Technical Advisory Retainer
Senior technical leadership on an ongoing basis, without a full-time hire.
Ongoing architecture guidance, technical decision-making, team mentoring, and strategic roadmapping. Positioned as a strategic partner inside your organisation: the technical direction you need without the full-time cost.
Who this is for
- You need senior technical judgement but not a full-time hire
- Your team is strong but lacks a seasoned voice in the room
- Big technical decisions keep landing with no one to pressure-test them
- You're hiring engineers and want help getting it right
- You want a trusted advisor who already knows your context
- You need direction and accountability, not just occasional advice
What's included
- Ongoing architecture guidance and technical decision-making
- Code and architecture reviews
- Engineering team mentoring and direction
- Hiring support: technical interviews, role definitions
- Vendor and technology evaluation
- Strategic technical roadmapping
Why Amplify Digital
Technical direction at HDRUK, Ticketmaster, Aurora, Amido. This is what I already do inside organisations. The retainer model lets clients access that without a full-time hire. Minimum three-month term.
How we can work together
Advisory
Strategic guidance and reviews on a light-touch basis
Standard
Active technical leadership embedded in your decisions
Embedded
Deep integration with your team and roadmap
Common questions
How is this different from hiring a contractor?
A contractor fills a seat and delivers hours. A retainer gives you a senior technical partner who owns the direction: pressure-testing decisions, guiding your team, and staying accountable for outcomes. It is judgement and leadership, not just capacity.
Is this a fractional CTO arrangement?
In effect, yes. It gives you the senior technical leadership a CTO provides, scaled to what you actually need and without the full-time cost. The depth ranges from light-touch advisory to deep embedded involvement.
How much of your time do we get?
It depends on the tier. Advisory is light-touch guidance and reviews; Standard is active leadership in your technical decisions; Embedded is deep, ongoing integration with your team and roadmap. We agree the right level for your situation.
Can you help us hire engineers?
Yes. Hiring support is part of the retainer: defining roles, running technical interviews, and helping you assess candidates so you build the right team rather than just filling seats.
Is there a minimum commitment?
Yes, a minimum three-month term. Meaningful technical direction needs enough continuity to understand your context and see decisions through, and three months is the floor for that to be worthwhile on both sides.
Let's talk about your project
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. Tell me about your problem and I'll tell you honestly whether and how I can help.
Book a Free Discovery Call