Question 1

What does a senior software engineer and ML engineer do?

Accepted Answer

Mike builds production systems across fintech, healthcare, AI, and infrastructure. With 25+ years of experience, he architects scalable solutions, implements ML pipelines, and delivers working software that ships to production.

Question 2

How much does a senior software engineer cost in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Senior software engineer rates vary from $150-$500/hr depending on specialization. Mike's rate is $150/hr for hands-on engineering work and technical leadership. Most engagements start with a 90-minute paid discovery call to scope the work.

Question 3

How can AI reduce software development costs?

Accepted Answer

AI automation can handle code generation, testing, deployment, and documentation — tasks that consume 60-70% of engineering time. AI-powered pipelines let existing teams produce 5-10x more output without adding headcount, meaning faster time to market for startups and more output from existing teams at scale-ups.

Question 4

Do I need a full-time senior engineer or is contract work enough?

Accepted Answer

If you need specialized ML expertise, infrastructure scaling, or complex system architecture for a specific project, contract work is often the right call. You get 25+ years of hands-on experience without the $300k+ salary of a full-time hire.

Question 5

Can I build custom AI tools for my business without a technical team?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mike builds custom AI tools for businesses — document processing, automated workflows, intelligent knowledge bases, custom CRMs powered by AI. You own the source code, there's no vendor lock-in, and your team is trained to maintain it.

Question 6

How is hiring an AI consultant different from hiring a development agency?

Accepted Answer

Agencies give you a team of juniors with 3-5x markup and months of back-and-forth. A senior AI consultant offers direct communication, 25+ years of hands-on experience, and AI automation that matches agency speed at a fraction of the cost.

Question 7

How do I train my engineering team to use AI effectively?

Accepted Answer

Mike offers AI workshops ranging from half-day intensives to multi-week cohorts. Programs cover AI-powered development pipelines, automated testing and deployment, and system architecture — with custom curriculum built around your stack, codebase, and team skill level.

Question 8

Are you available for on-site engineering work?

Accepted Answer

Mike is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and available for on-site work and remote engineering roles anywhere in the US.

Michael O'Neal

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