Jose Gabriel Fontanilla

Mt Maunganui, NZ

Done right. Not just done fast.

Software builds, technical rescues, and fractional CTO support for growing businesses, plus brand and website work for founders who need to look credible fast — all from one senior person with thirteen years of production experience.

Currently taking new engagements

13+ years across NZ, Australia, the Philippines & the Middle East, in these industries

E-commerce & distribution BPO / enterprise intranet Education marketplace Recruitment tech People Presence SaaS Energy & utilities

The problem

The usual options don't fit a lean team.

Dev shops move slow and pad scope. Marketplace freelancers disappear mid-project. A full-time hire is a six-figure bet before you know what you need. There's a faster, more cost-effective way to get it right.

  • Dev shops quote big retainers and spend the first month in workshops before you see any code.
  • Marketplace freelancers disappear mid-project, and you're left debugging someone else's shortcuts.
  • A full-time senior hire is a six-figure commitment before you even know the shape of the problem.

Typical dev shop timeline

2-4 months

My Timeline

2-4 weeks

Cost of a full-time senior hire

$120k+/yr

My Fixed-scope work

From $2,500

Why work with me

I work with founders and SMBs who want things done right, with clarity and impact.

Fixed-scope pricing

Know the price and timeline before work starts. Work is always priced fairly, no scope creep.

Working software in stages

You see progress as it happens, not a single reveal at the end.

13+ years of production experience

Energy, workforce SaaS, recruitment, BPO, and e-commerce systems, still running.

Full handover, no lock-in

Documentation and your own repository from day one. No retainer required to keep it running. If you prefer, I can also host and fully manage your website/app—your choice, not your obligation.

Software and design, one point of contact

Build and brand work from the same person who understands both, not two vendors trading blame.

Direct access, no account manager

You're talking to the person doing the work, not a project coordinator relaying messages.

Why this works

Built to hold up, not just launch.

The same process every time, whether it's a two-day audit or a six-month rescue.

Say what's going on

A new build, a system nobody wants to touch, or just an idea. A message is enough to start.

Get a scoped answer

A fixed-scope quote or a retainer shape, with a real number, before anything starts.

See it built in stages

Working software or design shipped incrementally, visible to you as it happens.

Review and refine

Feedback folded in as you go, not saved up for one big reveal at the end.

Ship it

Live, documented, and handed over in full, in your own repository.

Ongoing help, if you want it

Advisory, maintenance, or new work as things grow. No obligation either way.

What I build

Services & specialties. Pick what fits.

Every engagement is scoped individually, but these come up the most.

Technical Audit & Due Diligence

A structured review of an existing codebase, architecture, and infrastructure before you commit budget to bigger work: what's fragile, what's fine, and what it would actually take to fix.

Legacy System Rescue

Untangling and modernizing ageing websites and web apps into maintainable, well-structured code, in stages, without a risky ground-up rewrite.

Enterprise Platform Integration

Bridging the gap between platform configuration and custom code across Salesforce, Sitecore, and Azure/MS Graph, including REST and SOAP APIs and geospatial data.

Custom Internal Tools

Purpose-built approval flows, ticketing, and intranet applications, shaped around how your team actually works rather than how off-the-shelf software assumes it works.

CI/CD & Deployment Setup

A properly scoped Docker Compose and CI/CD pipeline: build-once-promote-everywhere, SHA-tagged images, managed secrets, set up as a fixed-scope engagement.

Fractional CTO / Technical Advisory

Ongoing architecture and technology decisions on retainer: reviewing plans, unblocking a team, or being the senior technical voice in the room.

Brand & Website Design

A refreshed visual identity and homepage that actually reflects the product: colors, type, imagery, and a structure built to convert, not just look nice.

Product UI/UX Design

Interface design for the product itself, from wireframes to a polished, developer-ready design system, built by someone who also understands what it takes to ship it.

Investment

Simple, upfront pricing.

Two ways to work together. See the full breakdown, or start with the anchor that fits.

Web + creative design

Starting at $2,500

Most projects: $2,500–$5,000

Ships in 2-3 weeks

A refreshed brand and homepage that actually reflects the product, or a small multi-page site built to expand later.

Includes

  • Brand identity refresh (colors, type, imagery)
  • Homepage or small multi-page site
  • Conversion-focused structure, not a template
  • On-page SEO basics (fast, indexable, structured)
  • Copywriting & content pass, not just layout
  • Analytics & enquiry tracking setup
  • Product UI/UX design, if the engagement needs it

Software builds

Starting at $5,000

Most builds: $5,000–$12,000

Ships in 2-4 weeks

Fixed-scope audits, integrations, and internal tools. Exact price depends on scope, agreed upfront before work starts.

Includes

  • Technical audit & due diligence
  • Legacy system rescue & modernization
  • Enterprise platform integration (Salesforce, Sitecore, Azure)
  • Custom internal tools & workflows
  • CI/CD & deployment setup
  • Documentation & full handover

Hourly work

Starting at $60/hr

Typical scope: 5–20 hrs/month

Flexible support

Flexible, commitment‑free support if you're on a tight budget or only need targeted help. Perfect for advisory, small fixes, incremental improvements, or early‑stage work that doesn't require a full project. Every engagement is scoped individually, and the final rate reflects what's actually needed—nothing more.

Includes

  • Fractional CTO / technical advisory
  • Small fixes & incremental improvements
  • Ongoing maintenance & monitoring
  • Early-stage or exploratory work
  • Scoped to exactly what's needed, nothing more
See full pricing →

Common questions

Answered straight, before you ask.

Do you only fix legacy websites and apps, or build new things too?

Both. Legacy rescue is the strongest fit for the track record, but a good share of engagements are new internal tools, integrations, or CI/CD setups built from scratch.

Is this more cost-effective than hiring an agency?

Usually, because there's no account manager or bench to cover. You're working directly with the person writing the code, on a fixed-scope or retainer basis.

Do I own the code afterwards?

Yes. Whatever's built is handed over in full, in your own repository, with documentation for anyone who maintains it after me.

What if I don't know what's actually wrong, just that something's off?

That's what the audit is for. It's a structured look at the codebase and infrastructure to name the actual problem before spending on a fix.

Fixed price or retainer, how does that work?

Audits and legacy rescue work are usually fixed-scope. Advisory and ongoing support run on a monthly retainer. Either way, scope and cost are agreed before work starts.

Can you work alongside a team I already have?

Yes, that's common for the integration and advisory work in particular. Just as often, it's taking something over solo where there's no team yet.

Where are you based, and do you work outside New Zealand?

Based in Mt. Maunganui, NZ, and remote-first. Past work has spanned New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines.

How long does a typical audit take?

Usually one to two weeks depending on the size of the codebase, ending with a written report and a straight answer on what's next.

Do you do branding and design without any code involved?

Yes. A brand and website refresh can stand on its own, though most clients end up wanting the two connected since I can build what I design.

What about hosting and ongoing costs after launch?

Hosting can be handled as part of an ongoing arrangement if you want it, billed simply, with fixes and updates included. Nothing ongoing is required though. Full handover works just as well.

Will the site actually show up on Google?

The build itself covers the on-page basics: fast, indexable, structured properly. Ongoing SEO and local search work is available afterwards for anyone who wants to push further, but it's a separate, optional piece.

How long does a typical project take?

Depends on scope: a focused fix or small tool can land in a couple of weeks, a full rescue or build usually runs four to eight. The estimate at the end of scoping gives you a real number, not a placeholder.

Get in touch

A clear answer, fast.

No sales call needed to begin. Say what's going on and I'll reply with whether it's a quick fix, a bigger rescue, or something in between.

Get a quote