What "Fractional" Means
A fractional engagement gives your team access to a senior AWS architect on an ongoing, part-time basis. Think of it as having a principal-level cloud architect on staff (architecture decisions, code reviews, mentoring, cost optimization, and technical strategy) without the full-time commitment or overhead.
This model works well for teams that need experienced cloud guidance regularly but don't have enough work (or budget) to justify a full-time senior hire. Most clients use between 20 and 60 hours per month, though the exact scope is tailored to your needs.
How Hours Work
Rather than rigid tiers, we agree on a monthly hour commitment that fits your team's actual needs. There is a minimum of 20 hours per month, enough to maintain meaningful context on your architecture and provide consistent value.
What's Typically Included
- Architecture and design sessions
- Pull request and design reviews
- Monthly cost and security check-ins
- Async access via Slack or Teams
- Team mentoring and knowledge transfer
- Technical strategy and roadmap input
If your team also needs hands-on implementation work (writing infrastructure code, building CI/CD pipelines, or developing application features), that can be included in the retainer hours or scoped as a separate project engagement.
Rollover Policy
Some months are lighter than others. To accommodate that, up to 25% of your unused monthly hours may carry forward to the following month.
How Rollover Works
| Carry forward | Up to 25% of your monthly commitment rolls into the next month. |
| Non-compounding | Rolled-over hours do not accumulate beyond one month. Use them or they expire. |
| Example | On a 40-hour retainer, if you use 30 hours in March, up to 10 hours carry into April. Any unused rollover from April does not carry into May. |
Handling Spikes and Overages
Architecture work isn't always predictable. A production incident, a new compliance requirement, or an accelerated launch timeline can create short-term demand beyond your normal retainer.
How Additional Hours Work
| No surprise premiums | Hours beyond your monthly commitment are billed at the same agreed-upon hourly rate. No surge pricing. |
| Communication first | If it looks like we'll exceed the monthly hours, I'll flag it proactively so there are no surprises on either side. |
| Sustained increases | If your needs consistently exceed the retainer, we'll discuss adjusting the monthly commitment to better match your actual usage. |
A Note on Production Emergencies
Production incidents don't wait for a convenient time. If a client has a critical production issue, I will prioritize resolving it, which may occasionally require rescheduling previously planned meetings or shifting delivery timelines for other work. This applies equally regardless of which client is affected. The same commitment that may cause a brief interruption for you is the same commitment that ensures I drop everything when your production is on fire.
Billing & Payment
Retainer invoices are issued in advance of each service month. Payment is due before the service period begins. This keeps the arrangement straightforward for both sides: you know exactly what you're paying, and work begins on schedule.
Accepted Payment Methods
- Credit card
- Debit card
- ACH bank transfer
- Wire transfer (details provided upon request)
Billing Details
| Retainer | Invoiced monthly, in advance |
| Overages | Invoiced at the end of the month in which they occur |
| Payment due | Prior to the start of the service month |
| Transparency | Monthly summary of hours and activities provided with each invoice |
Commitment & Cancellation
Fractional engagements require a minimum initial commitment of three months. This provides enough time to build context on your architecture, establish working rhythms with your team, and deliver meaningful results.
| Initial term | 3-month minimum commitment |
| After initial term | Month-to-month, with 30 days written notice to end the engagement |
| Wind-down | During the final month, I'll ensure documentation is current, knowledge is transferred, and your team has what they need to continue independently |
Getting Started
Introductory Call
A free 25-minute conversation to understand your team, architecture, and where you need help. No obligation.
Scope & Agreement
We agree on monthly hours, focus areas, and communication cadence. Clear expectations documented before work begins.
Onboarding & Delivery
I get access to your repos, Slack/Teams, and AWS accounts. Architecture reviews and value delivery start in week one.
Common Questions
Can I adjust my hours after the initial commitment?
Yes, though the process differs depending on the direction:
- Increasing hours: Subject to my availability, as I may have commitments to other clients. When capacity allows, increases can often be accommodated on shorter notice.
- Decreasing hours: Requires 30 days written notice, effective at the start of the following month. This ensures continuity and allows me to plan accordingly.
Your needs will evolve, and the engagement should evolve with them. We'll work together to find the right balance.
What if I also need a specific project completed?
Fractional retainer hours and project engagements can run in parallel. Some clients use the retainer for ongoing architecture work and scope larger initiatives (like a migration) as a separate project with its own timeline and deliverables.
How do you track and report hours?
You'll receive a monthly summary with each invoice that breaks down how hours were spent: architecture sessions, reviews, async support, etc. Full transparency, no guesswork.
Do you work with multiple clients at the same time?
Yes, that's the nature of fractional work. I limit the number of concurrent engagements to ensure each client gets focused, high-quality attention. I will never share proprietary information between clients.