Engineering leaders, listen up: what if you could access top-tier technical talent without committing to a full-time salary?
That’s where fractional technical roles come in—think of them as your hiring ninja move, a secret weapon in scaling engineering teams quickly, strategically and without the heavy costs.
Fractional roles are on the rise, and for good reason: they give you “just enough” of the right expertise exactly when you need it.
What’s a fractional technical role?
A fractional role is essentially a part-time, highly specialized position. Unlike a traditional contractor, fractional team members are embedded more closely with your team, working specific hours per week or month based on your needs.
At TechTeems, we’re seeing a huge shift toward fractional hiring, especially in agile environments where adaptability and quick pivots are crucial. Think of them as the experts you don’t need all the time, but absolutely can’t go without for certain projects.
Fractional roles can range across specialties, from DevOps wizards and cybersecurity specialists to front-end gurus. When you don’t need a skill on your roster full-time, a fractional hire can give you the flexibility to bring in targeted expertise without the financial commitment of a full-time employee.
Why fractional roles are blowing up right now
Cost efficiency: Engineering budgets are tight, and adding a full-time hire isn’t always feasible. Fractional roles provide high-caliber talent without the overhead.
Access to specialized skills: Need a data architect for six months to set up your data infrastructure? Or a DevOps expert to manage a cloud transition? A fractional hire is perfect for these high-impact, time-limited needs.
Reduced hiring risk: When the stakes are high, and a bad hire could be costly, fractional roles offer a trial-by-fire opportunity. If they fit, great—if not, you haven’t made a long-term commitment.
How fractional technical roles fit into your team
Fractional roles work best when you have clear, defined projects that demand niche skills but don’t require constant oversight. Here are a few ideal scenarios:
Temporary transitions:
Say you’re transitioning from on-prem to cloud infrastructure. A DevOps or cloud engineer on a fractional basis can handle the setup, ensuring a smooth transition without a full-time hire.
Specialized development phases:
Maybe you’re revamping your app’s UX/UI for an upcoming product launch. A fractional front-end developer can be brought on for these specific sprints, leaving your full-time team free to focus on long-term projects.
Data-heavy projects:
If you’re implementing machine learning models or other data-intensive processes, a fractional data scientist can bring the expertise you need to kickstart the project without the commitment of a full-time role.
TechTeems’ tips for seamless collaboration
Bringing in fractional team members requires a focused approach to onboarding and integration. Here’s how to make sure they’re productive from day one:
Define deliverables early: Fractional hires work best with clear expectations. We recommend outlining deliverables at the start of each sprint or phase so fractional roles know exactly what they need to achieve.
Pro tip: Create a scope-of-work document that details the expected deliverables, timeline and success metrics. This way, there’s no guesswork or constant back-and-forth.
Embed them in agile sprints: Fractional team members should be involved in sprint planning and retrospectives to stay aligned with the project timeline and objectives. Involving them in sprint meetings and reviews lets you measure progress and maintain accountability without micromanaging.
Example: If you’ve brought on a fractional DevOps expert, make sure they’re present in sprint planning sessions where deployment timelines and infrastructure needs are discussed.
Provide access to resources: Fractional hires need full access to relevant resources—documentation, tools and a clear communication channel with your team. Use a central project hub (like Asana, Monday or Trello) to track work progress and ensure alignment.
Pro tip: Assign a point-of-contact or project liaison from your full-time team who can answer questions, provide guidance and keep the fractional hire updated on project developments.
Check-in regularly but briefly: Short weekly check-ins can help catch potential misalignments before they become issues. Keep these meetings focused on deliverables, deadlines and any roadblocks the fractional hire might be facing.
Example: Use a 15-minute video call or Slack check-in to ensure everything is on track without over-communicating.
When fractional roles make sense
TechTeems has seen some amazing results with fractional roles in a variety of settings. Here are a few examples of how fractional roles can be game-changers:
Product launches: Let’s say you’re about to launch a new SaaS feature and need specialized support in marketing and development for a tight three-month window. Instead of hiring multiple full-time specialists, you can bring on fractional experts to cover each need temporarily.
Tech stack overhauls: If you’re migrating your platform to a new tech stack, a fractional role allows you to bring in an expert in the new system without committing to a permanent hire for a skill you’ll only need in the short term.
Data engineering projects: Some projects demand data architecture skills that aren’t required every day. A fractional data engineer can handle setting up data pipelines, databases and reporting mechanisms as needed, scaling down when the project concludes.
Setting up fractional roles for success
Success with fractional roles depends on creating a framework that maximizes their impact with minimal supervision.
Clear goals and checkpoints: Fractional roles thrive on clarity. Setting up key performance indicators (KPIs) and project milestones keeps everyone accountable and focused on results.
Tooling and support: Equip your fractional team members with the right tools. Access to project management platforms and relevant technical tools should be established from day one to ensure seamless workflow.
Smooth onboarding and knowledge transfer: Fractional hires often work across multiple clients, so a frictionless onboarding experience is crucial. Share a company playbook or onboarding document to help fractional team members get up to speed quickly.
Regular feedback loops: Just because they’re temporary doesn’t mean fractional hires don’t need feedback. Schedule regular feedback sessions to keep communication open, address any issues early, and make adjustments as needed.
Harness the power of fractional talent with TechTeems
Fractional roles are more than a trend—they’re a smart, scalable solution that lets engineering teams grow without overextending. By incorporating fractional hires, you get the expertise you need, right when you need it, with the flexibility to pivot as projects evolve.
At TechTeems, we specialize in placing fractional roles that are tailored to your team’s exact requirements. Our network of top-tier professionals includes data engineers, DevOps experts, front-end wizards and more, ready to jump into your projects and bring them to life.
