Questions hiring teams ask us

Retained firms start a cold search the day you sign and bill 25% to 35% upfront regardless of outcome. We do not start cold: we already represent engineering leaders who are in the market, so your Directors and VPs are in our pipeline before you call. That is why the first shortlist lands in 5 business days, and why the fee is 18% of first-year base with nothing owed until your new leader's first day on the job.

Yes, and that is why the pipeline is real. Engineering leaders hire us to run their job search end to end, so everyone we introduce is in market by their own choice, not a cold profile flattered into taking a call. We are open with both sides about the model. We are paid only when a placement happens and sticks, so we optimize for fit rather than volume. If we do not have strong leaders for your role, you hear that on the intake call.

18% of the hire's first-year base salary. Due after your hire's first day, not when the search starts. There is no retainer and no charge for the intake call or the shortlist, so you can see our candidates before you owe anything. At Director and above the fee sits well below the 25% to 35% typical of retained search, and every placement carries a 90-day free-replacement guarantee.

Engineering leadership only: managers and directors through VPs, Heads of Engineering and CTOs, across software, data, ML and platform. The focus is the point. We go deep on the leadership market instead of running a generalist desk across every function and level.

Most clients get a first pre-vetted shortlist within 5 business days of scoping the mandate, because the pipeline is already live rather than started on your signature.

Yes. Much of leadership hiring is sensitive: replacing an incumbent, a stealth mandate, an early exec hire you are not ready to announce. We run those confidentially, with discreet outreach and controlled candidate messaging.

Every placement carries a 90-day free-replacement guarantee. If the leader leaves or is not the right fit inside the first 90 days, we run the search again at no additional fee.