Forward Deployed Engineering Retainer
Keep senior engineering close to one active AI workstream, with agreed monthly capacity, priorities, and ownership. This is scheduled delivery work, not an unrestricted task queue.
What it is
Keep one active workstream moving
Add recurring senior delivery capacity for one active AI workstream without creating an open-ended support promise.
What you receive
Scheduled capacity with visible priorities
- Up to four scheduled delivery days each month
- One agreed deployment or product workstream
- Priority, risk, and boundary review
- Implemented work and concise handoff notes
The retainer is scheduled delivery capacity, not an on-call or service-level commitment.
What I need from you
People, evidence, and safe access
- One accountable owner and a ranked monthly priority list
- Timely access to product, engineering, and workflow stakeholders
- Named, least-privilege, customer-managed access
- Representative evidence for the agreed workstream
- Customer approval of AI providers and permitted data
Access is named, least-privilege, and customer-managed; shared personal credentials are never used.
The boundary
What it does not include
Monthly work stays inside one agreed workstream and a fixed capacity ceiling. The proposal sets the schedule, review point, escalation path, and any carry-over rule.
The proposal names the workstream, monthly priorities, scheduled capacity, stakeholders, escalation path, and work that remains outside the retainer.
How it works
Work to a monthly rhythm
Scheduled days and ranked priorities keep the workstream visible without creating a continuous-support promise.
- Set the monthly boundary
We name the workstream, ranked priorities, stakeholders, scheduled days, and work that remains outside the retainer.
- Work close to the workflow
I implement the agreed product, integration, evaluation, or deployment work with the people who own the outcome.
- Review risk and priorities
We use the agreed review point to change priorities without quietly expanding the capacity or workstream.
- Leave a clear record
Implemented work, decisions, risks, and next actions are recorded for the team each month.
Price and boundary
Price scheduled capacity
The monthly starting price covers up to four scheduled delivery days for one agreed workstream. Extra capacity or parallel workstreams are priced in the written proposal.
Normal studio tooling is included unless agreed otherwise.
Customer-specific licenses, production usage, cloud costs, and travel are stated in the proposal.
Priorities may change at the agreed review point; unused capacity and carry-over rules are stated in the proposal.
Starting prices are set independently in each currency, not converted live. Applicable taxes are confirmed in the proposal.
Good fit
Monthly delivery fits when
- An active AI workstream needs recurring senior delivery capacity.
- One owner can rank the monthly priorities.
- The team can plan work around scheduled delivery days.
- The need crosses product, integration, and release decisions.
Before work starts
Confirm the workstream and schedule
The website is a commercial summary. The written proposal and contract confirm the binding scope, timing, price, taxes, expenses, and terms.
- Send a short email
Describe the desired workflow, current blockage, constraints, and decision-makers.
- Check the fit
We use a short call to confirm the smallest useful scope.
- Review the documents
Paid work follows a written proposal and contract, then an invoice.
Discuss monthly delivery support
Tell me which workstream needs continuity, who ranks its priorities, and how the team plans around scheduled delivery days.