Senior engineering leadership. Without the full-time cost.
Architecture decisions, team mentorship, AI workflow design, and technical strategy from a 30-year veteran — on the schedule that fits your stage.
I have led engineering teams at Fortune 500 scale and built products solo with AI agents. Your team gets both perspectives.
The leadership gap is real.
You need someone senior making architecture decisions and mentoring the team. But a full-time VP of Engineering costs $250-400K+ and takes months to hire.
A fractional lead closes the gap — in days, not months.
Everything a full-time lead does. On your schedule.
Typically 1-3 days per week — enough to steer the ship without the full-time overhead.
Architecture decisions
System design, technology selection, scalability planning, and technical debt prioritization. Decisions informed by 30 years of building at enterprise scale.
Team mentorship
Code reviews, pair programming, career development conversations, and technical growth plans. I have mentored 100+ developers across onshore and offshore teams.
AI workflow design
Strategic AI adoption — agent orchestration, prompt engineering, quality gates, and governance. Not just "use Copilot" but a designed operating model.
Technical strategy
Roadmap planning, build-vs-buy analysis, vendor evaluation, and alignment between engineering capacity and business goals.
Development process
CI/CD optimization, code review standards, testing strategies, and deployment patterns. The operational backbone your team needs.
Hiring support
Job descriptions, interview design, candidate screening, and technical evaluation. Find the right people and set them up to succeed.
Full-time hire vs. fractional lead.
The comparison for teams that need leadership now, not in 6 months.
From discovery call to integrated leadership.
Discovery call
30 minutes to understand your team, architecture, challenges, and goals. No pitch — just a direct conversation about whether I am the right fit.
Free, no commitment.
Onboarding sprint
Week 1: Deep dive into your codebase, architecture, team dynamics, and development workflow. I learn how your team operates before suggesting changes.
I come up to speed fast — 30 years of pattern recognition helps.
Integrated leadership
Recurring engagement at the cadence that fits — 1-3 days per week. Architecture reviews, team mentorship, AI workflow design, and strategic planning. I become part of your engineering leadership.
Flexible scope. Adjust as your needs evolve.
Handoff when ready
When you hire a full-time lead or the team is self-sufficient, I hand off cleanly. Documentation, knowledge transfer, and transition support included.
No lock-in. The goal is to make your team stronger, not dependent.
Not a consultant who watches. A leader who builds.
I have led commerce frontend implementations for global entertainment brands across Japan, Hollywood, and Orlando. Managed onshore and offshore teams of 100+ developers. Built products solo using AI agent workflows.
Your team gets someone who has done the work at every scale — from solo builder to enterprise lead. My leadership approach is Mission Command — clear intent, defined boundaries, autonomous execution.
Common questions
What teams ask about fractional engineering leadership.
What does "fractional" mean in practice?
It means I work with your team on a recurring basis — typically 1-3 days per week — providing the leadership, architecture guidance, and mentorship a senior engineering lead provides. You get experienced leadership without the full-time salary, equity, and benefits package.
What size company is this right for?
Typically startups and mid-stage companies with 5-50 engineers. Large enough to need senior engineering leadership, but either not ready for a full-time VP/CTO hire or looking to fill a gap while recruiting. Also works well for companies that want AI integration expertise alongside traditional engineering leadership.
Do you write code or just advise?
Both. I have 30 years of hands-on engineering experience and ship code daily. I can review pull requests, pair with developers, prototype architectural patterns, and build AI workflows alongside your team. I lead by doing, not just directing.
How is this different from hiring a consulting firm?
A consulting firm sends junior associates and rotates people. You get me — the same person, every week, who knows your codebase, your team dynamics, and your business goals. Continuity matters for engineering leadership.
What does the onboarding look like?
Week 1: I learn your codebase, architecture, team structure, and current challenges. Week 2-3: I identify the highest-leverage areas and start contributing. By week 4, I am operating as an integrated part of your engineering leadership.
Can you help with hiring and team building?
Yes. I can help write job descriptions, screen candidates, design technical interview processes, and evaluate fits. I have built and managed teams of 100+ developers across onshore and offshore locations.
What about AI integration?
AI workflow design is a core part of what I bring. I help teams adopt AI tools strategically — structured workflows, agent orchestration, quality gates, and governance. This is embedded in how I lead, not a separate workstream.
How long do fractional engagements typically last?
Most engagements run 3-12 months. Some teams use me to bridge a leadership gap while hiring. Others keep the fractional model long-term because the flexibility fits their stage. There is no minimum commitment beyond the first month.
Find out if fractional leadership fits your stage.
A 30-minute fit call to assess your team structure, architecture gaps, and whether fractional leadership accelerates your next milestone.
No equity. No long-term commitment. Just an honest assessment.
Let's TalkFree 30-minute fit call. No equity. Start in days.