WordPress, built like real software.
I'm César — a senior WordPress developer who helps agencies and startups build things that actually work. Clean code, real engineering, and zero hand-holding required.
// Register custom Gutenberg block
add_action( 'init', function() {
register_block_type(
__DIR__ . '/blocks/card',
[
'render_callback' =>
__NAMESPACE__ . '\\render',
'supports' => [
'align' => ['wide', 'full'],
'color' => ['background' => true],
],
]
);
} );Most WordPress projects don't fail because of WordPress.
They fail because the wrong people are writing the code. After a decade of rescuing builds I see the same three patterns again and again.
Templates fight your brand
You bought a premium theme thinking it would save time. Now you're fighting it. Every change requires a workaround and your site looks like a thousand others.
Plugins stacked on plugins
Page builders, sliders, popups, form tools — each one adds weight, introduces conflicts, and quietly slows your site. Nobody owns the stack. Nobody maintains it.
Nobody owns the engineering
Onboarding ends and nobody's home. Something breaks, nobody knows why. Something needs changing, costs triple what it should. You're stuck with code nobody can explain.
Sound familiar? Let's talk about your project →
A predictable process, not a black box.
Using the discipline of a software engineering team to projects that have only ever had freelancers. You always know what's happening and why.
Understanding your business
Before writing a single line of code, we talk through what your business actually needs. What's the real goal? What's worked before? What hasn't? I ask the uncomfortable questions so we don't build the wrong thing.
Blocks & data model
Custom Gutenberg blocks and types built for YOUR content, not a generic starter — patterns, reusable components, and a genuinely usable CMS for editors.
Built so your team can own it
The code I write doesn't require me to maintain it forever. It's structured, logical, and documented — so your in-house team, your next developer, or your agency partner can pick it up without starting from scratch.
Documented code & post-launch support
Every project ships with documentation — what was built, why, and how to extend it. I stay available for 30 days after launch to handle anything unexpected. You'll never be handed code and left to figure it out alone.
Five ways I help.
Every engagement is custom-scoped, but the work tends to fall into one of these bundles.
Custom WordPress Theme Development
Bespoke themes built from scratch on the block editor — responsive, fast, and accessible. Built on solid starters (Sage, Tonik) with clean architecture your team won't hate inheriting. No page builders, no bloat.
WordPress Consulting & Code Review
Already have a site but something feels off? I audit your codebase, identify the real problems, and give you an actionable plan — or fix it myself. Architecture review, performance diagnosis, security audit.
WordPress Speed Optimization
Slow WordPress sites lose visitors and rank lower on Google. I've achieved 50%+ speed improvements on legacy codebases — through proper caching, asset optimization, code refactoring, and server configuration. You get a faster site, not just a report.
WooCommerce Development & Integrations
WooCommerce extensions, custom checkout flows, payment integrations, subscription logic. I've connected WordPress to Acumatica ERP, Salesforce, LeadConduit, and more.
Custom WordPress Plugin Development
Custom WordPress plugins built to solve specific business problems. Workflow automation, API integrations, complex admin tools. No off-the-shelf shortcuts.
Need something specific? Tell me what you're building →
Things I've shipped.
A featured SaaS product I've built, plus two open-source plugins used in production by the WordPress community.
NextTurn
Built solo from zero: product design, Laravel backend, system architecture, multi-language support, and Paddle payments integration. Live product with active subscribers. This isn't a client project — it's a product I own and operate.
nextturn.ioBeaver Builder Carousel
Highly customizable carousel for Beaver Builder powered by Slick Carousel — fully responsive with breakpoint configuration and support for custom HTML items.
View on WordPress.orgBeaver Builder Module Creator
Create custom Beaver Builder modules by defining fields and front-end structure — no boilerplate needed. Includes a ready-to-use example module.
View on WordPress.orgA decade of evidence.
Every number here comes from real client work. No inflated estimates, no agency markup.
The kind word from people I've worked with.
