What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO provides ongoing technical leadership on a part-time basis. The role can include technical strategy, architecture decisions, engineering priorities, hiring support, and responsibility for how a team builds and maintains software.
The scope depends on the company. The defining feature is continuing responsibility for technical direction.
What does a fractional CTO do?
A fractional CTO helps connect the company's goals to its technical decisions. That can mean choosing what to build, evaluating a platform, reviewing architecture, setting engineering priorities, or helping a founder understand the consequences of a technical choice.
Some engagements also include implementation. In my work, the balance between coding and leadership is defined around what the business needs.
When does it make sense?
It can be useful when a company needs ongoing technical ownership but does not need a full-time executive. Examples include a founder carrying too many technical decisions, an engineering team without clear direction, or a product entering a stage that requires different architectural and organizational choices.
When is a different engagement more appropriate?
A well-defined feature or integration may need a senior engineer. A discrete review may need a technical assessment. A role requiring full-time day-to-day ownership may need a full-time CTO or engineering leader.
Choose the engagement based on the responsibility and continuity required.
How does the role compare with other options?
| Engagement | Typical focus |
|---|---|
| Senior engineer | Architecture and implementation within an agreed area of responsibility |
| Technical consultant | Analysis or delivery for a defined problem |
| Fractional CTO | Ongoing technical direction with a part-time commitment |
| Interim CTO | Temporary ownership of the CTO role during a transition |
How are fees and time commitments set?
They depend on the scope, responsibility, and time required. For my engagements, we agree those details in a proposal after discussing the product and the support needed.