Fractional senior engineer for fast-moving teams

Ship boldly.Without losing orbit.

I help founders and technical leaders turn ambiguous ideas into reliable, production-ready software – without the cost and risk of a full-time senior hire.

Best for:

  • Early-stage products approaching launch
  • Teams stuck on complex technical decisions
  • Leaders who need a hands-on senior builder

How I help

Hands-on building, not just advice.

Strategy is important, but you ultimately need working code in production. I combine architectural thinking with sleeves-rolled-up implementation.

Fractional product engineering

Embed a senior engineer 1–3 days per week to own features end-to-end: from shaping requirements to delivery and launch.

  • Translate fuzzy ideas into actionable specs
  • Design pragmatic, scalable architectures
  • Ship small, safe iterations that de-risk big bets

Technical leadership on demand

Get the value of a staff+ engineer without adding full-time overhead. I partner with your team lead or CTO to unblock high-impact work.

  • Make clear, opinionated technology choices
  • Review critical designs and pull requests
  • Raise the quality bar without slowing momentum

Rescue and refactor projects

When a project is late, brittle, or off-course, I step in to stabilize, simplify, and get it safely to production.

  • Assess the current code and risks quickly
  • Cut scope intelligently to hit critical milestones
  • Leave behind a clearer, calmer codebase

Why fractional

Senior-level impact, fractional commitment.

You get the outcomes of a seasoned engineer – shipping, mentoring, and de-risking decisions – at a fraction of the cost and overhead.

Predictable investment

Engagements are scoped by days per week or per month, with clear outcomes and no surprise hiring costs.

Fast ramp-up

I’m used to jumping into existing teams, codebases, and processes with minimal friction.

Focus on what matters

We prioritize ruthlessly: cut noise, align on impact, and ship what actually moves the needle.

Need help deciding if a fractional setup fits your situation?Let’s talk through it in a 30-minute call.

Talk about your roadmap

How it works

A simple, low-friction engagement model.

Clear steps so you know exactly what to expect, from first call to shipping code.

  1. 1

    Discovery & fit

    We talk through your product, team, and constraints. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll say so – and if I can, I’ll point you to someone who is.

  2. 2

    Scope & model

    We define a 4–12 week engagement with clear outcomes, communication cadence, and availability (e.g., 1–3 days per week).

  3. 3

    Execution

    I work with your team in your tools: pairing, coding, reviewing, documenting, and unblocking the path to production.

  4. 4

    Stabilize & handoff

    Before we wrap, we make sure ownership is clear, documentation is in place, and your team is comfortable moving forward.

About

Your partner in the hard parts of shipping.

I’m a senior software developer who enjoys working close to the problem – collaborating with founders and technical leaders to turn complex, fuzzy ideas into calm, predictable delivery.

Over the years I’ve worked across the stack on web applications, internal tools, and integrations. I care most about clarity, communication, and leaving teams stronger than I found them.

What it’s like to work together

  • Clear written updates and async communication
  • Honest feedback on trade-offs and risk
  • Strong bias toward simple, maintainable solutions
  • Respect for your team, constraints, and context

Typical tech stack

I’m comfortable across modern web stacks (TypeScript/JavaScript, Python, Go, cloud platforms) and can adapt to your existing environment.

Let’s talk

Tell me about your project.

Share a bit about what you’re building, where you’re stuck, and your timeline. I’ll respond with next steps and, if it makes sense, a link to book a call.

  • 30-minute intro call, no pressure
  • Clear, upfront expectations and pricing
  • If I’m not a fit, I’ll say so honestly

Prefer email? Reach out directly: dustin@lunarhacker.com