--- title: "Fractional CTO, Interim VPE, Board Adviser | Marian Kamenistak" description: "Fractional CTO, interim VPE, and board adviser. 10 productised engagements from €24k. Fixed scope, fixed price, fixed timeline." url: "https://www.marian.coach/fractional-cto/" lang: "en" image: "https://www.marian.coach/_astro/talk-36.pEYi650i_1jOCeO.jpg" --- # Fractional CTO. Interim VPE. Independent Board Adviser. Three engagement modes, ten productised packages. Fixed scope, fixed price, fixed timeline. No months-long money-sucking retainer. Bringing a development team's perception from cost centre to unique competitive edge. New to the model? Start with the full guide: [Fractional CTO for startups: what it is, what it costs, when you need one](https://www.marian.coach/blog/fractional-cto-what-it-is-cost-when-you-need-one/). **Marian Kamenistak provides fractional CTO, interim VPE, and independent board advisory services** to product engineering organisations of 10-499 engineers. Based in Prague, working across Europe and North America. 35+ completed engagements including Mews (Series C), Jablotron, Eurowag, Kosik.cz, Dr Max, Innovatrics, and Pure Storage. Not sure this fits? For a smaller start, the [3-month productivity audit](https://www.marian.coach/engineering-teams-productivity-audit/) is the same brain scoped tighter. To put a mentor in front of your whole leadership bench, [Mentor in Residence](https://www.marian.coach/mentor-in-residence/) starts at 6,498 EUR per quarter. For leaders (not orgs), [1:1 mentoring](https://www.marian.coach/pricing/) covers the same ground for €430/session. To train a whole management team, see the [Leadership Academy](https://www.engineeringleaders.io/academy/). Read how mentees describe the work on the [testimonials page](https://www.marian.coach/testimonials/). [Request a brainstorm →](mailto:marian@marian.coach?subject=Fractional%20CTO%20inquiry) ## Three ways I engage ### Fractional CTO / VPE Solve your organisation's specific challenge with top-tier engineering leadership — without a full-time hire. **When:** You have a specific problem: delivery, hiring, org design, technical debt. You need a senior brain 1-2 days a week, not a full FTE. ### Interim CTO or VPE 3-9 months leading your engineering team while you optimise operations, boost efficiency, and hire the permanent seat. **When:** You lost your engineering leader, or you're preparing to hire one. I run the team, ship the roadmap, and help you find and onboard my replacement. ### Independent Executive Board Adviser The bridge between engineering and the board. Technical assessment translated into business language. **When:** You're a non-technical board member, CEO, or investor. You need someone who speaks tech to sanity-check what engineering is telling you. ## Recent clients - [![Mews](https://www.marian.coach/images/clients/mews.webp)](https://www.mews.com/ "Mews") - [![Jablotron](https://www.marian.coach/images/clients/jablotron.webp)](https://www.jablotron.com/ "Jablotron") - [![Eurowag](https://www.marian.coach/images/clients/eurowag.webp)](https://www.eurowag.com/ "Eurowag") - [![Kosik.cz](https://www.marian.coach/images/clients/kosik.webp)](https://www.kosik.cz/ "Kosik.cz") - [![Dr Max](https://www.marian.coach/images/clients/dr-max.webp)](https://www.drmax.cz/ "Dr Max") - [![Innovatrics](https://www.marian.coach/images/clients/innovatrics.webp)](https://www.innovatrics.com/ "Innovatrics") - [![Pure Storage](https://www.marian.coach/images/clients/pure-storage.webp)](https://www.purestorage.com/ "Pure Storage") ## Productised engagements Fixed scope, fixed price, fixed timeline. Discount available for ELC community members and partners. ### Precise Productivity Boost 16 man-days · 8 weeks €32,000 ![Precise Productivity Boost — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/productivity-boost.NdyVSYQD_Z2rrhkd.webp) Challenge Teams struggling to meet deadlines. You suspect inefficiencies but don't know where. Approach Comprehensive audit of team efficiency, tooling, leadership, and teamwork. In-depth team assessments + ticket-data analysis. Report with findings and highest-ROI improvements. Result Team efficiency score 4/10 → 7/10 in 6 months, 8/10 in a year. Consistently ship 80%+ of quarterly roadmap. [See sample deliverable →](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v2R0Hds_ihdMvG_jb7MjpvMMgQieUADzyobjr6Lngsw/edit) ### Real-Time Productivity Metrics 16 man-days · 8 weeks €32,000 ![Real-Time Productivity Metrics — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/realtime-metrics.Cqf_WP9v_Z1bez8k.webp) Challenge No visibility into team performance. Every metric feels like surveillance to the team. Approach Real-time dashboards integrated with Jira. Top 5 metrics visualised in Tableau or PowerBI: sprint completion, roadmap contribution, ad-hoc ratio, epic cycle time, task distribution, change failure rate. Team self-rating 0-5. Result ~30% team efficiency increase. Consistently ship 80%+ of quarterly roadmap. Team self-rating 4.2/5 average. [See sample deliverable →](https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/marian.kamenistak3236/viz/Tollefficiencyanalyticsdemo/TollDashboard) ### Organisational Structure & Alignment 12 man-days · 6 