Josh DargieInfrastructure · Cloud · Software

Hire Josh

Six ways to work together.

Most engagements start small: a call, an assessment, a quote review. Some grow into a standing arrangement. None of them require you to buy anything from me afterwards.

Small businesses and property managers

Technology assessment

A plain-English review of your network, security, backups, hosting and software, with a prioritised list of what to fix, what to leave alone, and what it should cost.

  • Written report you can hand to any vendor
  • Prioritised fix list with rough costs
  • 60-minute walkthrough call
Fixed feeEnquire →
Anyone about to spend real money

Second opinion on a quote

Bring the quote you were given for cabling, cameras, a network, hosting, or a software build. I will tell you what is reasonable, what is padding, and what is missing.

  • Line-by-line review
  • Questions to take back to the vendor
  • A recommendation
HourlyEnquire →
Homeowners, builders, fit-out contractors

Build & renovation technology plan

Cabling, network, camera, access and automation plans drawn up before the drywall goes on, so nothing has to be surface-mounted later and any contractor can price from the same sheet.

  • Drop schedule and conduit plan
  • Equipment list by name
  • Coordination with your electrician
Fixed feeEnquire →
Growing businesses without a CTO

Fractional technology lead

A standing monthly engagement: I own the technology roadmap, manage your vendors, review what they deliver, and sit in the meetings you would rather not.

  • Monthly roadmap and vendor reviews
  • On-call for decisions
  • Quarterly budget and risk review
Monthly retainerEnquire →
Hosting companies, SaaS teams, agencies

Hosting & platform engineering

Fifteen years inside hosting companies, from platform architecture at GreenGeeks and A2 Hosting to running product and engineering at Kualo. Architecture reviews, automation, migrations, cPanel and WHM at scale, and team structure.

  • Architecture and capacity review
  • Automation and migration plans
  • Engineering team design
Project or retainerEnquire →
Businesses buying or building software

Software & integration advisory

Requirements, vendor selection, build-vs-buy, and oversight of a development team or agency so you get what you paid for. When it makes sense to build, I build it.

  • Requirements and scope document
  • Vendor or agency selection
  • Code and delivery review
Hourly or projectEnquire →

What it costs, roughly

Transparent by default. Exact numbers come after a short call, once I understand the size of the thing.

Hourly work (second opinions, short advisory calls, code reviews) is billed in 30-minute increments with no minimum beyond the first hour.

Fixed-fee work (assessments, build plans) is quoted up front and does not change unless the scope does, in writing.

Retainers (fractional technology lead, ongoing advisory) are monthly, with a defined number of hours and a 30-day notice period either way.

Travel within Ontario, Canada is included for on-site assessments. Remote work is welcome anywhere; most hosting and platform engagements have been with teams in the UK and US.

  • No resale, no referral fees, no vendor relationships that affect advice
  • Every engagement ends with a written document
  • Commercial general liability and E&O insurance
  • NDA on request, before the first call if you prefer

Start with a conversation

Thirty minutes, no charge, no pitch.

Tell me the problem. I'll tell you whether I'm the right person for it, and if not, who is.