MV Studio is building a network of quality developers who want consistent contract work without chasing invoices or managing client expectations.We manage client relationships and project timelines. You’ll join occasional scoping calls and communicate technical decisions, but we handle budget negotiations, scope changes, and payment collection. Build. Ship. Get paid.
What we offer
// $100-120/hour for quality work
// Payment within 7-10 days of invoice submission
// Steady project flow from established retainer clients
// You own your schedule - take projects when capacity allows
// Clear scopes, managed timelines, no scope creep battles
// APAC timezone friendly (we work AEST hours)Projects typically range 10-40 hours. Most developers work with us on 1-2 projects monthly alongside their day job or other clients.
What we're looking for
// Senior Rails/Shopify/SaaS developers who've worked 10+ years in agencies or product teams
// Comfortable with maintenance, debugging, optimization work (not just greenfield)
// Bonus: Infrastructure competency (AWS/Heroku, CI/CD, monitoring)
// Clear communication, reliable delivery
// Australian-based preferred but not required
Not a good fit if...
// You need full-time hours or retainer guarantees
// You only want greenfield/new product work
// You're building your portfolio or have less than 10 years shipping production code
// You can't commit to daily check-ins during active projects
How it works
We start with a small paid test project to see if we work well together. If it's a good fit, we keep you in the loop on upcoming work and you take what matches your availability.Recent test projects:
// Shopify checkout customization ($800, 8 hours)
// Rails performance optimization ($1,200, 12 hours)
// SaaS API integration ($600, 6 hours)
Why this works
Most dev networks are run by sales people who've never shipped code in production.We've managed projects across CommBank, Officeworks, hipages and more. We've seen what burns developers out.Clear scopes. Managed clients. No surprises. That's the model.You get:
// The best part of freelancing (coding, getting paid)
// None of the worst parts (sales, scope battles, payment chasing)We handle everything else.
Recent opportunities
Project 1: Rails app maintenance & optimisation
Content platform on Heroku infra serving 50K+ monthly readers needs performance overhaul. Migrate legacy content without downtime, diagnose and fix N+1 queries causing slow page loads, optimize asset delivery.
Scope: 15-20 hours per month | Rate: $100/hour | Timeline: Flexible over 2-3 weeks
Project 2: E-commerce site - Shopify Plus customization
High-volume Shopify Plus store needs custom checkout modifications. Build custom logistics provider integration, optimize checkout performance for mobile (current 8s load time).
Scope: 20-30 hours | Rate: $115/hour | Timeline: 2 weeks
Project 3: SaaS mobile app - React Native performance optimization
Health app with 15K active users needs iOS 26 compatibility fixes and performance tuning. Resolve memory leaks causing crashes, implement privacy requirements, add workout history tracking.
Scope: 12-18 hours | Rate: $120/hour | Timeline: 4 days
Project 4: Rails SaaS app - Infrastructure audit & deployment improvements
SaaS app infrastructure audit - current setup causing 2-3 deployments failures weekly. Document architecture, implement zero-downtime deployments, set up proper monitoring and alerting. Reduce AWS costs if possible.
Scope: 15-20 hours | Rate: $130/hour | Timeline: Flexible over 3 weeks
Project 5: SaaS platform - Node.js/Express API performance optimization
Investigate and resolve API performance bottlenecks affecting 10K+ daily users. Profile slow endpoints, optimize database queries, implement caching strategy.
Scope: 15-20 hours | Rate: $120/hour | Timeline: Flexible over 3 weeks
Projects listed show typical scope and rates. Email us to discuss current availability.
FAQ
Q: Do you require exclusivity?
A: No. Work with us as much or as little as your schedule allows.Q: Who owns the IP?
A: Client owns all work product. Standard work-for-hire arrangement.Q: What if I can't take a project?
A: No problem. We only contact you about work we think fits your skills and availability. Say no anytime.Q: When do I get paid?
A: We work on monthly retainer cycles. Submit invoices bi-weekly or at project completion. Payment is processed within 7 days once client retainers clear, typically 7-10 days from invoice submission. First payment on a new engagement may take 2-3 weeks as retainer cycles align.Q: What's your communication expectation?
A: We use Slack/email for async updates. Daily responses appreciated.Q: Do I need ABN/company structure?
A: Preferred but not required initially. We can work with sole traders or companies.Q: What happens if scope changes?
A: We handle all scope changes with clients. If additional work is needed, we get it approved and budgeted before involving you.Q: Can I work from anywhere?
A: Yes, as long as you're available for occasional calls during AEST business hours and can meet deadlines.
Ready to start?
Email [email protected]
Subject: {your stack} contractor with:// Where you've worked (agencies/product teams preferred)
// Link to code you've written (GitHub/live project)
// Availability (hours/week, AEST timezone compatibility)
// One maintenance project you're proud of fixingWe respond within 2 business days with a paid test project or clear feedback.
MV Studio • Australia • About