WordPress, built like real software.

I'm César, a senior WordPress developer who helps agencies and startups build things that actually work, by the project or part-time on your team. Clean code, real engineering, and zero hand-holding required.

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15+years in software development
Top 3%on Toptal, out of 100k+ Verify on Toptal ↗
30+projects delivered
The problem

Most WordPress projects don't fail because of WordPress.

They fail because the wrong people are writing the code. After more than a decade of rescuing builds I see the same three patterns again and again.

01

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.

02

Plugins stacked on plugins

Sliders, popups, form tools: three plugins doing the same job. Each one adds weight, introduces conflicts, and quietly slows your site. Nobody owns the stack. Nobody maintains it.

03

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 →

How I work

A predictable process, not a black box.

I bring the discipline of a software engineering team to projects that usually only get a freelancer. You always know what's happening and why.

01 Discovery

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.

02 Architecture

Components & data model

Custom blocks, modules, and content types built for your content, in the block editor or in your page builder. Reusable components and a CMS your editors can actually use.

03 Build

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.

04 Handover

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.

On a monthly retainer, the same discipline runs week to week, with async updates by email and a short call when it helps.

Services

Six 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: responsive, fast, and accessible. Built on solid starters (Sage, Tonik) with clean architecture your team won't hate inheriting. Block editor or page builder, I build it clean.

See a related project →

WooCommerce Development & Integrations

WooCommerce extensions, custom checkout flows, payment integrations, subscription logic. I've connected WordPress to Acumatica ERP, Salesforce, LeadConduit, and more.

See a related project →

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.

See related plugins →

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 find what's actually slowing yours down and fix it: caching, asset optimization, code refactoring, and server configuration. On a recent WooCommerce modernization, refactoring and asset optimization made the store more than 50% faster. You get a faster site, not just a report.

See a related project →

Need something specific? Tell me what you're building →

Not a developer and just need your WordPress site maintained? See the WordPress Care Plan →

By the numbers

15+ years of evidence.

15+
Years in software development
30+
Projects delivered
Top 3%
Vetted senior on Toptal

Every number here comes from real client work. No inflated estimates, no agency markup.

Testimonials

Kind words from people I've worked with.

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.
AF
Adam Fridman Founder, Mabbly
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!
BM
Brian Magnosi Digital Marketing Strategist
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!
SC
Shawn Christopher Hiner Leamon Businessman, managed César directly
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!!
EN
Erica Nuñez Boess Sr. Engineering Manager, TestGorilla
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.
RM
Raju Mandapati Technology Leader, managed César directly
FAQ

Things people ask before we start.

Have a question that's not here? See all FAQs →

Yes, and it is often the best setup. I work with a small number of teams on a monthly retainer, typically around 20 hours a week. You get consistent availability and a developer who already knows your code. I overlap daily with US and European business hours for calls and quick decisions, and keep work moving between them with clear async updates. Most teams find they get more done this way, not less.

Ongoing work is billed hourly or as a monthly retainer. Well-defined projects can be quoted at a fixed price. After a short call, I'll send you a clear estimate, and nothing starts until you've approved it.

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 started my career building business systems in C#, .NET, and SQL, before moving to PHP and WordPress. 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.

Have a question that's not here? See all FAQs →