Josh Dawson
Fractional Tech Lead · Technical Architect
I look after the tech for non-technical founders and small teams: architecture, infrastructure, security and delivery.
Services
Fractional Tech Lead
For non-technical founders who need someone to own the tech. A few days a month covering architecture and infrastructure decisions, security, and keeping delivery on track.
AI-Built App Review
Built your app with AI tools like Cursor, Lovable or Bolt? A fixed-price review of what's risky (security, data exposure, architecture, scalability, hosting costs), what to fix first, and whether it will hold up as you grow. You get a written report and a walkthrough call.
Architecture Review
Facing a big technical call, such as rebuild or refactor, or how to set up your cloud? A focused review with a written recommendation.
Not sure which fits? Get in touch for a chat.
Get in touchExperience
- February 2026 - October 2026
Technical Lead
FreelanceLeading the end-to-end migration and modernisation of a legacy production platform onto a current, secure, and supportable stack. Working across the full system: database, caching, search, web server, and background processing.
- November 2025 - Present
Fractional Tech Lead · ethy
ContractSole technical owner of a live SaaS platform. Delivered its pivot to a vendor marketplace, served under the existing domain through a reverse proxy with SEO preserved, alongside ongoing maintenance, security upgrades and feature development.
- July 2025 - November 2025
Full Stack Developer
FreelanceCollaborated with a founder in the recruitment industry to design and deliver an AI-powered recruitment platform MVP. Defined the cloud architecture using IaC and developed the full stack solution, including REST APIs and a modern frontend application.
- April 2025 - May 2025
Software Development Coach · Skiller Whale
FreelanceDelivering coaching sessions on advanced TypeScript topics including generics, utility types, and function overloading.
- January 2025 - April 2025
Backend Developer · Valifi Ltd
FreelanceWorked with a UK FinTech startup on various ad-hoc tasks including expanding the automated testing suite to improve code reliability, and developing scheduled jobs to remove manual processes.
- May 2024 - Present
System Architect · Persona Dynamics
ContractOwn the backend and infrastructure for an early-stage AI startup whose platform turns research documents into AI personas that users can chat with. Designed and built the platform from scratch, and make the technical decisions behind it: architecture, hosting, security, running costs and choice of AI providers.
- March 2024 - October 2024
Technical Lead · BrandSeed
Part-timeOffering technical advice on a yet to be released AI-enhanced brand strategy tool.
- April 2022 - December 2023
Technical Architect · NBS
Full-timeProvided technical leadership for strategically important technical requirements through prototyping, de-risking, architectural designs and robust technical documentation.
- August 2021 - February 2022
Senior Software Engineer · Ultramed
Full-timeFirst software engineering hire at a fast paced MedTech start up. Introduced automated tests to untested codebases, helped introduce software development process and contributed to implementation and architecture of new hospital integration system.
- September 2016 - August 2021
Software Developer · NBS
Full-timeInstrumental in helping build new SaaS offering from the ground up. Involved from proof of concept phase, leading development of multiple features within a scrum team alongside mentoring junior members of the team.