03 · Why AI-augmented

A senior engineer with AI is a different animal.

Pre-AI, "one senior equals a team of four" was a lie. With Claude Code, Cursor, and autonomous agents in the loop, it’s measurable. Here’s the split.

// senior_only

function architecture()

function code_review()

function security_call()

function scope_judgment()

Architecture, scope, code review, security — the calls that matter come from a working senior engineer. AI doesn’t make those.

// ai_velocity

claude_code.refactor()

cursor.generate_tests()

voice.review_spec()

ci.run_suite()

The boring 80% — boilerplate, tests, refactors, glue code — gets automated. Claude Code, Cursor, voice agents do the typing.

// fixed_price

scope.locked = true

timeline.locked = true

price.locked = true

risk.owned_by = us

No hourly meter. No padded estimates. You know the cost before we start and we eat the risk if we’re slow.