Zeljko Savic
Senior Software Engineer & Contractor
Zeljko Savic
Senior Software Engineer & Contractor
Co-founder and engineering lead of a startup acquired by TripAdvisor, one of the highlights of 15+ years building and shipping software across startups and larger organizations, both as an engineer and in leadership roles including CTO. Open for new work.
Engagement Types
Senior Contract Developer
A senior engineer embedded in your team, writing production code, reviewing PRs, and making architecture calls from week one.
What you get
- Production code shipped: features, fixes, refactors
- PRs reviewed with senior-level feedback and clear rationale
- Architecture and API design decisions handled end-to-end
- Full-stack (React, Node.js, TypeScript) or backend depth (PostgreSQL, AWS)
- Flexible: individual contributor or tech lead, your call
- AI-assisted workflows across the full cycle: planning, implementation, and code review
- Duration
- 3 – 12 months
- Commitment
- 3 – 5 days / week
- Start
- 2 – 4 weeks
- Rate
- From €140/h
Good fit if
- You need features shipped, not just advice
- Covering a senior hire gap without committing to permanent headcount
- Moving faster on a specific product workstream
- Adding full-stack or backend depth to your existing team
Fractional CTO
- Duration
- 2 – 6 months
- Commitment
- 1 – 3 days / week
- Start
- 2 weeks
- Rate
- From €200/h
I step in as acting CTO for founders who don't have a technical co-founder yet or need someone senior to make architecture calls, hire the first engineers, and talk to investors.
- Early-stage founders without a technical co-founder
- Teams preparing for a funding round
- Companies where the tech lead could use a sparring partner
- Startups getting their technical story ready for investors
Technical Due Diligence
- Duration
- 1 – 2 weeks
- Commitment
- Project-based
- Start
- Available immediately
- Rate
- From €300/h
I go through a startup's code, architecture, and team setup, then write a report with specific findings and risk ratings. Investors use it for due diligence, acquirers use it to understand what they're buying.
- VCs and angels before signing a term sheet
- Law firms handling M&A with a tech component
- Companies evaluating an acquisition target
- PE firms checking portfolio company tech health
Good Fit / Not a Fit
Good fit
- You need someone who can write code, not just give advice
- You want someone technology-agnostic who can support you wherever the project takes it
- You're building something with real-time or high-availability requirements
- You want someone who's been through startup scaling before
- Your team is small and needs a senior person who can lead and ship
Probably not a fit
- You need a pure frontend/design person
- The project is primarily WordPress, Shopify, or no-code
- Budget is below market rate for senior contractors in DACH
- The engagement is less than 4 weeks
How I Work
Quick to get going
I'll read the codebase, ask questions, and figure out how your team works before touching anything.
Written updates, less meetings
I prefer async communication and PR-based collaboration. Happy to join standups and syncs when it makes sense.
Domain depth where it matters
Hands-on background in fintech, energy trading, and marketplaces. I understand the business context, not just the code.
Simple contract terms
Time & materials or fixed scope. Bi-weekly invoicing. Four weeks notice if either side wants to change things.
Technical Skills
Get in Touch
Contact directly
For contract enquiries, role briefs, or TDD scoping: email or a quick call works best. I respond within 24 hours on business days. NDA signed before any detailed discussion.
Schedule a call or download CV
Book a free 30-minute intro call to discuss fit, timeline, and scope. CV available as PDF for ATS or submission workflows.