Backend Development
Slow APIs, brittle integrations, or a codebase your team is afraid to touch? I build and fix backend systems that handle real production load and are easy for your team to maintain.
Learn more →Senior engineering help for your team — without the full-time overhead
I'm Robin Ward, an independent engineer with 15+ years building production systems. I work directly with your team on an hourly basis — no agency layers, no handoffs, no surprises.
What I Help With
I focus on four areas where senior experience makes the biggest difference.
DevOps & Infrastructure
Deployments shouldn't be scary. I set up CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, and cloud architecture so your team ships faster with fewer incidents.
Learn more →Database Architecture
Queries timing out? Data scattered across systems? I design, migrate, and optimize databases so your data works as hard as your team does.
Learn more →AI & Data Automation
Turn manual processes into automated pipelines. I build custom data workflows and ML integrations that actually fit your existing stack.
Learn more →Selected Work
Real results from real engagements. Details anonymized to protect client confidentiality.
Data Engineering
Enterprise Data Pipeline Overhaul
90% reduction in data discrepancies
Problem: A large enterprise client had critical data flowing between multiple systems with frequent mismatches, causing downstream reporting errors and hours of manual reconciliation each week.
Approach: Redesigned the data pipeline architecture with proper validation layers, automated reconciliation checks, and real-time monitoring. Built idempotent ETL processes that self-heal on failure.
Result: Data discrepancies dropped by 90%. The team reclaimed over 20 hours per week previously spent on manual fixes, and stakeholders regained trust in their reporting data.
Read the full case study →
DevOps
CI/CD Modernization for a Growing Team
70% faster developer onboarding
Problem: A mid-size engineering team had inconsistent build processes, manual deployments, and new hires took weeks to get their first code into production.
Approach: Implemented standardized CI/CD pipelines with Docker-based build environments, automated testing gates, and one-click deployments. Created developer onboarding scripts and documentation.
Result: New developers went from weeks to days for their first production deploy. Build failures dropped significantly, and the team shipped with confidence.
Read the full case study →
Backend Architecture
View all case studies →
Legacy System Modernization
3x improvement in API response times
Problem: An aging monolithic application was becoming a bottleneck — slow page loads, frequent outages during peak traffic, and a codebase that made feature development painfully slow.
Approach: Led a phased migration to a service-oriented architecture, starting with the highest-impact bottlenecks. Introduced caching layers, database query optimization, and horizontal scaling.
Result: API response times improved 3x, outages during peak traffic were eliminated, and the team was able to ship new features at twice the previous pace.
Read the full case study →About Robin
I'm a full-stack engineer and architect who has spent 15+ years in the trenches of enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and data engineering. Before starting Hexward, I spent 6 years as a Principal Solution Engineer at SAP, where I led architecture and delivery for complex enterprise systems.
I started Hexward because too many teams are stuck choosing between expensive agencies that delegate to juniors, or full-time hires they can't justify long-term. I give you direct access to senior-level experience, on your schedule, at a fair hourly rate.
- M.S. Computer Science & Software Engineering, Auburn University
- 6 years as Principal Solution Engineer at SAP
- 15+ years across enterprise software, cloud, and data engineering
- Deep expertise in Python, Django, Node.js, .NET, AWS, Azure, Docker, Terraform
Let's Talk
Tell me what you're working on and I'll respond within 24 hours with a clear next-step plan. No commitment, no sales pitch.
Email directly: robin.ward@hexward.com
Schedule a Free Consultation