Elite Software Contractor and Consultant
Khaled joined Toptal's exclusive freelance network after a pivotal career moment when an Amazon opportunity was canceled due to COVID-19. Within one week of acceptance, he secured his first contract and went on to achieve compensation five times his previous salary. Through Toptal, Khaled has completed multiple successful engagements spanning offline-first mobile architecture, embedded macOS systems, legacy code modernization, performance optimization, and multi-platform Apple development. Each client engagement brought unique technical challenges that expanded his expertise across diverse domains.
Why I Joined
After the Amazon Senior Team Leader offer was canceled due to COVID-19, Khaled pivoted to elite consulting to validate his skills in the international market and gain exposure to diverse technical challenges
- •Architected and implemented offline-first mobile solutions enabling delivery operations to continue seamlessly without network connectivity
- •Modernized legacy codebases spanning decades of development, bridging C, Objective-C, and Swift in complex marine navigation systems
- •Developed embedded macOS applications controlling hardware peripherals in commercial photobooth systems
- •Optimized audio processing performance for transcription applications, leveraging AVFoundation and concurrent programming
- •Built comprehensive Apple ecosystem applications spanning seven platforms including iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and CarPlay
- •Collaborated directly with international client teams to understand requirements, propose solutions, and deliver high-quality software
- •Managed complete project lifecycles from technical consultation through implementation and deployment
- ✓Secured first Toptal contract within one week of joining the platform, demonstrating immediate market validation
- ✓Achieved compensation 5x previous salary through elite consulting positioning
- ✓Delivered offline-first logistics system for Airmee enabling couriers to complete deliveries without network connectivity in 6 weeks
- ✓Maintained and enhanced 30+ year legacy marine navigation codebase (NavStation) spanning C, Objective-C, and Swift over 13 months
- ✓Architected embedded macOS system controlling camera, printer, and display hardware for ThePhotoBooth commercial product
- ✓Optimized Quill Notes audio transcription performance through advanced AVFoundation and Grand Central Dispatch implementation
- ✓Built Honestum lifestyle app across all seven Apple platforms including visionOS and CarPlay with CoreML integration
Technology Stack
Situation
In early 2020, Khaled had secured an offer for Senior Team Leader at Amazon Madrid, but the position was canceled due to COVID-19, leaving him at a career crossroads during a global pandemic.
Task
Rather than accepting a setback, Khaled needed to find a path that would validate his skills internationally and potentially exceed what the corporate role would have offered.
Action
Khaled applied to Toptal's elite freelance network, passing their rigorous screening process that accepts only the top 3% of applicants. Within one week of acceptance, he secured his first contract with Airmee, a Swedish logistics company needing offline-first mobile architecture. Over the following years, he built a portfolio of diverse engagements: modernizing a 30-year-old marine navigation codebase, developing embedded macOS systems for commercial photobooths, optimizing audio transcription performance, and building applications across all seven Apple platforms. Each engagement brought unique challenges that expanded his technical expertise.
Result
The pivot to elite consulting exceeded expectations: Khaled achieved compensation 5x his previous salary, validated his ability to work with premium international clients, and built expertise across diverse technical domains. What began as a response to career disappointment became a defining period of professional growth and financial success.
Size: 1 people
Structure: Independent consultant with direct client reporting
Reported to: Direct to client technical leads
0Skills Gained
Skills Deepened
- 💡Elite positioning commands premium compensation and access to challenging projects
- 💡Each client engagement brings unique technical challenges that accelerate growth
- 💡Remote consulting requires strong communication and self-management skills
- 💡Legacy code maintenance is as valuable as greenfield development
- 💡Resilience in career setbacks can lead to better opportunities