Software & Systems Architecture
We design systems, build them fast with AI, and verify they hold. For NZ technical founders and ops leads with a systems problem — something held together by spreadsheets or a tool that does not exist yet. AI accelerates. A human verifies.
Start with a $1,500 Architecture Review
Price
$1,500 fixed
inc GST
Duration
3–5 working days
What you get
A written architecture map of your system — what it should be, where the integration seams and failure modes are, where AI genuinely helps vs where a human must verify, and a phased build plan with indicative costs.
Outcome
The review ends with a named, priced first build phase — a qualified scope, not a free giveaway.
What we design and build
Systems & Solution Architecture
We design the structure before the build: data model, integration seams, failure modes, and a reliability budget. You know what you are building before it starts.
AI-Augmented Build
We implement the designed system with AI leverage — breadth and speed a same-cost human-only shop cannot match. Across modern stacks: TypeScript, Python, React/Next.js, Cloud Run, Firestore.
Integration & Internal Tooling
We connect systems you already run — internal dashboards, automation, data pipelines. If it is held together by spreadsheets or manual steps, we engineer the replacement.
Reliability Engineering
Every AI-assisted capability is paired with its reliability boundary: here is where it is trusted, here is where a human verifies. That map is built into the system, not bolted on after.
How engagements work
S0 Wedge
Systems Architecture Review
$1,500 fixed
Architecture map + phased build plan. Ends with a named, priced first phase. The low-friction start.
S1 Core Build
Committed-Hours Build
$220–280 / hr NZD
Architecture-led build in committed weekly blocks. Priced as committed capacity, not commodity hours. Fixed-price only for narrowly bounded deliverables that clear a 2x blowout test.
S2 Recurring
Hosting & Reliability Retainer
Monthly flat rate
After every build, we offer to keep the system's reliability boundary current as it evolves. Hosting, monitoring, minor updates.
See Hosting & Retainer →Why trust the methodology
Toby Bell-Ramsay is an engineer at Tait Communications — four years building radio communications systems where reliability is not optional. Holder of the Steven Bly Award for Most Outstanding Product or Solution Development, 2025.
AcesForge runs its own business on AI-augmented systems it designed and built: a multi-tool MCP operations layer, an agent fleet, and a production voice platform. We build these for ourselves first. That is the proof of the methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Systems Architecture Review actually produce?
A written architecture map covering what the system should be, where the integration seams and failure modes are, where AI automation is safe to trust and where a human must verify, and a phased build plan with indicative costs for each phase. The review ends with a named, priced first phase — so the next step is clear and committed before you leave.
How is this different from a normal dev agency?
Most dev agencies quote you for the build and start coding. We design the system first — that is where the value is, and where most software money gets wasted. The rate reflects judgment about structure, not hours of typing. And every AI-assisted element comes with its reliability boundary stated explicitly.
What is "AI-augmented" in practice?
It means one engineer, holding more breadth and moving faster than a same-cost human-only team. Modern AI tools — used properly, inside reliability boundaries — compress build cycles. The same discipline that says "trust AI here" also says "a human verifies there." You get both: speed and the confidence that the AI is being used correctly.
Do you only work with technical clients?
No. The architecture review is designed for founders and ops leads who have a systems problem but have not commissioned software before. You do not need to know what to build — that is what the review is for.
Have a systems problem?
Start with the $1,500 Architecture Review. Three to five days. A written map of your system and a clear next phase.
Book the Architecture Review →