Services
How I Work
I help experienced engineers and teams ship better software, using AI, smarter workflows, and real-world decision-making.
I work in a few ways depending on what you need: ongoing technical leadership, fixed-scope AI projects, or team training. Here's how each works and what to expect.
Fractional CTO & Technical Advisory
For founders and engineering leaders who need senior technical guidance without a full-time hire.
What You Get
- Technical direction and architecture decisions
- Risk identification before it gets expensive
- Hiring support and team structure advice
- Someone to pressure-test your technical strategy
- Regular syncs and async availability
Investment
| Engagement Level | Monthly | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Advisory (light touch) | $6k–$10k | 4–6 hrs/week |
| Active engagement | $10k–$18k | 8–12 hrs/week |
Typical commitment: 3+ months
Best For
- Seed to Series A startups without a full-time CTO
- Technical founders who need a sounding board
- Teams making architectural bets they'll live with for years
Not For
- Teams looking for extra engineering hands. I advise, I don't grind tickets
- Companies that need someone full-time on-site
AI Engineering & Integration
Fixed-scope projects to ship production AI features. Not demos. Not experiments. Real features your users will touch.
What I Build
- LLM integration into existing products
- AI-assisted workflows and internal tools
- RAG pipelines and semantic search
- Structured outputs and tool use patterns
- Production infrastructure: error handling, cost monitoring, evals
Investment
| Project Type | Investment | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| AI Strategy & Roadmap | $3k–$5k | 1–2 weeks |
| Feature Implementation | $8k–$20k | 2–6 weeks |
| Prototype + Production Plan | $10k–$15k | 3–4 weeks |
Best For
- Teams ready to ship AI features, not just explore
- Products where AI is a differentiator, not a checkbox
- Engineering orgs that want it done right the first time
Not For
- Prompt engineering as a service
- "Add AI to everything" consulting
- Projects without clear user value
Consulting & Advisory
For specific problems that need senior perspective. Short engagements, clear scope, fast turnaround.
What This Looks Like
- Architecture reviews and second opinions
- Code audits for AI integration or system design
- Unblocking stuck teams on hard technical problems
- Technical advisory for high-stakes decisions
Investment
$300/hour
Project-based pricing available for larger scopes
Best For
- "We need an outside perspective on this decision"
- "Our team is stuck and needs someone to unblock us"
- Companies facing technical challenges that need experienced guidance
Not For
- Ongoing retainer work (that's what Fractional CTO is for)
- Individual career or growth coaching (see <a href="/coaching/">Coaching</a>)
AI Workflow Enablement
Help your engineering team actually get productive with AI coding tools, not just install them.
What Teams Walk Away With
- Working AI development setup on real projects
- Team conventions and best practices documented
- Patterns that actually stick (not forgotten after the workshop)
Investment
Half-Day Workshop
$3k–$5k
3–4 hours, hands-on with your codebase
Best for initial team exposure, smaller teams (5–10 engineers)
Full-Day Intensive
$5k–$10k
Full day of training + practice
Includes follow-up documentation. Best for teams committing to AI-assisted development
Team Rollout
$8k–$15k
2–4 weeks of hands-on adoption support
Tool selection, workflow design, security review. Optional ongoing office hours ($2k–$4k/month)
Best For
- Engineering teams evaluating Claude Code, Cursor, or similar tools
- VPs and Directors who need a structured rollout plan
- Teams where ad-hoc AI tool usage is creating inconsistency
Looking for Individual Coaching?
I also offer 1:1 coaching for individual engineers and engineering leaders working through technical challenges or career decisions.
Whether you're stuck on an architectural decision, learning to use AI coding tools effectively, navigating a career transition, or growing your technical leadership—I can help.
View coaching optionsHow I Think
15 years of building production software. Here's how I approach problems.
On AI Development Workflows
How I Use Claude Code: My Complete Development Workflow
After 8 months with Claude Code, here's my actual process: Linear for issues, MCP servers for context, Obsidian for knowledge. Not theory. Real workflow.
How to Fix LLM Date and Time Issues in Production
A real bug I hit, debugged, and fixed. LLMs don't know the current date. Here's how that breaks your app and how to solve it.
Build Efficient MCP Servers: Three Design Principles
Token efficiency matters. Real reductions: 746k to 262 tokens. Here's how.
On Engineering Leadership
What Is Technical Debt? A Pragmatic Guide for Startup Teams
Not "eliminate all debt." A framework for when debt is smart, when it's dangerous, and how to manage it.
The Double-Edged Sword of Customer Obsession
Customer obsession can burn out teams and break products. Here's how to get the focus without the damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's your availability?
I take on 1–2 engagements at a time to ensure quality. Response time is typically within 48 hours.
Do you write code or just advise?
Both, depending on the engagement. Fractional CTO work is advisory. AI Engineering projects include hands-on implementation. Workshops are teaching-focused. I'll be clear about what you're getting.
What if we're not ready for AI yet?
That's fine, and worth knowing before spending money. In our intro call, I'll tell you honestly if you'd benefit more from foundational work first. I'd rather turn away a project than take money for something that won't help.
What's your background?
15+ years building production software. Previously CTO at Buoy Software where I grew the team from 0 to 50+ engineers and shipped FDA-cleared medical device software. Currently building at August Health (clinical software for senior living). I advise because I still build. My advice comes from ongoing practice, not past glory.
Do you work with non-Rails teams?
Yes. My AI engineering and advisory work applies across stacks. Rails is a strength, but consulting engagements work with whatever you're building on.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Book a free 30-minute intro call. We'll talk through what you're trying to accomplish, and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help and which engagement makes sense.
No pitch deck. No pressure. Just a conversation to see if there's fit.