Fractional senior engineering

Need an experienced engineer on your side?

I'm Damian, founder of 33coders — a senior software developer and architect with 20 years of hands-on experience. When small teams hit tough deadlines, I join them to ship features, fix systems, and get projects back on track.

$35 per hour
Book a Call → See Work
Available for product, data, and AI mandates.

Snapshot

20 years of delivery

  • Startups, banks, and healthcare product launches
  • Lead + build: Node.js, Python, Java, React, Next.js
  • Based in Poland, working with teams worldwide

Recent highlight

Scaled a medical data platform that helped raise $4.8M in funding.

Everything shipped from discovery to launch in 12 weeks.

European Space Agency HealthTech Scale-ups Major Banks VC-backed Startups

Services

What I help with

Backend foundations, frontend polish, AI automation, and the delivery muscle to glue it together.

Backend & Data

  • Node.js, Python, or Java backends that are stable and testable
  • Database design, SQL tuning, and ORMs (Prisma, Hibernate, SQLAlchemy)
  • Data pipelines and integration workflows that scale cleanly

Frontend & Delivery

  • Modern frontends in React / Next.js
  • CI/CD pipelines, GitHub Actions, Vercel, or custom deployments
  • Cross-team collaboration and sprint planning that actually works

Project Oversight & Delivery Management

  • Manage or rescue projects handled by offshore or subcontracted teams
  • Translate business goals into clear technical tasks and priorities
  • Review architecture, code quality, and delivery timelines
  • Keep vendors accountable while keeping you in control

AI & Automation

  • Practical LLM and AI integration (chatbots, agents, workflows)
  • Data extraction, scraping, and cleaning pipelines
  • Automation systems that keep humans in the loop
  • RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architectures
  • OCR (Optical Character Recognition) pipelines

Why teams hire me

Experience that converts pressure into shipped code.

Two decades building systems for startups, banks, and healthcare while integrating into teams without friction.

Experience that matters

Systems for regulated industries, rapid MVPs, and AI copilots that stand up to audits.

No onboarding drag

Drop into your repo, tools, and rituals. I keep commits, docs, and updates transparent.

Flexible contracts

Pay per sprint, stop anytime. No retainers unless you want one.

Clear communication

Founder-friendly language, direct status notes, and proactive risk calls.

How it works

Three steps. Zero fluff.

  1. 01

    Quick call

    We define what needs to be shipped or fixed.

  2. 02

    Estimate & plan

    You get a clear plan, no jargon.

  3. 03

    Delivery

    Code in your repo, invoices per sprint, no long-term lock-in.

FAQ

Straight answers before we start.

How fast can you get started?

Usually within a week. Short-term rescue missions get priority and use the reduced rate mentioned above.

What tools do you work with?

GitHub, Linear, Jira, Notion, Vercel, AWS, bespoke CI — I adapt to your existing stack instead of forcing a new one.

How do you bill?

Per sprint (weekly). You see work in your repo before invoices land, and you can pause anytime.

Do you lead teams or code hands-on?

Both. I can act as a fractional lead, pair with your team, or take on a solo build if speed matters most.

About me

Senior engineer, founder, partner.

I'm based in Poland and run 33coders, a small, independent studio built for speed, reliability, and honesty. I've spent nearly two decades leading teams, building data systems, and helping founders and CTOs deliver faster.

When you work with me, you get a senior engineer / CTO who thinks like a partner, not a contractor.

Damian, senior software architect

What I believe

  • Simple beats fancy. Good architecture is invisible.
  • Deadlines matter. Reliability is a feature.
  • Communication saves projects. I keep it direct, transparent, and human.

Journal

Recent writing

Visit the blog

Nov 4, 2025 · 12 min

Building a Production RAG

Architecture, chunking strategies, and the subtle science of context for production-grade retrieval systems.

Read article →

Jan 24, 2025 · 8 min

UBI and the Age of Automation

Can unconditional cash counter automation's ruthless pressure on workers?

Read article →

Jan 23, 2025 · 6 min

Stop Chasing Clients

Transform from overwhelmed generalist to sought-after specialist with strategic positioning.

Read article →

Let's get it done

Need a senior engineer who can start this week?

I join small teams, keep momentum high, and leave systems stronger than I found them. Let's discuss your needs and see how I can help.

Connect With Me

hello@33coders.com LinkedIn Profile

Tell Me About Your Ideas

Quick form or direct email — your choice.