Stabilize. Simplify. Ship.
With a senior, hands-on builder who still loves the craft.
I help growing teams whose systems have outgrown their original architecture. We reduce fragility, regain velocity, and make the system easier to understand — while staying hands-on and pragmatic.
If this sounds familiar
- Shipping feels slower every quarter, even though people are working hard.
- “Only one person understands this part” has become a recurring theme.
- Changes cause surprise regressions; confidence is low.
- You’re unsure whether to refactor, rebuild, or just keep pushing.
- It’s hard to plan because the system fights you.
What you get
A senior partner who can absorb the messy reality, map the system, and turn ambiguity into an executable plan — then help you implement it.
No hype. No “digital transformation” theater. Just good engineering and clear thinking.
When it’s a fit
I’m most useful when you already have traction, the system is real, and the next stage requires a
sturdier foundation.
If this is you, we’ll likely click.
Common trigger: upcoming migrations (data / provider / platform) where risk is high and you want
a staged, low-drama path to “done”.
Revenue or meaningful usage. Real users. Real consequences. The codebase has stories.
Velocity slipping, ownership blurred, tech debt compounding, and decisions feel risky.
You want improvement without drama: incremental wins, clean interfaces, fewer surprises.
Not a fit (usually)
- Pure “idea stage” with no system yet (unless you want a fast, lean prototype).
- Teams looking for a full-time manager who doesn’t touch code.
- Projects where the main requirement is speed at any cost.
What I do
Think of this as “systems stabilization + forward momentum.” The goal is an engineering reality that’s: easier to change, easier to reason about, easier to ship.
Turn intent into a clean plan: boundaries, interfaces, ownership, sequencing, and tradeoffs.
Reduce regressions and brittleness. Pay down the debt that blocks velocity — without rewriting everything.
Ship changes with the team: PRs, reviews, migrations, test strategy, tooling, and “done means done.”
Lightweight rituals and written context that help distributed teams move with less friction.
Explain technical reality in plain language so founders can make confident decisions.
A small, honest note: I still enjoy the craft. When a problem clicks, I light up — quietly — and build.
How it works
The goal is to reduce uncertainty quickly. Most teams don’t need “more work” — they need a clearer map.
Conversation (30–45 min)
We sanity-check the situation: what’s happening, what you’ve tried, what “better” looks like.
Deep dive (1–2 weeks)
I read the code, talk to the team, trace the real bottlenecks, and produce a clear plan you can act on.
Execution (retainer or project)
We implement the highest-leverage changes with minimal disruption: incremental wins, steady progress.
Engagement options
- Assessment + roadmap: a focused evaluation and written plan.
- Part-time technical leadership: 8–20 hrs/week to stabilize and ship with your team.
- Short “rescue” sprint: when things are burning and you need steady triage + fixes.
My bias is toward fewer meetings, more written clarity, and shipping changes you can maintain. I’m happy to collaborate with an existing tech lead — the goal is to make the team stronger.
About
I’m most useful when you already have traction, the system is real, and the next stage requires a
sturdier foundation.
If this is you, we’ll likely click.
Common trigger: an upcoming migration (data, provider, or platform) where risk is high and you
need a staged, controlled path to completion.
What you’ll notice working with me
- I ask precise questions and write things down so we stop losing context.
- I aim for steady progress: small moves that compound.
- I stay hands-on — I lead by building.
- I don’t play status games with your team; I’m here to reduce friction.
What I’m not
- A “big transformation” consultant selling slides.
- A hype-driven generalist.
- A lone cowboy rewriting everything.
I’m a stable builder. Quietly creative. I like real constraints, real systems, and clean, humane engineering.
Talk
If you want clarity on a messy system, start here. A short note is enough.
What to send
- What your system does (1–2 sentences).
- The current pain (what’s breaking / slowing down).
- Team size + stack (roughly).
- What you’d like to be true in 3 months.
I’ll tell you quickly if it’s a fit — and if not, I’ll try to point you in a useful direction.
Contact
Replace these placeholders with your real links.
Timezone: America/Chicago · Remote-friendly · Part-time engagements welcome