15+
Years vetting PH engineering talent
150+
Platforms shipped with PH-based teams
$25/hr
Starting rate for senior engineers
Why companies build their remote team in the Philippines
60–70% cost savings vs US, AU, or CA engineering rates
A senior full-stack engineer in the Philippines runs $25–50/hr direct hire. The same profile in the US costs $120–180/hr. The Philippines quality gap that existed in 2010 is gone — the rate gap is still very real.
Real US, AU, and CA timezone overlap
Manila (UTC+8) gives genuine morning overlap with AU/NZ and a workable evening block for US/CA standups. Engineers on my bench are used to async-first with synchronous checkpoints — not "we will catch up tomorrow."
English-first culture, not translated
Filipino engineers are educated in English, document in English, and handle client calls in English without a layer of translation overhead. This matters more than most clients realize until they experience the alternative.
A practitioner-led team, not a staffing list
You do not get a list of CVs and a good-luck email. I vet each engineer personally, review their first PR, set the architecture standards, and run monthly technical health checks. You have a fractional CTO embedded in the team, not just warm bodies.
What this engagement covers
- Team composition design — right roles, right seniority for your product stage and budget
- Individual engineer vetting — technical screen, code sample review, culture-fit session
- Embedded CTO oversight — architecture reviews, code quality gates, sprint retrospectives
- Full-stack teams (React + Node.js / Laravel + MySQL / PostgreSQL)
- Mobile engineering (React Native, Flutter — iOS and Android)
- DevOps and cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure, Docker, CI/CD pipelines)
- QA engineering — test planning, automation setup, regression coverage
- Team scale-up and ramp-down — flexible contracts without agency exit fees
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to stand up a remote development team from the Philippines?
For a team of 2–4 engineers: 2–4 weeks from intro call to first commit. That includes: role scoping (week 1), vetting and selection (week 1–2), onboarding and repo access (week 2–3), first sprint (week 3–4). Larger teams or highly specialized roles (ML, blockchain, embedded) take 4–6 weeks.
What is the difference between a remote development team and a staffing agency?
A staffing agency fills seats. I build teams. The difference: I stay involved after placement — architecture reviews, PR sign-offs, sprint health checks, team culture — not just invoicing and moving on. If an engineer is underperforming I replace them, not just notify you.
Can you build a remote development team for an Australian startup specifically?
Yes, and it is one of the most common engagements. Manila–Sydney is only 2 hours apart (UTC+8 vs UTC+11 AEDT). Teams are built with AU standups and sprint rhythms in mind. I have delivered for AU startups, SMBs, and enterprise digital transformation projects across fintech, retail, logistics, and healthcare.
What tech stacks does your Philippines engineering bench cover?
Front-end: React, Vue, Next.js, TypeScript. Back-end: Node.js, Laravel (PHP), Django (Python), Rails (Ruby), Go. Mobile: React Native, Flutter. Data: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis. Cloud: AWS, GCP, Azure. DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI.
How do contracts work — direct with the engineers or through you?
Either model works. For most clients: MSA + SOW with my entity, I subcontract the engineers (cleaner for AU/US legal and invoicing). For clients who prefer direct hire after a trial period, I facilitate the transition. Either way, you are not paying an agency markup — my margin is in the CTO oversight layer, not headcount inflation.
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