Freelance AI & Software Architect
I help teams build AI and data-driven features that work in production — integrated into the software architecture as a coherent part of the product, not bolted on as prototypes. Getting this right requires the same thing that makes all good software: deeply understanding the problem before designing the solution. That clarity is what I bring, whether you're struggling with a new AI feature, a complex domain model, or a codebase that's become painful to work with.
The Challenge
- Promising machine learning (ML) models stall as prototypes and never make it into production.
- AI features get bolted on as an afterthought instead of being a coherent part of the product, confusing users and creating architectural headaches.
- AI agents are changing the game — both as coding tools and as features in products — but the team isn't set up to integrate them effectively, and the codebase isn't structured in a way that lets AI help rather than hallucinate.
- The code has become disconnected from the domain, so when a business process changes, no one knows what logic needs updating.
- Features take three times longer than they should because the codebase has become a maze of workarounds and accidental complexity.
A Better Way
I help your team avoid these pitfalls by bridging the gap between a complex domain and clean, maintainable software, with AI and data-driven components integrated where they genuinely add value:
- Immerse myself in your domain and data to understand the problem deeply, whether that's chemical processes, industrial systems, or another technically demanding field.
- Help shape product direction by identifying which problems are actually worth solving, what to prioritize, and where AI could be a real differentiator.
- Design AI and ML features as a coherent part of the product: well-integrated into the architecture, production-ready from the start, with data monitoring and retraining pipelines built in.
- Help your team adopt effective AI-assisted coding practices, from choosing the right coding agents to structuring code so these tools can help rather than hinder.
- Design software with the future in mind: agent-accessible interfaces, clean APIs, and validation layers so your product is ready for a world where AI agents are users too.
- Refactor existing codebases to remove accidental complexity so that adding new features and ML-components becomes straightforward.
- Work alongside your developers during implementation and coach your team to apply these practices independently — so they stay self-sufficient long after the engagement ends.
The outcome: AI features that deliver real value, integrated into software that's easy to understand, extend, and maintain, and a team that's equipped to keep the codebase that way.
What I Offer
I work with teams in a flexible, hands-on way — providing immediate value while setting them up for long-term success.
Core Offering: Embedded Consulting & Coaching
The main way I work is by joining your team part-time (typically 15–30h/week for 6–18 months, depending on the project). I support projects from design through implementation, shaping the architecture alongside your team, reviewing code, and refactoring where needed. The goal is always to leave your team stronger and more capable than I found them.
Entry Packages
- AI Feature Design Workshop
For teams starting a new ML or data-driven project — or evaluating whether AI is the right solution at all. We map out the problem space together, sharpen the product direction, and identify where AI and data-driven features genuinely add value (and where they don't). Optionally, we then sketch out a concrete technical approach — data requirements, model choices, and architecture — so your team leaves ready to start building. - AI System Audit & Refactoring Roadmap
For teams with ML or data-driven features stuck in prototype or causing pain in production. I review your codebase, data pipelines, and ML workflows to identify weaknesses in architecture, code quality, and maintainability. You receive a prioritized roadmap for refactoring and strengthening the system so it scales reliably into production and future features become easier to ship.
Why Me
- A combination that's genuinely rare: deep ML expertise (PhD, published research, open-source libraries) plus software architecture skills — so AI features get built right, not just built.
- 12+ years of bridging complex domains and clean software, from process industry (BASF & alcemy) to industrial automation (TRUMPF & ALPLA), giving me insight into the challenges of applying ML in real-world industrial and R&D contexts.
- Track record of taking ML projects from messy prototypes to production systems that deliver real-world impact.
- Proven results in taming accidental complexity: simplifying codebases and getting teams back to shipping features without headaches.
- Strong focus on knowledge transfer through pairing, code reviews, and training (50+ courses taught) so your team is set up for success after I leave.
Ready to Work Together?
Whether your team is starting a ML or data-driven project in a complex domain, struggling to move a prototype into production with a codebase that's become hard to maintain, or trying to figure out how to get ready for a future with AI agents — let's talk about what you're working on.
Send me an email at [email protected] and we'll figure out how I can help.