Fractional Product & Tech Lead for AI-Powered Gift Platform deingeschenk.ai

About the Project I am looking for long-term support for my project deingeschenk.ai – an AI-powered gift recommendation platform that helps users discover personalized gift ideas through an interactive quiz. The platform combines AI, affiliate commerce, SEO-driven content, and product data. I am not looking for a pure developer. Instead, I am seeking a hands-on professional who can bridge product, technology, and prioritization. Future development will be heavily driven through GitHub and AI-assisted coding tools such as Codex. Therefore, I need someone who can formulate technical tasks clearly, review AI-generated code, handle smaller technical tasks independently, and contribute strategic thinking to the project's evolution. Responsibilities * Get familiar with the existing codebase, GitHub repository, and deployment process * Manage ongoing development through GitHub Issues, Pull Requests, and Codex * Review and validate Codex-generated code changes * Handle smaller bug fixes and technical adjustments independently * Identify, assess, and prioritize technical risks and bugs * Evaluate product ideas and translate them into actionable development tasks * Identify UX, conversion, and SEO-related technical improvements * Prepare and coordinate collaboration with freelancers or working students * Provide regular, concise status updates and recommendations on next priorities Technology & Project Context * AI-generated gift recommendations based on quiz responses * Affiliate commerce platform, currently integrated with the Amazon API * Planned expansion with additional shops, product data sources, and SEO landing pages * GitHub/Codex-driven development workflow * Modern JavaScript/TypeScript web application * Deployment via Vercel * CMS/content structures for blog content and SEO pages Requirements * Strong understanding of modern web development, ideally with Next.js, React, and TypeScript * Experience working with GitHub, Pull Requests, Code Reviews, and deployment workflows * Ability to quickly understand and navigate existing codebases * Experience with AI-assisted development tools such as Codex, Cursor, or similar * Product mindset: understanding which features truly create value * Basic understanding of SEO, conversion optimization, analytics, and affiliate business models * Startup / side-project mentality: pragmatic, self-driven, and focused * Excellent communication skills and strong prioritization abilities Nice to Have * Experience with Vercel, Strapi, APIs, databases, or affiliate integrations * Experience building AI products, prompting systems, or recommendation engines * Experience with SEO-driven content platforms * Experience as a Fractional CTO, Technical Product Manager, or Startup Tech Lead Language Requirement Fluent German is required for this role. The majority of our target audience, SEO content, keyword research, and social media content is focused on the German-speaking market. Therefore, you must be able to: * Conduct keyword research in German * Write or review German-language SEO content * Understand search intent and cultural nuances of German-speaking users * Create German social media content, hooks, captions, and video scripts * Communicate effectively regarding content strategy and optimization Native German speakers are preferred, but applicants with professional-level German language skills are also welcome. What Matters Most I have limited time available alongside my main profession. Therefore, I am looking for someone who takes ownership rather than simply executing tasks. You should be comfortable identifying problems, proposing solutions, structuring tasks for Codex and external contributors, and involving me only when key decisions are required. Initial Paid Audit / Test Project To start, I would like to commission a paid audit covering: * Analysis of the existing website and GitHub repository * Assessment of technical risks and outstanding bugs * Evaluation of product, SEO, and conversion opportunities * Proposal for a prioritized 30-day roadmap * Assessment of which tasks can be effectively executed through Codex and which require human review Please Apply With * A brief overview of your relevant experience * Examples of similar projects you have worked on * Your hourly rate or preferred monthly retainer * A short explanation of how you would approach the first 30 days of a project like this * Confirmation whether you can personally handle smaller bug fixes and technical tasks Engagement Model The collaboration will begin with a paid audit. Following that, I am looking for a long-term engagement on a monthly retainer basis, likely requiring only a few hours per week. For an excellent long-term fit, performance-based bonuses or participation in the project's growth may also be considered.