Mark Adkins Consulting

Services

I provide fractional CTO leadership for startups and established companies that need senior technical guidance without a full-time hire. I set technical direction, build and lead engineering teams, and help you ship product with confidence.

I lead teams of engineers and AI agents to design, build, and ship web applications, mobile apps, and complex data pipelines, pairing AI-driven execution with experienced technical oversight to move faster without cutting corners. That includes deploying and maintaining systems within heavily regulated environments, where I've guided FDA De Novo submissions to approval and built a SOC 2 Type II compliance program from scratch as primary tech lead.

Whether you're just starting to bootstrap your AI strategy or need to accelerate work you've already begun, I bring the technical leadership and hands-on delivery experience to get you there.

Engagement options

Approach

AI as a force multiplier

I treat AI agents as force multipliers, not replacements for judgment. By leaning heavily on AI-assisted engineering over the past two years, I've cut time-to-market for production-capable apps and platforms to as little as 3–6 weeks. That range applies to a focused web or mobile product, or a data pipeline, built by a small team (one to a few engineers plus an agent fleet) working from a clear scope. It doesn't include upfront discovery on an undefined problem, or an integration built against a third party that hasn't shipped its side yet, since those timelines depend on someone other than me. For every engagement, I assemble a fleet of agents tuned to the work at hand: building and shipping web and mobile applications, engineering data pipelines, auditing infrastructure, and handling the detail work that used to take a full team.

Bridge CTO, not hands-off

Many CTO roles trend hands-off as they scale. I work as a bridge CTO instead, staying close to the code, deployments, real-time issues, and observability, not just the roadmap. Over more than 20 years I've paired that hands-on engineering with product and people management, taking ideas through to production and building maintenance plans that blend AI agents and human oversight, rather than handing off strategy and stepping back.

Real accountability

As your fractional CTO, I orchestrate that work: setting direction, reviewing output, and making the calls that carry real accountability. The result is technical delivery that moves at software speed instead of consulting-hours speed. That holds in heavily regulated environments too, where the accountability matters most.

Where this applies

This approach applies broadly, to technical due diligence, architecture reviews, and team build-out: anywhere that AI-assisted execution paired with experienced oversight can compress timelines without cutting corners.

About

Over the past two years I've leaned heavily on AI-assisted engineering, cutting time-to-market for production-capable apps and platforms to as little as 3-6 weeks without cutting corners on architecture or code quality. As VP of Engineering at Treeline Interactive since 2018, I've led teams of developers and AI agents shipping web apps, mobile apps, and data pipelines across IIoT, telematics, medtech, and sports products, including as primary tech lead within heavily regulated environments.

That work has included leading native iOS/Android apps and a NestJS/React platform, backed by custom Google Cloud data pipelines, for a medtech diagnostics company through its IPO; guiding FDA De Novo submissions to approval for two medtech diagnostics companies; and building Treeline's own SOC 2 Type II compliance program from scratch. I've also architected a RabbitMQ-based microservices platform with a public API for a trucking communications company, and built a React Native app with Bluetooth hardware control for an industrial equipment manufacturer.

Across all of it, I stay hands-on: the code, the deployments, the incidents, not just the roadmap. That combination, direct technical leadership plus AI-orchestrated delivery, is the foundation of Mark Adkins Consulting LLC.

Background

BSEE, The College of New Jersey (2005); MSEE, Rutgers University (2009). In between, I worked as a Computer Engineer within CERDEC, now the C5ISR Center, including overseas research partnerships with the Czech Technical University and the Singapore Army. Afterward, I led a hardware and software engineering team at L3Harris (then L3 Communications) building sensor data collection, simulation, and visualization systems for defense customers.

FAQ

Where are you based?

I'm based in San Diego, California, with a second home in Big Bear. I'm available to travel nationwide for on-site engagements.

Do you work remotely or on-site?

Both. Most engagements start remote, with on-site time in San Diego, Big Bear, or at your offices as needed.

Who do you work with?

Startups and established companies that need senior technical leadership, whether you're just starting to bootstrap an AI strategy or need to accelerate work you've already begun.

What's a fractional CTO?

Senior technical leadership on a part-time or engagement basis. I set direction, build and lead engineering teams, and make architecture and hiring calls, without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

Are you a hands-on or hands-off CTO?

Hands-on. Many CTO roles trend hands-off as they scale, but I work as a bridge CTO instead, staying close to the code, deployments, real-time issues, and observability, not just the roadmap, while also owning product and people management across more than 20 years.

What kind of technical work do you focus on?

Leading teams of engineers and AI agents to design, build, and ship web applications, mobile apps, and data pipelines, including hands-on experience in regulated environments: guiding FDA De Novo submissions for medtech diagnostics products and building SOC 2 Type II compliance programs, both internally and for client companies.

How has AI changed your delivery timelines?

Significantly. Relying heavily on AI agents over the past two years has let me cut time-to-market for production-capable apps and platforms to as little as 3–6 weeks, without cutting corners on architecture or code quality. That's for a focused product with a clear scope and a small team; open-ended discovery or a dependency on a third party's own timeline isn't included.

Do you have experience with FDA or SOC 2 compliance?

Yes. I've helped guide FDA De Novo submissions to approval for two medtech diagnostics companies, built and launched Treeline's own SOC 2 Type II compliance program, and helped client companies pursue their own SOC 2 certification.

Do you work with PE/VC firms on technical due diligence?

Yes. I run technical due diligence engagements for investors evaluating a target company's technology, before or after a deal. See the dedicated Due Diligence page for engagement formats and an investor-specific FAQ.

Do you have experience with hardware or connected products?

Yes. I've built a React Native app with direct BLE hardware control and the RabbitMQ-based backend messaging systems that support a growing fleet of connected industrial equipment, alongside my web, mobile, and data pipeline work.

Contact

Interested in working together? Get in touch and let's talk about your team, your product, and your compliance roadmap.

I'm based in San Diego, California, with a second home in Big Bear, and I'm available to travel for on-site engagements.

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