About
The technical partner startups need at their earliest stages
I'm Jose, a software engineer and engineering leader who spent over a decade building products and scaling teams in the iGaming industry — one of the most regulated, high-stakes, and technically demanding sectors out there. I've held CTO and Head of Engineering roles at companies shipping software at massive scale under strict compliance. Now I bring that same rigor to early-stage startups, augmented by AI tools that multiply what a small team can deliver.
My Journey
Software Engineer
Started building web applications and backend systems, learning the fundamentals of scalable software from the ground up.
Engineering Lead
Moved into technical leadership in the iGaming industry, leading teams building high-throughput, regulated platforms.
CTO & Head of Engineering
Held CTO and Head of Engineering roles in the iGaming industry, scaling teams and shipping products in one of the most demanding regulated sectors.
Jerna Digital
Founded Jerna Digital to help early-stage startups build their technical foundations right — with AI-augmented workflows from day one.
My Approach
I've been the engineer, the tech lead, the engineering manager, the head of engineering and the CTO. I know what it's like at every level, and I bring that full-stack perspective to every engagement.
Strategic, Then Tactical
I start with the big picture — architecture, strategy, priorities — then get into the details through reviews and guidance.
AI as a Force Multiplier
I use AI agents daily to multiply output — and I teach your team to do the same.
Transfer Everything
My goal is to make myself unnecessary. Every process, decision, and pattern gets documented and handed over.
Startup-Stage Pragmatism
Perfect is the enemy of shipped. I optimize for what moves the needle now, not what looks good in a design doc.
Values
Need a technical partner for your startup?
Drop me a message — no pitch deck required. Let's figure out if I can help.