I started working with Cesar back in February of 2019 and found out quickly that he knows his craft well. He has a vast knowledge of WordPress and a deep understanding of HTML, CSS, and Javascript. What stands out the most for me is his attention to detail. As a designer I would spend time on the important details of my work, and Cesar would make sure to precisely translate those details. His attention to detail cut out the back and forth of many comments and updates saving countless hours of time. He would produce sites that were both accurate and beautiful all while working quickly and within budget. What is great here is that I never had to explicitly ask him to do any of this.
No is not in Cesar's vocabulary. He will research the task, learn the business objectives and execute a solution. Dedicated and determined, I look forward to working with Cesar for years to come.
Cesar is brilliant, extremely hard working and a really nice guy! He is great with details, has a ton of skill and thinks on his feet — I highly recommend you get in touch with him!
Having had the privilege to work alongside Cesar for the past four years, I can confidently attest to his unparalleled expertise as a Senior WordPress Developer. His deep understanding of the WordPress ecosystem, combined with his innovative problem-solving skills, has consistently driven our projects to success. His attention to detail, commitment to best practices, and ability to translate complex requirements into elegant solutions are truly exceptional. Any organization would be fortunate to benefit from Cesar's technical prowess and professional dedication. Candidly, we were sad to lose him!
I had the good luck of working with Cesar on a complex project, with lots of moving parts and tight deadlines. Not only his technical skills are great, but he was also thinking outside the box, in order to make things move forward and help the team deliver. Amazing collaboration and an awesome team mate!!
César is the best WordPress Developer I've worked with. He's very smart and is able to figure things out on his own. He does not take a step back when challenges come César's way. Trust and Loyalty are a couple of his traits.
Fair question — and one worth asking any developer before you hire them. I have an active, verified profile on Toptal, where less than 3% of applicants pass the vetting process. That profile includes my work history, client feedback, and a track record you can review independently before we even speak. If you still have doubts, a short intro call is enough to verify I'm a real person who knows what they're talking about — and to decide whether we're a good fit. I'd rather you feel confident before we start than uncertain after.
WordPress is my core — but custom WordPress development means writing real code. PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, CSS, REST APIs. I'm not configuring plugins; I'm engineering solutions from scratch. That foundation means I can take on projects that go beyond WordPress when the situation calls for it — Laravel backends, custom PHP systems, API integrations with external platforms. I've done it. I just won't tell you I can build anything. What I can tell you is that if your project is rooted in WordPress or PHP, I can handle more than most developers you'll talk to.
Mostly marketing agencies that need a senior developer they can trust with complex work — someone who doesn't need hand-holding and won't disappear. And startups that need something built properly the first time, not patched together and rebuilt six months later. If you have a real problem that needs real engineering, we'll probably work well together.
Yes — and at a deeper level than most. I've built custom modules and extensions for Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder, not just used them. I know how they work under the hood. That said, for new projects I consistently recommend building with native Gutenberg and custom blocks instead. It's faster, lighter, doesn't add third-party dependencies that can break or disappear, and produces code that any developer can maintain. I'll always walk you through the tradeoffs — but that's usually my recommendation.
Both. I work from Figma files, design systems, or rough wireframes. If you don't have designs yet, I can help you find the right designer or work from functional wireframes to get started. I don't need everything perfect to begin — just clear on what the goal is.
You own it completely. Everything ships with documentation covering what was built and how to extend it. Your team, your next developer, or any agency can pick it up without calling me. That said, most clients do keep me on for ongoing work — not because they have to, but because continuity has value.
Have a question that's not here? Ask me directly →
Tell me about your project.
I respond and manage projects autonomously within one business day. If we're a fit, we'll book a 30-minute call to go deeper.
Email me directly
A short note about your project, your timeline, and what success looks like. The more context, the better.
cesar@cesarsiancas.com Already know what you want?Book a 30-min call
Skip the back-and-forth. Pick a slot in my calendar and we'll talk through scope, timeline, and budget.
calendly.com/zed-1985/30min Hiring through a platform?Find me on Toptal
I'm a vetted Top 3% engineer on Toptal. If your company already has a contract there, we can start within days.
toptal.com/resume/cesar-siancas