Building clarity from complexity
I'm Colton Wirgau, a product-minded engineer who's spent 8 years as a one-person dev team, shipping production apps and turning chaos into systems. Now I'm ready to bring that builder mentality to a collaborative team environment.
The Journey
Eight years ago, I joined Woodside Bible Church with a vision: build a team, control all web development, create systems that scale. Then COVID happened. Priorities shifted. What was supposed to be a team became a solo mission.
But here's what I learned being the only developer: I can build anything. From concept to production, I've designed and shipped full-stack applications that support both public-facing and internal systems. I've influenced platform evolution (earning the MinistryPlatform "Deep Space Award"), led contractor teams, and created tools that other organizations now use.
The work has been incredible. I built apps.woodsidebible.org — a unified platform that simplified major workflows so effectively that MinistryPlatform adopted my methods and UI concepts into their core product. That's not just shipping features; that's influencing an entire ecosystem.
But solo work has limits. I've reached the point where I want to multiply my impact through collaboration. I want to work with talented people, push each other, and build products that matter. I'm not looking to escape my current role — I'm looking to level up.
My Philosophy
"Simplicity isn't the absence of complexity — it's clarity through design. Good software doesn't just work; it feels right."
Product-Minded Engineering
I don't just write code — I solve problems. Every feature should serve the user, every interface should feel intuitive, every system should be maintainable.
Lead by Serving
The best leaders make others better. I mentor, share knowledge, and create systems that empower teams to do their best work.
Build With Purpose
Every line of code should have a reason. I optimize for clarity, maintainability, and long-term value — not just quick wins.
Never Stop Learning
Technology evolves fast. I stay curious, experiment constantly, and build side projects to explore new ideas and stay sharp.
Beyond the Code
I'm a husband and father of two based in Oxford, Michigan. When I'm not building software, you'll find me at Ford Field — I'm a Detroit Lions season ticket holder (yes, I've suffered through the rough years and I'm loving this new era).
I chose Software Engineering over Computer Science specifically because of my interest in leadership and team building. I even pursued a leadership minor to develop those skills. This wasn't an accident — I've always been drawn to roles where I can help others succeed while solving complex problems.
I also code for fun. RoarTracker helps me manage my Lions season tickets. Degenerates Dashboard tracks fantasy football league chaos. These aren't portfolio pieces — they're just proof that I genuinely enjoy building things.
Recognition
MinistryPlatform "Deep Space Award"
Awarded for innovation and advancement of the MinistryPlatform product ecosystem. My work influenced the platform's evolution, with methods and UI concepts adopted for broader customer use.
This isn't just recognition — it's proof that I push platforms forward, not just use them.
Published Research
"Sylvester: An Approach to Emotion Classification"
Published in New Trends in Information Technology, 2017
Developed an AI system integrating with Twitter to identify emotional sentiment in real time.
View on ResearchGate →What I'm Looking For
I'm exploring both IC roles (Senior/Staff Engineer) and Engineering Management/Leadership positions. I'm open to industry — what matters most is working with talented people on products that matter.
Collaborative Team
Work with talented people who push each other to be better
Product Focus
Build things that users love and solve real problems
Growth & Impact
Opportunity to lead, mentor, and multiply my impact