Architects, Product Owners and Interim Engineering Leads — For Products Growing Faster Than the Team

Typically, a selection of two to four profiles is available within 24 to 36 hours. Three factors are key: the tech stack, the product’s scale, and whether the person is expected to lead or execute. From our network of over 23,000 vetted experts, roles in architecture, platform operations, and product management can usually be filled on short notice.

Yes. We filter based on projects in exactly this environment, not on keywords in the resume: which language, which platform, which data storage, which operating model. During the interview, we ask about the challenge that caused the most trouble—that’s a more reliable indicator than a list of technologies.

The median rate across all assignments is €1,050 per day. The rate depends on the role and level of responsibility: an interim development lead is paid more than a product owner, while a software architect falls somewhere in between. Costs are typically 30 to 60% of those of traditional management consultancies.

The number of open IT positions has fallen from 149,000 in 2023 to 79,000 in 2026. Nevertheless, 97 percent of companies with IT openings report hiring difficulties, and 31 percent receive virtually no suitable applications. The bottleneck has shifted from quantity to fit—companies aren’t looking for just any developer, but for someone with experience specifically with this product and this company.

The interim manager assumes a temporary line management role—in development, product, or sales—with the authority to issue instructions and responsibility for product releases and revenue. The freelance management consultant prepares decisions: product strategy, pricing model, make-or-buy. The subject-matter expert provides expertise in architecture, development, or operations.

Yes. Enterprise customers often require proof of compliance before signing a contract, and staffing the system ties up development time that could otherwise be spent on the product. We staff the system with temporary ISO 27001 consultants and security officers to set up the management system and guide the organization through the certification process without hindering the product team.

Yes, and that phase is included in the briefing because it changes the selection criteria. In the early stages, what matters is who actually builds and makes decisions; once a certain scale is reached, what matters is who can establish structures without slowing down the pace. Anyone who is only familiar with corporate projects underestimates both.

Typically, with a notice period of 5 to 10 days, depending on the agreed-upon term. Because releases, migrations, and certifications have a defined end date, fixed-term staffing fits the project well. Extensions are the norm.

We’ll work with your legal or procurement department to clarify the contract type, reporting structures, tools, and documentation before we begin. In product teams, there’s also the question of rights to deliverables and source code—this needs to be clarified before we start. This does not replace legal advice.

The most in-demand roles are software and cloud architects, site reliability and platform engineers, interim heads of engineering and heads of product, as well as product owners. In addition, there are roles in UX design, customer success, and go-to-market when growth is to come from the existing customer base.

Most of the time, yes, because the transition takes place alongside ongoing operations and involves the same internal staff. An external party plans the transition in phases rather than all at once, ensuring the client’s operations remain stable. Assignments typically last six to twelve months.

Each profile undergoes an interview with a subject-matter expert and is evaluated against the mandate criteria: delivered products, including their scale and operating model; results achieved; and references from comparable mandates. The placement rate across all mandates is 95 percent.