. Architecture review, gap analysis, and a prioritised roadmap. You get a written deliverable — not a slide deck, not a verbal opinion. Something you can take to your board or your engineering team and act on.
Step 3: Deliver, embedded
I join your team. Standups, PRs, production. I'm not advising from the sidelines — I'm designing, building, and shipping alongside your engineers. I own the architectural decisions and I'm accountable for the outcomes.
Step 4: Hand over and leave
The goal is always to make myself redundant. Documentation, knowledge transfer, pairing, mentoring. When I leave, your team should be able to maintain, extend, and operate everything I've built. If you still need me six months later, I haven't done my job.
Engagement models
Flexible, but always focused on outcomes.
A short, focused engagement — typically 1-2 weeks. You get an architecture review, migration strategy, or technology assessment. Fixed scope, fixed fee, written deliverable.
Embedded with your team 2-4 days a week for an agreed period. Monthly retainer. I attend your standups, review your PRs, and own architectural decisions alongside your tech lead.
A defined outcome with a clear timeline. Build a platform, migrate a workload, stand up an ML pipeline. I own the delivery end-to-end and hand over a working system with documentation.
What I bring
Not a pair of hands
You're hiring 25 years of pattern recognition — knowing what works, what doesn't, and what's going to cause problems six months from now. That's worth more than typing speed.I own the outcome, not just the hours
I'm not here to fill a seat. I want to solve the problem, deliver a measurable result, and add another success story to both our track records.
I'll tell you what I think
If the approach needs rethinking, I'll say so — constructively, with alternatives, backed by experience. You're hiring judgement, not just execution.
I work with what you have
Your team, your tech stack, your constraints. I'm not going to propose a rewrite in my favourite language. The best solution is the one your team can sustain after I leave.
Got a problem that needs solving?
Tell me what you're trying to achieve. I'll tell you honestly whether I can help — and if I can, how I'd approach it.