You’ve probably used WordPress today. Maybe not directly — maybe a blog you read, a store you browsed, or a site you didn’t even know was built with it.
I help shape that experience.
I’m Samuel Silva, a software engineer who splits his time between clean PHP, obsessive performance tuning, plugin architecture that doesn’t fall apart, and right now at Malwarebytes as a Principal WordPress Engineer.
I contribute to the WordPress core, and I’ve built tools like AI Search and Fullscreen Menu used by thousands to make their sites smarter and smoother.
I also work with clients worldwide through Toptal and Codeable. They usually come to me when something should work, but doesn’t. I stay because I like things that work even when they shouldn’t.
My backstory at a glance
- 2012 WordPress turned from “CMS I’m testing” into my daily work. I start shipping sites and web apps for full-time engagements (see them on LinkedIn)
- 2018 I quit, embraced freelancing, and met an amazing community of developers, clients, and friends.
- 2020 I got accepted into Codeable and Toptal. Both platforms helped me in finding more and better opportunities to demonstrate my value in the field, getting better projects to work on and really improved my developer-client relationship.
- 2025 — Freelancing continues, but most of my keyboard time now powers Malwarebytes (Principal Engineer). It has been a big surprise.
What my clients say
(you can read more of these reviews on my codeable profile).
Sam is an excellent programmer who I would have no hesitation recommending and look forward to working with again. He really thinks things through carefully and delivers great work.
5/5
Samuel was an excellent developer to work with and a great communicator. Not only did he solve my troubleshooting task with ease, but clearly shows a lot of pride in his work – doing a great job of documenting cleanly all his changes made to my site. I’d have no hesitation in working with him again on future projects!
5/5
Samuel was fantastic, very responsive (even over a weekend and across opposite time zones). He has helped me manage all issues within the project, answering any and all of my questions. Would definitely recommend using his services!
4/5 (I’m not perfect)
Dev Routines I Actually Enjoy
- Making WordPress search actually find things (AI Search)
- Writing plugins that don’t need manuals
- Speeding up sites that already feel “fast enough”
- Refusing to use
!important
What I value
- Code that tells the truth
- Clients who ask difficult questions
- Shipping before talking
- Open-source not just as a license, but as a habit
My contribution in WordPress community
Beyond building with WordPress, I’ve been lucky enough to give back to the community in ways that go beyond code.
- WordCamp Speaker Lisbon, Portugal (2018 & 2025)
- Organizer & Speaker WordCamp Porto (2024)
- Core Contributor since 2024
- Translator Contributor since 2018 (contributing to WordPress PT translations)
WordPress isn’t just a tool — it’s a global network of people who build, share, learn, break things, and fix them together. I’ve met collaborators, clients, and lifelong friends through this ecosystem.
This part of my journey has been just as meaningful as the code itself.
Where you can find me
- GitHub – things I write, break, and maintain
- LinkedIn – places I’ve worked, things I rarely update
- WordPress.org – where I contribute to the platform itself
Ready to build something clean?
Drop me a line, especially if your project seems “almost working” or “impossible.” That’s usually where I come in.