Hire a fractional VP Engineering — delivery, hiring, and team health
A fractional VP Engineering owns delivery cadence, hiring, leveling, and manager coaching part-time — the people and process side of engineering.
- • Shortlist in 48 hours
- • No 25–30% placement fee
- • Vetted C-suite and VP operators
- • Fractional, interim, or advisory
When to hire a fractional VP Engineering
Most companies hire a fractional VP Engineering when the founder or existing team can no longer own the engineering function at executive depth. Common triggers:
- Delivery is slow and no one owns the operating model
- Managers are new and need coaching
- You need to hire 5–15 engineers and have no leveling framework
- The team is remote and rituals are inconsistent
- You need a VP Eng but not yet full-time
What a fractional VP Engineering owns
A fractional VP Engineering operates as your accountable Vice President of Engineering on a part-time basis. Typical scope:
- — Delivery cadence, planning, and metrics
- — Manager coaching, leveling, and performance
- — Hiring plan, interview loop, and calibration
- — On-call, incident management, and reliability rituals
- — Org design and team topology
- — Handoff to full-time VP Engineering
Engagement models
Fractional (ongoing)
1–3 days per week on a recurring basis. Best when you need executive judgment in the business every week, but not a full-time hire yet.
Interim (full-time, fixed term)
Full-time coverage for 3–9 months. Best for a vacancy, a fundraise, an M&A event, or a turnaround.
Project / advisory
Scoped engagement (10–40 hours) tied to a specific deliverable — a plan, a system, a hire, a diligence.
How much does a fractional VP Engineering cost?
Hire a fractional VP Engineering in your city
Frequently asked questions
- What does a fractional VP Engineering do?
- A fractional VP Engineering owns delivery cadence, hiring, and manager coaching on a part-time basis. They focus on the people and process side of engineering, complementing a fractional CTO's technical role.
- How much does a fractional VP Engineering cost?
- Fractional VP Engineering retainers typically run $8,000–$18,000 per month, or $225–$500 per hour.
- Fractional VP Engineering vs fractional CTO?
- A CTO owns technology strategy and architecture. A VP Engineering owns the people, process, and delivery. Growing teams often need both, sequenced.
Ready to hire your VP Engineering?
Post your role or request a curated shortlist — most companies get one inside 48 hours.