Okay, let’s tackle this. So Hitesh has 8+ years of experience as a software engineer, which is a solid amount of time to have established himself in the field. His expertise in cloud computing, DevOps, and cybersecurity is also in high demand. Location is San Diego, California, which is a hub for tech companies. According to national averages, software engineers with his level of experience and skills can charge between $100-$200 per hour. However, considering the cost of living in San Diego, I'll estimate his rate to be on the lower end of that range, around $125 per hour.