Work with me

I'm a freelance software engineer. I've been building web apps that last since 2001. I'm still working with clients who emailed me back in 2007.

I help solopreneurs turn their ideas into software. I help agencies deliver reliable, high quality software on time and on budget without hand holding. I help small teams move faster, solve hard problems, and become more self-reliant for the long term.

I'm currently available to take on one or two new clients.

What's it like working with me?

Right from the beginning, you'll have very clear and responsive communication from me over email. You'll receive an email from me at least once a week, if not more often, outlining the progress that's been made and what I'll be working on next. I can manage myself, so you won't need standing meetings with me to ensure I stay on task. I work with a small number of clients at any given time, which allows me to make steady progress on every project, every week.

I can recognize when a technical decision becomes a business decision. If any questions come up or decisions need to be made that I can't answer on my own, I'll outline the business trade-offs so you can make a well informed choice.

I take full responsibility for any project I work on. I'll push back when I think there are simpler or cheaper alternatives available, because I want what's best for your project and your business. Too often I've seen other well-intentioned developers nod along with their managers against their instincts, only to watch the project fail.

Any code I write, any systems I build, are constructed with the next developers in mind. I'm creating software that you will own outright, with or without my involvement. I've helped companies hire full-time developers to replace me, and I'm always planning for a clear and smooth hand-off. Even still, many clients choose to continue working with me over the long term.

By hiring me, you're investing in your software, and I take that seriously. I won't be vibe coding your project. I develop maintenance-friendly software, with cost effective infrastructure and a secure and stable architecture. I use AI to increase the quality of my work by checking for mistakes and suggesting improvements. I write almost all the code I ship, moving carefully and thoughtfully, and any AI-generated code is reviewed and tested. I care a lot about the software I produce, something an LLM will never do.

Here's what two of my clients had to say, nearly two decades apart:

Jesse Skinner is a top-notch developer, bringing his neverending Ajax expertise to every project. He understands requirements quickly and produces results that go above and beyond expectations. His code is tight and works seamlessly within the framework of our existing application. I highly recommend Jesse Skinner and will definitely use him again for future projects.

— Jennifer Moss, BabyNames.com, October 2007

I’ve worked closely with Jesse over the last six years on a variety of projects for Periscopic—a socially-conscious data visualization agency. He is extremely intelligent and a highly skilled developer with excellent technical abilities and decision-making.

Not only can Jesse create amazing applications from the ground up, but he can also onboard and come up to speed on complex legacy codebases quickly and efficiently. He has a strong instinct for knowing when code truly needs to be rewritten versus when it’s advantageous to work within existing systems. His approach is extremely thoughtful, his documentation is articulate, and his code is highly modular and extensible—enabling the applications he builds to grow effortlessly over time.

In addition to his technical strengths, Jesse is an extremely good human—kind, understanding, and personable. He’s such a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend him to any team looking for technical craftsmanship, leadership, and collaboration.

— Teiler Kwan, Periscopic Inc., February 2026

What's next?

Send me a message below and we can discuss your needs and ideas, over email or a call, and see whether we're a good fit for each other.

If you already have software,

For complex systems, I usually start with a $5,000 USD two-week discovery phase.
I'll dig through all the existing code and infrastructure, and learn everything I can to fully understand the system.
You'll receive options and a plan for next steps with specific pricing and timing.
Whether you continue working with me or not, you'll have a clear path forward.

If you're starting fresh,

I'll propose a simple first step with a fixed fee, something we can complete in a couple of weeks.
Like software, trust takes time to develop, and I want to demonstrate why you can trust me with your software and business.
You'll get a sense of how I work and the value I can deliver.
You'll receive the work I've completed, and can choose to have me continue, or to pass that on to someone else.

If you need work done for your client,

I'll provide you with a fixed quote and a firm timeline, so you can add your markup and buffer and make a promise to your client you'll be able to keep.
I offer flexible scope, so small changes to the details of the project won't need you to ask your clients to increase the budget.
I'm happy to work directly with your clients, and I'm happy if they don't know I exist at all, whatever works best for you and your business.
You'll be able to focus your management efforts on other projects, because you won't have to nag me to make progress or chase me down for an update.