Custom software & AI, built by senior engineers.
We design, build, and run the systems your business depends on — custom applications, AI automation, private on-premises AI, cloud infrastructure, and modernized legacy platforms. You work directly with the principals. No juniors, no offshore handoffs.
What we do
Senior engineers across software, AI, data, and infrastructure — working with you directly, start to finish.
Custom Software Development
We design, build, and ship production software end-to-end — APIs, data layers, and interfaces — on AWS, Azure, or GCP with Terraform and CI/CD baked in. Based in the St. Louis metro, working with clients nationwide.
Explore Custom Software Development→AI Consulting & Automation
Practical AI wired into how your operation actually runs — not a chatbot bolted on. Assistants and automations that handle intake and scheduling, answer questions over your own documents, and take repetitive work off your team.
Explore AI Consulting & Automation→Private AI Deployment
AI for organizations whose data can't leave the building. We size, deploy, and hand off on-premises language models and governed document search — including Skilak Spool, our private AI appliance — designed to operate within your CMMC, HIPAA, or ITAR program.
Explore Private AI Deployment→Legacy Modernization
Running something slow, fragile, or unsupported? We modernize legacy applications incrementally — Access databases, VB6, aging .NET Framework systems — without a risky big-bang rewrite and without losing the business logic that took years to encode.
Explore Legacy Modernization→IoT & Connected Devices
When the product is physical — sensors, equipment, fleets — we build the platform behind it: secure device connectivity on Azure IoT, real-time dashboards, alerting, and the automation that turns raw telemetry into decisions.
Explore IoT & Connected Devices→Web, Integrations & Support
A fast, credible web presence — plus the plumbing behind it. We connect CRMs, payment processors, scheduling, and third-party APIs so your systems share data instead of duplicating work, then stay on as a long-term partner. Senior technical project management available for delivery-heavy engagements.
Your AI. Your rack.
Your rules.
Skilak Spool is our on-premises private AI system: local language models, governed document search, and secure chat — installed on hardware inside your own network, with an operating handoff your IT team can own. No cloud dependency, no per-token bills, no sensitive data leaving the building.
It's built for organizations that want the productivity of modern AI but can't — or won't — send their documents to a public cloud: law and accounting firms, healthcare groups, defense suppliers, and any team handling regulated data.
- Local, open-weight AI models — nothing leaves your network
- Governed document search (RAG) with source citations
- Role-based access, audit logging, backup & restore
- Built for CMMC, HIPAA, ITAR, and other regulated data environments
| Tier | Users | Form factor |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | 5–25 users | Compact tower or short-depth rackmount |
| Team | 20–150 users | Rack-mounted system with SSO / Entra ID |
| Enterprise | 150–500+ users | Multi-server architecture |
Sized, installed, and handed off by the same senior engineers behind Skilak Consulting — from a single office appliance to a multi-server deployment.
Good technology doesn't just solve problems — it creates opportunity, builds trust, and moves your organization forward.
Skilak Consulting was founded in Alaska in October 2023 — a Native American-owned firm built on the belief that senior engineering talent and genuine consulting expertise shouldn't require a Fortune 500 vendor. The name comes from Skilak Lake in the Kenai Peninsula: a place that reflects the values behind the firm — remote, self-reliant, and built to endure.
We're a small, intentional firm. That means you get senior-level attention on your project — not a junior developer with a senior title. We work directly with decision makers, move fast, and deliver systems you can stand behind.
We're certified enough for federal work — SAM-registered, Native American-owned, and women-owned — and we bring that same level of vetting, documentation, and accountability to every commercial engagement. If your business supports supplier diversity goals, working with Skilak counts toward them.
We're available for project-based engagements, long-term retainers, and corp-to-corp placements — fully remote and serving clients across the United States, with on-site availability in the St. Louis metro.
Who we are
Principal Engineer
Over a decade building production systems across fintech, health IT, IoT, and government-facing platforms — leading architecture and delivery for payment infrastructure, cloud migrations, legacy modernizations, and full-stack applications. Every engagement gets direct, senior-level attention from start to finish.
CEO & Principal Consultant
A background in social work, human services, and renewable energy project development in Alaska — including land lease negotiation, permit acquisition, and stakeholder coordination. This perspective shapes everything we build: the people at the end of the system matter as much as the system itself.
Industry experience
The senior engineering behind Skilak comes from nearly a decade delivering production systems across demanding, enterprise-scale industries — the same rigor we now bring to government and growing companies.
Core expertise
Buying for a federal agency,
or teaming as a prime?
Skilak Consulting is a SAM-registered, Native American-owned, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) — eligible for a wide range of socio-economic set-asides and available as a prime, subcontractor, or corp-to-corp partner.
UEI T14ZWC2JSTD8 · CAGE 9Q428 · NAICS 541511
Frequently asked questions
What does custom software development cost?
Small automations and integrations typically start around $5,000–$25,000; custom application builds usually run $30,000–$150,000+ depending on scope; ongoing support retainers are available. Every engagement starts with a free consultation and a fixed, written quote — no open-ended hourly surprises.
Do you work with small businesses, or only large companies?
Both. Most of our commercial clients are small and mid-sized businesses that need senior engineering without big-vendor overhead. Because you work directly with the principals, a two-week automation gets the same attention as a year-long platform build.
Where is Skilak Consulting located?
We're headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri, in the St. Louis metro area, and work with clients across the United States. Engagements are remote-first, with on-site availability throughout the St. Louis region — St. Charles, O'Fallon, Chesterfield, and downtown St. Louis.
What is Skilak Spool?
Skilak Spool is our on-premises private AI system: local language models, governed document search, and secure chat running on hardware inside your own network. It's built for organizations handling regulated data — CMMC, HIPAA, ITAR — that can't send documents to public AI clouds. Learn more at skilakspool.com.
Can you take over or modernize an existing system?
Yes — legacy modernization is a core service. We take over aging Access databases, VB6 and .NET Framework applications, and undocumented systems, then modernize them incrementally so your business keeps running throughout. No risky big-bang rewrite.
How does an engagement start?
Send a message through the contact form or email [email protected]. We respond within one business day, schedule a free consultation to understand the problem, and follow up with a scoped, fixed-budget proposal. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you.
Let's build something real.
Have a project, a legacy system that needs attention, or a contract to discuss? We respond within one business day.
Work with great people
on hard problems.
We're always open to meeting talented engineers and technologists. No open requisitions — just interesting work and a standing invitation to introduce yourself.