Fractional Chief Architect

Architecture leadership, when you need it — on a predictable monthly plan.

Governance, roadmaps, solution reviews, cloud cost & reliability, and hands‑on guidance that keeps product & platform moving.

Why a retainer?

Always‑on guidance

Fewer stalls & re‑work. We’re in the loop on decisions as they form, not weeks later.

One team, shared context

We learn your stack, people, and goals once — and compounding value kicks in.

Predictable cost

No surprise invoices. Scope flexes within a clear monthly allocation.

Retainer tiers (CAD)

HST applies. Remote by default; travel billed at cost if needed.

Core
$6,000 / month
~20 hours / month
  • Slack/email support (response < 2 business days)
  • 2x architecture reviews / month
  • Monthly leadership readout
  • Backlog triage & 90‑day plan upkeep
Most popular
Growth
$11,000 / month
~40 hours / month
  • Slack/email support (response < 1 business day)
  • 4x architecture reviews / month
  • Quarterly roadmap refresh & cost/risk view
  • Workshop: risk & quick‑win planning (quarterly)
Scale
$21,000 / month
~80 hours / month
  • Priority channel (same‑day response)
  • Weekly architecture board & guardrails
  • Hands‑on pairing (design spikes / reference impls)
  • Vendor / solution selection support

Hours are a planning guide, not hard caps. Unused hours roll forward 1 month (up to 50% of plan). Changes or cancellation: 30‑day notice.

What’s included — at a glance

CapabilityCoreGrowthScale
Architecture reviews & design clinics2×/mo4×/moWeekly
Roadmap & OKR alignmentQuarterlyMonthly
Reliability/SRE & security postureAdvisoryAdvisoryAdvisory + pairing
Cloud cost & performanceMonthly checkMonthly + actionsOngoing + targets
Leadership readoutsMonthlyMonthlyMonthly + board
Response target< 2 business days< 1 business daySame day
WorkshopsQuarterlyAs needed

How it works

Kickoff

We align on goals, risks, and success signals; get access to artifacts & environments; shape the first 90‑day plan.

Cadence

We run reviews/clinics, async feedback in Slack/email, and leadership readouts on a steady rhythm.

Results

Decisions move faster, risks shrink sooner, and delivery teams have a clear runway.

What’s in scope each month?
Architecture reviews & guidance, roadmap coaching, cost/reliability posture, design spikes & pairing (as hours allow), vendor/solution selection support, leadership alignment.
What’s not included?
Dedicated delivery teams or 24×7 production support. We’ll flag heavy lifts that need a separate project or partner and can help scope them.
Commitment & changes
Monthly retainer. Adjust or cancel with 30‑day notice. Unused hours roll forward 1 month, up to 50% of plan.
Where we work
Remote‑first. On‑site workshops available; travel at cost.

Ready to put architecture on rails?

Let’s align on goals and the right tier for your context.

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