Freelance Full-Stack Developer for US and European Startups
I work remotely with founders and product teams across the United States, the UK and Europe. With 7+ years of full-stack experience and delivery for enterprise clients like JLL, Cushman & Wakefield and KPMG, I bring senior-level engineering to startups that don't need or can't yet afford a full in-house team.
What you can hire me for
SaaS product development
End-to-end builds of subscription products, from architecture and billing to deployment.
MVP development
A focused first release built in 8 to 16 weeks.
AI integration
Add LLM-powered features to a new or existing product.
Cloud architecture
AWS infrastructure, microservices, CI/CD and performance tuning.
Technical consulting and audits
An independent review of your architecture, codebase or hiring plan.
Team augmentation
Embed with your team as a senior engineer for a defined period.
Results from past projects
freelancer status on Upwork
performance gain on a real estate transaction platform used by JLL and Cushman & Wakefield
on a CRM serving 2M+ users
report generation on a financial compliance platform for KPMG
operational costs delivered for NanoByte Technologies
Technologies I use
- React
- Next.js
- TypeScript
- Node.js
- Laravel
- PostgreSQL
- AWS
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- Supabase
Who this is for
- US startups that want senior engineering without a full-time salary
- UK and EU startups that need a hands-on technical partner
- Agencies that need a reliable senior contractor
- Founders replacing an unreliable developer or agency
How I work
- Step 1
Intro call
A free 30-minute call, scheduled at a time that suits your time zone.
- Step 2
Written proposal
Scope, milestones, timeline and price in writing.
- Step 3
Async-first delivery
Clear written updates, weekly demos and scheduled overlap calls.
- Step 4
Handover or retainer
Clean documentation and either a handover or ongoing support.
What is a freelance full-stack developer?
A full-stack developer works on both sides of a web product: the interface people see and the server, database and infrastructure behind it. A freelance full-stack developer does this as an independent contractor, so you get one accountable engineer instead of coordinating a frontend specialist, a backend specialist and a project manager.
Types of full-stack developer you can hire
The label covers several different profiles, so it helps to know which one you need.
- Product-focused: strong on user experience and shipping features quickly, ideal for MVPs.
- Backend-leaning: strongest on data, APIs and performance, ideal for data-heavy products.
- Frontend-leaning: strongest on interfaces and design systems.
- Architect-level: able to design systems, review other engineers' work and act as a fractional technical lead.
How to define your project before you hire
A short written brief saves days of back and forth. Describe the problem, the users, the three features that must exist at launch, any existing code or designs, and the date you need to launch by.
If you are unsure about scope, say so. A good freelancer will ask questions and help you narrow it down instead of quoting blindly.
Skills to look for in a full-stack developer
- Depth in at least one frontend framework such as React, and one backend such as Node.js or Laravel.
- Database design, including PostgreSQL or a similar relational database.
- Cloud and deployment experience on AWS or a managed platform.
- Security basics: authentication, authorisation and safe handling of user data.
- Clear written communication, which matters more than usual when working remotely.
- A record of shipped products, ideally with measurable results.
Working across time zones
Remote work with US and European teams works best when it is async-first: written updates, recorded demos and a fixed weekly call. Agree the overlap window at the start, decide how quickly messages get answered, and make sure someone owns each decision.
Tell me your working hours on the intro call, and we will set a schedule that suits your team.
Common mistakes when hiring a freelance developer
- Choosing on hourly rate alone, without checking what the rate delivers.
- Starting without a defined scope or a definition of done.
- No written agreement on ownership, payment milestones and handover.
- Skipping a paid trial or small first milestone to test the working relationship.
- Leaving all knowledge with one person and no documentation.
Freelancer, agency or full-time hire
A general comparison for a small product team.
| Freelancer | Agency | Full-time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Days to weeks | Weeks | Months |
| Commitment | Flexible | Contract | Long-term |
| Overhead | Low | Higher | Salary, benefits, equipment |
| Best for | Defined builds, audits, senior support | Large multi-discipline projects | Continuous product work |
Where I work with clients
I work remotely with startups and product teams in these regions. If yours is not listed, ask, since the work is done remotely.
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Germany
- Netherlands
- France
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Poland
What clients say
Feedback from 5-star projects on my Upwork profile.
“Outstanding experience working with Zagham on our SaaS platform. He understood the requirements immediately, executed the build flawlessly, and handled edge cases with great problem-solving skills. Fast turnaround, great communication, and top-tier code quality. 10/10 developer.”
“Really happy with the updates. New features were added to our e-commerce site exactly as requested, with great communication throughout the project.”
“Love working with Zagham as always!”
“Very responsive and quick to get things done.”
“Very responsive. Quick and efficient with his work.”
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with clients in Europe as well as the US?
Yes. I work remotely with teams in the US, the UK and across Europe. We agree call windows that suit both sides, and day-to-day work is async-first.
How do you handle time zone differences?
Written updates, recorded demos and a weekly call at an agreed time. Tell me your working hours and I will schedule overlap around them.
Can you work under an NDA?
Yes. I am happy to sign an NDA before we discuss your product in detail.
How do you invoice and get paid?
We agree terms in the proposal. Milestone-based or monthly invoicing are both possible.
What size of project do you take on?
From short audits and single features to full MVP builds and multi-month retainers.
How do we start?
Book a free 30-minute call or email me a short brief, and I will reply with next steps.
How much does a freelance full-stack developer cost?
Rates vary widely by experience and region, and published market figures for senior full-stack freelancers commonly run from about $70 to $150 per hour. Many projects are better priced per project than per hour. A lean SaaS MVP typically costs $15,000 to $60,000. A written scope gives you a firm number.
Freelancer or agency: which is better for a startup?
A senior freelancer usually costs less and gives you direct access to the engineer. An agency helps when you need design, QA and several developers working in parallel.
Do you work with GDPR requirements for European clients?
I can build with GDPR in mind, including consent handling, data minimisation and clear data storage decisions. For legal advice you would still need your own counsel.
What happens if the project needs more work than planned?
Scope changes are written down, estimated and agreed before any extra work starts, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Can you work with my existing team?
Yes. I can join your standups, use your tools and code review process, and act as a senior engineer alongside your team for a defined period.
Tell me about your project
Book a free call or send a short brief. I reply within one business day.