Creating Your Developer Account
Free signup: Joining Moonlight and setting up a profile doesn’t cost anything.
Build your profile: Highlight your top technical skills, work history, and a brief exam‑style bio that reflects your expertise.
Include identifying links: Add your GitHub, LinkedIn, or personal website to demonstrate your work and experience: this is a requirement in developer profiles.
Add profile picture: Including a photo significantly improves hiring rates, as companies are more likely to hire developers who include one.
Use a professional email: Register with a reliable email you actively use: this is how companies will contact you.
Connect your Stripe account: A valid Stripe account is required to receive payments on Moonlight. You’ll be prompted to link or create a Stripe account during sign-up, and applications without a connected, valid Stripe account will not be accepted.
Setting Up Your Profile
Show your experience: Include specific examples of projects or work—experience details elevate your credibility and attract longer engagements.
Meet the criteria: Moonlight looks for developers with at least 3 years of professional experience in each listed skill, 8+ hours/week availability, strong independent work capability, and excellent written English.
Set a reasonable hourly rate: A rate under $50 USD/hour may signal limited experience; most developers on Moonlight charge between $80–120 USD/hour.
Proofread carefully: A clean, typo-free profile, especially in your headline and bio, is essential. (Tools like Grammarly can help.)
Strong headline examples: Instead of generic titles like “Software Engineer,” try something specific like “Former YC Startup CTO” or “Senior Rails App Developer.”
Applying for Jobs
Browse thoughtful opportunities: Use the job dashboard to find roles that align with your skills and preferred engagement type.
Tailor proposals: Customize each application—recent client interests align with developers who clearly map their skills to the project.
Get notified promptly: Moonlight alerts you when companies view your application or send a message.
Expect trial projects: Many companies begin with a short paid trial to assess fit before committing to long-term work.
Fractional Work
Fractional roles give you a guaranteed block of time each week with a company (e.g., 10, 20, or 30 hours).
They are popular with companies who want steady collaboration without hiring full-time.
As a developer, you can set your fractional availability in your profile and discuss specific time commitments during interviews.
Working with Companies
Communicate professionally: Quick, clear responses build trust and set expectations for collaborative work.
Use the platform for billing: Log hours and submit invoices via Moonlight to ensure payment protection.
Focus on long-term relationships: Deliver high-quality work and good communication—and companies often come back to the same developers.
Getting Paid
Weekly invoices: Submit your billed hours via Moonlight each week.
Secure and reliable: Payments go through the platform—no need to chase clients.
Global support: Developers worldwide are welcome; Stripe handles any necessary currency conversion automatically.
FAQs
Is Moonlight free for developers?
Yes—there’s no cost to sign up or apply. A platform service fee, paid by companies that hire and pay you, only applies once you begin billing through Moonlight.
How much experience do I need?
You should have at least 3 years of professional experience in each skill you list, demonstrate independent work ability, and be available for 8+ hours weekly.
What’s a typical hourly rate?
Most developers charge between $80–120 USD/hour. Setting a rate below $50 USD/hour may indicate less experience.
Do I need a Stripe account to use Moonlight?
Yes. Every developer profile must be connected to a valid Stripe account in order to apply for jobs and receive payments. Applications without a Stripe account will not be approved.
What is a fractional role?
A fractional role is a structured time commitment where you dedicate a set number of hours each week to one company. It’s different from ad-hoc contract work, which may vary week to week.