$340 / month
2 calls per month (55min/call)
Unlimited Q&A via chat
Expect responses in 2 days
Hands-on support
Hi there! 👋
My name is Dan, and I'm a freelance software engineer, technology consultant, and coach/mentor based in Seattle, Washington, USA.
I spent 15 years working as a professional software engineer (most of it for Amazon and AWS, up to the Principal / Staff level), then in 2022 I decided to strike out on my own with a one-man consulting firm. In addition to my mentoring/coaching, I work part-time on other software projects that interest me, and the rest of the time is spent with my family and hobbies.
During my time at Amazon/AWS, I participated in over 1,000 hiring panels as a "Bar Raiser". This special role meant that not only was I interviewing each candidate, but I did all the pre-interview planning (topics for each interviewer to cover), led the hiring panel discussion, guided the group to a hire/no-hire decision, and ultimately I could "veto" a candidate if I felt they were not right for Amazon in the long-term.
As a Bar Raiser, I also conducted "behavioral interviews" in addition to technical interviews within my own expertise (software engineering), meaning I was talking to each candidate, diving into their past experience, and evaluating how well they fit Amazon's "leadership principles" in a broad way. This meant I interviewed a broad range of candidates in addition to SDEs, such as SDE-Ts, QA Engineers, Technical Program Managers, Engineering Managers, Product Managers, and many others, from entry-level up to Principal / Staff (L4-L7).
I now leverage this unique experience to do a lot of "interview coaching" on the other side of the hiring desk, helping candidates to prepare for technical and behavioral interviews.
I offer both monthly mentorships as well as one-off sessions, and I'm happy to do whichever one fits your needs best.
Feel free to send me an inquiry if you have any questions!
5 out of 5 stars
Dan has been an amazing mentor. Over the past year, he provided valuable guidance and clarity as I navigated my move to a new country, eventually found a role, and settled into it. He has the ability to help you gauge situations and see them through different angles. I was able to prioritize the right things during my time searching for a new role in Canada because of Dan's suggestions. He also helped me navigate my new work environment. I was new to the US/NA market at that time and didn't understand the work culture here fully. With Dan's mentorship, I've learned how to make an impact in my team. I was also able to work through a lot of beliefs about my abilities as a Software Engineer. I was able to identify the ones that have held me back and change them. I look forward to working with him in the future as I grow in my role and move towards a Staff Engineer or Engineering Manager role.
Standard Plan • 1 year
5 out of 5 stars
Dan is the reason why I was able to get my confidence back after hitting set backs in my first job and his advice and experience have been essential in figuring out what I need to do to succeed in my career.
Standard Plan • 7 months
5 out of 5 stars
Dan was incredibly attentive, helpful, and responsive. We worked together over the course of a few months and I landed a new role that was exactly what I was looking for.
Standard Plan • 6 months
I'm a software developer, consultant, and technical interview coach, with 15+ years full-stack software experience up to the Principal/Staff level …
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Hi there! I'm a freelance software engineer and coach/mentor based in Seattle, Washington, USA
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Mentees who work with a mentor for 3+ months reach their goals 2x faster than those going it alone. Long-term mentorship means fewer false starts, more focused sessions, and support that builds week after week.
97% satisfaction across all mentors
Personalized feedback and growth plans
Trusted by thousands of mentees
Dan Ford
Principal Software Developer at None
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Book a free intro call with Dan
Connect with Dan in a quick call (usually under 30 minutes)
One-off sessions with Dan
One-off sessions are a great option if you're looking for specific advice on a certain topic.
I do most of my coaching work in ~55-minute video sessions. This includes consultations, interview preparation / mock interviews, or any other activity we've decided …
