Engineering Team Rescue
Your Engineering Team Stopped Shipping. I Can Fix That.
Deadlines keep slipping. Morale is tanking. The team that used to ship features in days now takes weeks for simple changes. You've tried new processes, new tools, maybe even new people - but nothing sticks.
I specialize in diagnosing what's actually broken and fixing it fast. Not with theory or frameworks - with hands-on leadership that gets your team shipping again in 30-60 days.
Warning Signs Your Team Needs Intervention
Delivery Has Stalled
- • Sprint commitments missed 3+ sprints in a row
- • Features that should take days take weeks
- • "Almost done" has become the default status
- • Release dates keep getting pushed
Team Dynamics Are Broken
- • Engineers are frustrated or checked out
- • Blame culture has taken hold
- • Key people are threatening to leave (or have left)
- • Meetings are contentious or unproductive
Technical Problems Are Mounting
- • Every change breaks something else
- • Technical debt has become paralyzing
- • The team is stuck debating rewrites vs. fixes
- • Production incidents are increasing
Leadership Vacuum
- • Recent layoffs removed key technical leaders
- • CTO/VP Eng left and hasn't been replaced
- • No one is making hard technical decisions
- • Engineering and product are misaligned
How I Turn Teams Around
Week 1: Diagnose the Real Problems
I talk to everyone - not just leadership. Individual conversations with engineers reveal what's actually blocking progress. I review the codebase, processes, and team dynamics. By the end of week one, I know exactly what's broken and why.
Weeks 2-4: Stabilize and Create Quick Wins
I implement immediate fixes that restore confidence. Clear ownership boundaries. Realistic sprint commitments. Unblock the most frustrated engineers. Ship something - anything - to prove the team can deliver again. Quick wins matter more than perfect process.
Weeks 5-8: Build Sustainable Systems
With the team stabilized, we build processes that last. Sprint planning that works. Technical debt prioritization. Communication patterns that reduce coordination overhead. I document everything so it survives my departure.
Weeks 9-12: Transition and Sustain
I ensure the improvements stick. Train internal leaders to maintain the new processes. Create playbooks for common situations. Hand off ownership clearly. The goal is a team that doesn't need me anymore.
What's Included
Crisis Stabilization
- • Immediate assessment of blockers and risks
- • Clear communication to stakeholders
- • Stop the bleeding on critical issues
- • Restore basic delivery cadence
Team Leadership
- • Direct involvement in daily standups
- • 1:1s with key engineers
- • Conflict resolution and alignment
- • Morale rebuilding through quick wins
Process Implementation
- • Sprint planning that actually works
- • Realistic estimation practices
- • Clear ownership and accountability
- • Technical debt prioritization
Technical Direction
- • Architecture decisions to unblock progress
- • Break rewrite vs. fix deadlocks
- • Code review for critical paths
- • Production incident response
Proven Results
To ship a crypto casino platform
Everyrealm
Team retention maintained
Across all engagements
Sprint predictability improvement
Interchain Foundation
Case Study: Crypto Casino Platform
Everyrealm's CEO reached out when their engineering team was demoralized and stuck in a rewrite debate. The crypto casino platform had been in development for months with mounting quality issues. I stepped in, broke the deadlock, stabilized the team, and shipped the platform in 30 days.
Read the full case study →Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you start a team turnaround engagement?
I can typically start within 1-2 weeks of signing. For true emergencies, I've started within days. The first week is always an intensive assessment to understand what's really going wrong.
What if the problem is specific team members?
Sometimes it is - but usually the issues are systemic. I'll give you an honest assessment. If there are performance issues with specific individuals, I'll help you address them professionally and legally. But I've found that most "people problems" are actually process or leadership problems in disguise.
Do you replace the existing engineering leadership?
Not necessarily. I work alongside existing leadership when possible. Sometimes the issue is that good technical leaders are overwhelmed or lack support. I help identify what's needed - whether that's coaching current leaders, restructuring responsibilities, or yes, sometimes recommending changes.
What happens after the 60-90 day engagement ends?
You'll have documented processes, clear ownership, and a team that's shipping again. Many clients transition to a lighter fractional CTO arrangement to maintain momentum. Others are fully self-sufficient. We'll determine the right path based on your situation.
Investment
per engagement (project-based, typically 60-90 days)
- ✓Intensive hands-on involvement
- ✓Direct work with your team daily
- ✓Documented processes and playbooks
- ✓Results-focused - I'm accountable for outcomes
Your Team Can Ship Again. Let's Make It Happen.
Book a free 30-minute call. I'll ask about your situation and give you honest feedback on whether I can help - and what it will take to fix.
Schedule Free ConsultationOr explore other services: Fractional CTO | Cloud Optimization