Built right. Shipped.

I’m Allen Mackley, an independent software engineering consultant. I work remotely, alongside your engineers or on my own, on AI and MCP integrations, payments, and web and mobile apps. I can also take on an app end to end, from planning through production.

Allen Mackley, founder of Mackley Studios

20yearsbuilding software

Engineering work with teams at

Where I can help.

I’ve built software in these areas for 20 years, at companies and on my own products. I can join your team on a roadmap item, take on a backlog your team hasn’t had time for, or take on an app end to end.

AI assistants and MCP

I build MCP servers and agent workflows that connect AI assistants to real products. Tabularia’s connector lets ChatGPT and Claude read, propose, and make changes in a manuscript, with authentication, drafts, and snapshots to keep the work safe.

Payments and billing

Checkout, invoicing, payouts, refunds, and failed payments. I built payment processing at foreUP, subscriptions at cmiVFX, and PaySegue, which sends invoice payments directly to service providers through Stripe Connect.

Web and mobile apps

React, React Native, and PWAs that keep accounts and data in sync across devices. As technical lead at Grow, I brought the mobile business intelligence app closer to the web experience, including live data updates.

Operations and booking software

Software for businesses that run on schedules, checklists, and reservations. I worked on task and food-safety systems at Jolt, golf-course operations at foreUP, and booking and calendar tools for vacation rentals.

Integrations and architecture

Connecting products to the systems around them, from ERP integration with Epicor to partner APIs for an app marketplace. I find what is slowing a system down and change how it is built so it holds up as usage grows.

Shipping safely

Code review, tests, CI/CD, and controlled releases, with a plan to recover when something goes wrong. I work in your repository and follow your team’s process, and I pay attention to access controls and customer data.

Tell me what your team is building or where it’s stuck.

Let’s talk

Products I’ve built

Two products I designed and built end to end, and continue to develop.

Simple invoicing for independent businesses.

4+ months of sustained development to build and launch PaySegue.

Preparing an invoice, taking payment, and knowing what still needs attention belong to the same business workflow. I built PaySegue to connect those steps for the business and its clients.

  • See the total and estimated processing costs before the invoice goes out.
  • Send an invoice by email or share its payment link, with a receipt after payment.
  • Clients review and pay an invoice without creating an account.
  • Stripe checkout sends funds directly to the service provider’s account.
  • Each invoice is tracked from draft to paid, including failed payments and refunds.

Client work

Selected problems I’ve worked through for clients and engineering teams, from mobile apps to marketplaces and booking systems.

Grow.com · Epicor

Team contribution

Bring the mobile app closer to the web experience.

Customers needed useful business intelligence on the move. I improved and repaired Grow’s mobile app, including live data updates, and worked across frontend, backend, and DevOps to connect it with the wider system.

Read the case study

cmiVFX · cmiUniverse

Consulting client · Mackley Studios

Modernize the marketplace behind a training business.

A training marketplace connects instructors, content, subscriptions, and payments. As a consultant through Mackley Studios, I rebuilt cmiVFX’s profit-sharing marketplace and modernized its subscription and payment services.

Read the case study

Naples Florida Vacation Homes

Consulting client · Mackley Studios

Connect a booking page to the work behind a reservation.

A reservation brings availability, dates, pricing, and payment together. I built vacation-rental booking tools and customized calendar and payment workflows, connecting the booking experience to the business’s rental system.

Read the case study

What clients and collaborators say

“Allen is a great developer who really seeks to fully understand not only his craft, but why something is being built and how it affects customers. He is a person who dives into knowledge about what is happening in the industry mainly on his own time and I got to enjoy the TLDR of his efforts.

If you are looking for a full stack developer who knows his stuff Allen is your guy.”

Bryan JacksonEngineering Manager · Jolt

“Allen did a great job on application development for MoneySlinger. We had unique JavaScript interface requirements for a datagrid which had to function well across multiple browsers. Very satisfied with the end result.”

Lee RoesnerMoneySlinger client · Entrepreneur & author

“Allen is a great guy first of all, great attitude and he totally loves what he does. I have the pleasure to work with him and I can't think of anyone better for making web apps happen”

Alvaro CastanedaVFX artist · MIX Studio

“Allen has been a key factor in the restoration of a previously damaged series of web applications … and is an asset to quality control.”

Chris MaynardOwner · cmiVFX, cmiStudios & cmiUniverse

Steady progress,
one monthly fee.

A monthly contract for senior engineering work. I can join your team in your repository, tools, and process, or take over development of an app end to end. We agree on scope and priorities up front, and I carry the work through to production.

Software engineering & consulting

$16,000–$30,000 / month

Depending on the scope, complexity, and level of involvement your product needs.

Hands-on engineering from someone who takes responsibility for the result. We agree on the goals and work toward milestones your team can try and review.

  • Assessment and technical recommendations
  • Feature development, fixes, and maintenance
  • Work in your repository, tools, and process
  • Progress updates and demos to review
  • Code and documentation in your repository
Discuss your project Questions about engagements and terms

Let’s talk.

Need more engineering capacity, or someone to take over an app?

Tell me what you’re working on and what’s getting in the way. Whether it’s work alongside your engineers or an app to take on end to end, I’ll help you work out the next step.

[email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn

More about Allen

I care about why something is being built and how people will use it. Working across design and engineering lets me follow those questions through to the finished software.

I’m based in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Software is one part of my creative life. I also write fiction and compose music. I’m learning Latin, and I enjoy cycling.

I’m writing The Fathom, a fantasy novel with a world and characters I’ve spent years developing. Through Story First Audio, I work on music composition, recording, and audio production.