Founder, Jetpack Labs & Decode Talent
About Shawn Mayzes
I'm a fractional CTO and AI systems architect. I've spent two decades building products, scaling engineering teams, and owning the security and scalability tradeoffs that come with the job, not advising from the sidelines.
WORK WITH ME
The career, briefly
I've been building software since 2004, but the part that shaped how I lead was scaling engineering at Sycle, where I grew the team from roughly 10 to 42 engineers and stayed through its $78M acquisition by Cochlear. That's where I learned what actually breaks at scale, and what it takes to keep a team shipping through it.
Today I run Jetpack Labs, my fractional CTO practice, and Decode Talent, where I help founders build the engineering teams they actually need. In between, I've taken on technical leadership and fractional CTO engagements with companies like Atmosphere.tv and Next Decentrum. Same job, different rooms: get the architecture right, get the right people in place, and make sure security and scalability aren't afterthoughts.
I'm also a Certified ScrumMaster, and I've spent a good chunk of my career outside client work building things for other engineers: LaraChat and DevOpsChat, two developer communities I grew to roughly 50,000 members each. That's the same instinct as the client work: if something's missing, build it.
- 20+ years building software
- $78M acquisition (Sycle → Cochlear)
- ~100,000 developers across two communities
If any of that sounds like your situation, here's how we could work together.
Beyond the screen
I've worn hearing aids since I was 6 months old, after meningitis left me hard of hearing. For most of my life that's meant adapting to rooms built for people who hear differently than I do, including on the ice. I've played competitive hockey for Team Canada at the international level.
That experience taught me something I bring into every engagement: you don't get to choose the constraints you're handed, only how well you work inside them. It's the same discipline I apply to a legacy codebase or a team that's outgrown its process: figure out the real constraint, then build past it.
What people say after working with me
“Shawn is an exceptional technical leader and mentor. He's one of the few people I know that can take an idea from ideation to reality while balancing both technical and business requirements. If you ever get the chance to work with Shawn, jump at the opportunity!”
Hassan Khan
CTO / Product Leader
“I had the privilege of working with Shawn a few years ago to help him build a large and dynamic engineering team. Shawn's thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic leadership made the collaboration not only enjoyable but highly efficient. His clear understanding of hiring needs and expectations, combined with his ability to adapt and pivot when necessary, ensured a seamless process. Even years later, I continue to value our connection. Shawn's creativity, guidance, and leadership have only grown more impressive over time, and I deeply respect the positive impact he brings to every endeavor.”
Natalie Johnson
Executive Coach
“Shawn is a rare combination of creative talent and strategic thinking. His attention to design detail is exceptional, and his ability to lead projects from ideation to execution is impressive. Beyond his technical expertise, Shawn is an empathetic and passionate leader who genuinely cares about the people he works with.”
Kyle Kiriakidis
CEO, Shephard Marketing
Want to talk specifics?
Tell me what's going on technically and I'll tell you plainly whether a fractional CTO, an audit, or something else is the right move.
