Product Engineer

I build things that actually ship.

Product Engineer with 20+ years of experience turning ideas into working products. I help teams move faster and clients launch smarter… but let's be honest: That's just marketing speak. I do the thing. I ship the thing. You're happy, I'm happy. Everyone's happy.

Work with me → $ read my thoughts
~ ssh stubbs.sh

# alex stubbs — product engineer

name:      Alex Stubbs
role:      Product Engineer
since:     1997
focus:     ideas → products
status:    open to work
location:  Atlanta, remote ✓

~ 'irc' to chat with me · 'help' for games & fun
20+
yrs experience
'97
hacking since
100+
things built
Alex Stubbs
  • TypeScript
  • React
  • Node.js
  • Next.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • Linux
  • HTML/CSS
  • A11y
  • Python
  • Docker
  • AWS
  • REST/GraphQL
  • AI/ML Integration

About

You don't need more developers. You need the right one.

Good judgment is the rarest thing in software. I've shipped complex web applications for government agencies, enterprise brands you've definitely heard of, and startups worth caring about. I also founded a digital agency along the way.

I've been building for the web since 1997 - starting on a 486 with Windows 3.1 and a notebook full of hand-written table-based HTML to transcribe into CGI web editors, ending up leading development on products used by millions.

Most technical problems aren't technical. I've learned to tell the difference. In 27 years I've seen the same patterns repeat - teams that execute perfectly on the wrong thing, and good ideas that die somewhere between the whiteboard and the sprint board. Wherever a project is, I help make sure the right thing gets built.

I'm currently employed full-time and selectively available for freelance work. If you have something genuinely interesting, let's talk.

Work with me

What I can build for you.

I take on a small number of freelance projects at a time - so the work actually gets my full attention. Here's where I tend to add the most value.

🚀
MVP & Product Launches

Got an idea and need it live? I'll help you scope it, build it, and ship it - without overengineering it. Fast cycles, real feedback.

  • Scope & spec
  • Full-stack build
  • Launch support
🎨
Front-End Engineering

Pixel-perfect, performant, accessible. I care about how things feel to use - not just how they look in a design file.

  • React / Astro
  • Performance
  • Accessibility
🔌
Integrations & APIs

Third-party APIs, internal tools, data pipelines, webhooks - the connective tissue that makes products actually work in the real world.

  • REST / GraphQL
  • Auth & security
  • Serverless
🧠
Technical Advisory

Not sure if your architecture makes sense? Want a second opinion on a tech decision? I offer focused advisory sessions for founders and small teams.

  • Architecture review
  • Code audit
  • Hiring help
🤖
AI Team Bootstrap

Get your team up to speed with AI-assisted development. I'll set up tooling, workflows, and practices so your engineers ship faster -without losing code quality.

  • AI dev tooling
  • Workflow setup
  • Team training
🔧
Legacy Rescue

Inherited a codebase that scares everyone? I'll untangle the tech debt, migrate off outdated frameworks, and get things back to a place where shipping feels safe again.

  • Refactoring
  • Framework migration
  • Tech debt
Let's talk about your project →

Writing

Interesting finds & half-formed thoughts.

All posts →
01 Interesting Finds: CSS Hell, Nintendo Wii Hacking, and Retro Desktop Environments May 2025

Stay in the loop

No spam. Just interesting things I find on the internet.

Contact

Let's figure out if we're a fit.

I'm selective about freelance work - which means when I take something on, it gets my full attention. If you have an interesting project, I'd love to hear about it.

✉ hialex@duck.com in linkedin.com/in/alexanderstubbs gh github.com/alexjstubbs

What are you working on?