How a Fractional CTO engagement works
You need executive technical leadership. You don't need—or can't justify—a full-time hire. Here's exactly how a fractional CTO partnership with me bridges that gap.
What a Fractional CTO actually does
A fractional CTO is a part-time technical executive who operates at the same strategic level as a full-time CTO—setting technical direction, making architecture decisions, mentoring teams, and vetting vendors—but on a flexible schedule that fits your budget and stage of growth.
Strategy & Roadmapping
I help you define where your technology needs to be in 6, 12, and 24 months—and then build the roadmap to get there. Architecture reviews, stack evaluations, and build-vs-buy decisions that align with your business goals.
Architecture Oversight
I audit your existing systems, identify single points of failure, and design the infrastructure that scales. Cloud, on-prem, or hybrid—I've built them all and I know what fails first.
Team Mentorship
Your developers get the benefit of 20+ years of battle-tested experience. I mentor engineering leads, establish code review processes, and create the technical culture that attracts and retains top talent.
How the engagement works
1. Discovery Audit
We start with a focused technical assessment of your current infrastructure, team, and roadmap. I deliver a written report outlining risks, opportunities, and a phased action plan. This takes 1–2 weeks and sets the foundation for everything that follows.
2. Ongoing Partnership
After the audit, we define a cadence that works for you. Most clients need 10–20 hours per week. I join your standups, review architecture decisions, mentor your leads, and serve as the technical voice at the executive table. You pay for outcomes, not just time.
3. Build & Ship
When strategy turns into execution, I either lead the build directly—using my agentic development pipeline for speed—or guide your team through implementation. Either way, you get the output of a 3-person team for the cost of one fractional executive.
4. Transition & Handoff
The goal of every engagement is to leave your team stronger than I found it. Documentation, runbooks, and knowledge transfer are built into the process. When you're ready to hire a full-time CTO, I'll help you write the job description.
Choose the right level of engagement
From early-stage advisory to full executive partnership, every tier is built around outcomes — not hours billed.
Advisory Packages
Designed for early-stage and smaller operations that need strategic guidance without a heavy engagement.
Tier 1: Startup Advisor
Ideal For: Seed-stage startups needing technical validation without heavy execution.
Core Outcome: Strategic clarity and roadmap planning to ensure your initial architecture scales.
Key Deliverables: Monthly architecture review, high-level technology roadmap, and tech-stack validation.
Tier 2: Technical Co-Pilot
Ideal For: Growing businesses needing an experienced set of eyes on vendor management and code quality.
Core Outcome: Risk mitigation and technical oversight without the commitment of an embedded executive.
Key Deliverables: Bi-weekly strategic planning, vendor and agency management, and security/infrastructure audits.
Executive Partnerships
Designed for scaling ConTech, Logistics, and E-commerce brands. These are the premium, limited-availability slots — only 3–5 active at a time.
Tier 3: Strategic Architect
Ideal For: Companies hitting scaling pain points needing active infrastructure design.
Core Outcome: A stabilized, scalable foundation and direct integration of AI-driven workflows.
Key Deliverables: Dedicated weekly strategic focus, system administration oversight, and custom data/API architecture planning.
Tier 4: Scaling Executive
Ideal For: Mid-market brands needing team leadership and robust DevOps pipelines.
Core Outcome: Accelerated deployment, optimized tech spend, and a fully managed internal/external development team.
Key Deliverables: Hands-on project oversight, agentic development implementation, and direct C-suite technical alignment.
Tier 5: Enterprise Partner
Ideal For: High-volume operations requiring a complete technical transformation.
Core Outcome: Full technical ownership, ensuring your infrastructure is an asset, not a bottleneck.
Key Deliverables: Deep architectural overhauls, comprehensive AI orchestration, and priority access for mission-critical deployments.
Every engagement starts with a Technical Discovery Audit to determine the right tier for your company.
Where my experience makes the difference
Infrastructure & DevOps
Twenty years managing Linux servers, cloud platforms, and enterprise networks. I design systems that survive flash sales, Black Friday traffic, and 3 AM pager alerts that never come because I built it right the first time.
AI & Automation
I don't just talk about AI—I deploy it. Local LLMs, RAG pipelines, agentic development workflows. Private, secure, and purpose-built for your data. No vendor lock-in, no "we'll get back to you in six months."
Vendor & Tooling Selection
I've evaluated hundreds of platforms and can tell you which ones actually deliver. From CRM and ERP decisions to cloud provider selection, I help you avoid the expensive mistakes that come from choosing the wrong tool for the wrong reason.
Does this sound like what you need?
I take on 3–5 engagements at a time. If your company is ready for technical leadership that actually ships, let's talk.
