Senior AI engineering, embedded in your team.
I work inside your team, or your client delivery, on agent development, AI integration, or a defined backlog. Part-time, scoped as a project or billed hourly.
| Good for | Enterprise backlogs and agency delivery |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $200 / hour USD |
| Commitment | Part-time, with a weekly hour cap |
| First step | A short brief by email. Free. |
Contract AI engineering, by the hour.
Senior engineering for agent development, AI integration, or a defined delivery backlog, working within your codebase, tooling, and review process. Every engagement is led by me, Roman Sanchez, through Sumo Labs.
Part-time. Available hours and a start date are confirmed before kickoff. Qualification over email is free.
What the work involves
A forward deployed engineer connects problem discovery with implementation. The model fits work that needs direct access to stakeholders, fast feedback loops, and close collaboration with an existing team.
- Observe the workflow and translate stakeholder needs into a buildable scope.
- Work in your codebase, systems, and delivery process.
- Build agent features, tool integrations, APIs, and supporting interfaces.
- Review real usage with your team, iterate, and document the handover.
When it helps
Your team has an AI backlog that needs senior implementation, or your agency needs engineering support on a client delivery, and part-time capacity fits the plan.
A typical project
An agency has designed an assistant for its client and needs it connected to the client’s internal APIs. I join the existing delivery process, implement the integration, add evaluation cases, and document the handover.
What you get
| Deliverable | What it includes |
|---|---|
| A shared delivery scope | A clear problem statement, agreed priorities, and review points that fit how your team works. |
| Hands-on engineering | Implementation and integration work, reviewed with your team under your delivery practices. |
| Continuity after delivery | Documentation, walkthroughs, and ownership notes for the people operating and maintaining the system. |
Questions
Can you work with our in-house engineers?
Yes. Code review, access, documentation, and delivery practices are agreed so the work fits your team. I can also work directly with a business stakeholder when there’s no internal engineering team.
Can an agency bring you into a client engagement?
Yes. Client contact, code review, confidentiality, and delivery responsibilities are agreed before work begins, and the engagement can sit within your existing project process.
How are hourly engagements managed?
Before kickoff we agree on priorities, available hours, meeting windows, a weekly hour cap, and billing cadence. Engineering, agreed research, and working meetings are tracked as delivery time. Additional hours require approval. Third-party tools, cloud usage, and travel are agreed separately.
Is an assessment required before hourly work?
No. A defined backlog can move from email qualification straight to a written hourly agreement. An exploratory call before an agreement uses the paid consultation; its credit applies to the optional workflow assessment, and hourly delivery is billed separately.