Engineering leadership, built for your stage.
I help startups and growing companies ship better software, make confident architecture decisions, and scale their teams — without the cost of a full-time CTO.
Engineering experience across
What sets me apart
Most consultants specialize in one lane. I've spent 20+ years shipping software across industries, at scale, under pressure — and leading teams through all of it.
Built at real scale
From Disney+ streaming infrastructure serving millions to CNN's election night app handling 2M+ concurrent users — I know what production-ready actually means.
Cross-industry perspective
Media, aerospace, healthcare, enterprise consulting, e-commerce. That breadth means I bring patterns and solutions from worlds your competitors haven't thought to look in.
Engineer who leads
I've managed teams, set architectural standards, and driven hiring decisions — not just written code. I understand the human side of building software.
Trained to improvise
A background in jazz performance taught me to listen, adapt, and perform under pressure — skills that translate directly into leading teams and navigating ambiguous technical problems.
How I can help
Engagements are tailored to your needs — from ongoing monthly retainers to focused project sprints. No long-term lock-in required.
Fractional CTO
Ongoing senior technical leadership on a retainer basis. I attend key meetings, advise on roadmap and architecture, help with hiring decisions, and serve as your engineering anchor — without the full-time cost.
RetainerArchitecture & Codebase Audit
I assess your current stack, surface risks and bottlenecks, and deliver a clear prioritized roadmap. Whether you're scaling, modernizing, or drowning in technical debt — I'll tell you exactly what to do and in what order.
ProjectDesign System Build
I've built design systems from scratch at Disney+ and Aeroflow that accelerated entire engineering orgs. A great design system is one of the highest-leverage investments a growing product team can make.
Project / RetainerTeam Leadership & Standards
I help engineering teams level up — establishing coding standards, reviewing pull requests, mentoring mid-level developers, and creating the culture where good engineers want to stay.
RetainerTools I work with
Deep expertise in the modern JavaScript ecosystem, with full-stack range across frameworks, build tools, and infrastructure.
Frontend
Styling & Design Systems
Data & APIs
Tooling & Infrastructure
Where I've done it
A track record across industries and team sizes — from scrappy product teams to infrastructure powering some of the world's most-visited platforms.
Impact in numbers
Experience is one thing. Results are another.
The person behind the work
Hey — I'm Jay, founder of In Session Co. Senior engineer, team lead, and technical strategist based in Atlanta, GA, working with clients across the US.
Two decades of building software that actually ships — from Disney+ streaming infrastructure to CNN's election night app, from geospatial tools used in hurricane disaster response to healthcare e-commerce platforms. I've led teams, architected systems, and shipped products across more industries than most engineers see in a lifetime.
Jazz is still a huge part of my life — I hold a BA in Jazz Performance from UNC Asheville and I still play regularly. That background shows up in everything I do: I listen before I talk, I improvise under pressure, and I find creative solutions within real constraints. It shows up in every client engagement.
No fluff, no trend-chasing. I'll tell you what your codebase actually needs, help you build the right team, and make sure what you ship is something you're proud of years from now.
Currently
Open to new consulting engagements — retainer and project-based. Based in Atlanta, GA, working fully remote.
Core Expertise
React ecosystem · Design Systems · Front-end Architecture · Team Leadership · GraphQL · Technical Strategy
Education
BS, Information Technology — University of Phoenix BA, Jazz Performance — UNC Asheville
Ideal Clients
Startups scaling their first real engineering team. Mid-size companies with technical debt and no clear owner. Product companies that need senior leadership without the full-time hire.
How we work together
Simple, low-overhead, and focused on delivering real value from day one.
Discovery Call
30 minutes. I listen, ask questions, and get a real picture of where you are and what you need. No sales pitch.
Scoped Proposal
I put together a clear engagement structure — scope, timeline, and pricing. Retainer, project, or audit format.
Fast Start
I embed with your team quickly. No long ramp-up. I've seen enough codebases and teams to get up to speed fast.
Ongoing or Exit
Most clients stick around because it works. But I'm also happy to hand off cleanly when the job is done. No lock-in.
What people say
Feedback from colleagues, clients, and teams I've led.
“Jay brought clarity to a codebase that had grown beyond our team's ability to reason about. Within two months he'd restructured our architecture and our engineers were shipping twice as fast.
“We needed someone who could talk to the board about technology decisions and then sit with engineers to make them happen. Jay did both seamlessly.
“The design system Jay built became the foundation of everything our team shipped for the next three years. We still use it today.
Ready to build something great?
Whether you're pre-product, scaling fast, or tangled in tech debt — let's spend 30 minutes figuring out if I can help.