weeks €24,000 ![Organisational Structure & Alignment — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/org-structure.C2uyHPEn_Z1cEUx9.webp) Challenge Product and engineering misaligned. Missed deadlines, unclear priorities, frustration. Approach Review of org hierarchy and communication channels. Stakeholder interviews. Analysis of structure + comms + knowledge-sharing. Roadmap for structural + communication enhancements. Result Priorities, roles, and processes aligned to value delivery. Product-Engineering gap closed. Development tasks connected to company objectives. [See sample deliverable →](https://github.com/marian-kamenistak/mews-career-framework) ### Software Architecture Quality Audit 16 man-days · 8 weeks €32,000 ![Software Architecture Quality Audit — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/architecture-audit.B3ebWcEL_Z1qapL7.webp) Challenge Uncertain about your architecture's ability to support business needs. Worried about technical debt. Approach Deep dive into scalability, stability, extensibility, incident management, release processes, code quality. Tech-debt calculation with effort estimates. Compare current tech roadmap against findings. Result Data-driven decisions on tech investments. Clear picture of tech-debt impact on velocity. Roadmap for a stronger, more scalable ecosystem. [See sample deliverable →](https://engineeringleader.notion.site/Software-Architecture-Audit-248f3703290a42c0996d78ef189caca8) ### Code Quality Audit 16 man-days · 8 weeks €32,000 ![Code Quality Audit — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/code-quality.emqXX20V_ZHoIEr.webp) Challenge Uncertain about maintainability and scalability of your codebase. Rising tech debt. Approach Static analysis, readability, modularity, extensibility. Cyclomatic complexity, coupling metrics. Identify largest risks and code smells. Policies to reduce inefficiencies going forward. Result Quantified code-quality debt. Risks identified. Learning ceremonies enabled across teams. [See sample deliverable →](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10KviFORXQiu1-RT5sIx1EMBEJWsnm6dOiEdvPJgXlBA/edit) ### Value-Driven Prioritisation 16 man-days · 8 weeks €32,000 ![Value-Driven Prioritisation — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/value-prioritisation.DlELZrIG_1IrhNB.webp) Challenge Everything is project-based and deadline-driven. No systematic way to prioritise by value. Approach Define transparent product + technical strategy. Roadmap connected to Jira. Prioritisation by ROI or Cost of Delay. Every team's work traceable to revenue. Result Data-driven decisions. Product and tech priorities balanced. Every team sees how their work moves the top line. ### Career Frameworks for Growth & Motivation 16 man-days · 8 weeks €32,000 ![Career Frameworks for Growth & Motivation — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/career-frameworks.CZrUxKml_Z2lgbiB.webp) Challenge No clear career paths. Compensation model unfair or opaque. Talent attrition rising. Approach Equitable career growth model aligned to company stage, talent, values. Stakeholder interviews. Model selection + implementation + adoption roadmap. Result Culture of personal growth. Transparent career paths + fair comp → higher engagement and retention. [See sample deliverable →](https://github.com/marian-kamenistak/mews-career-framework) ### Strong Learning & Talent Growth 32 man-days · 16 weeks €64,000 ![Strong Learning & Talent Growth — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/learning-growth.7ILqNKQ6_phJNk.webp) Challenge Traditional training isn't enough. You need to attract and retain top talent by making learning part of the DNA. Approach Internal communities. External events: meetups, conferences, podcasts. Career guidance across programming, testing, soft skills, cross-functional exposure. Tied to Individual Development Plans. Result Innovation, self-learning, personal growth. Retention up. Top talent attracted. "A's hire A's, B's hire C's." [See sample deliverable →](https://engineeringleader.notion.site/Enable-Strong-Learning-and-Talent-Growth-in-32-man-days-9e18d4db4c2348ecbba43dcfe3f97c93) ### Executive Board Consultant Ongoing partnership €1,600/MD + 10% value bonus ![Executive Board Consultant — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/exec-board.C04AHAjn_Z83zwA.webp) Challenge You need ongoing strategic guidance at the leadership and executive level. Approach Long-term partnership. Collaborative problem-solving, expertise validation, focus on efficiency and cost savings. Can act as fractional CTO when needed. Result Sustainable growth. Optimised operations. Informed decision-making at exec level. ### On-Demand Advisory Per engagement €1,600/MD ![On-Demand Advisory — sample deliverable from a fractional CTO engagement](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/on-demand-advisory.CNdjSFUw_ZWbIWP.webp) Challenge Your growth plan isn't working. You need targeted expertise without trial and error. Approach Targeted advisory for specific challenges: execution, leadership development, hiring, quality, reliability, remote work, org structure, scaling, delivery, retention, compensation. Result Fast insight to overcome specific obstacles. No long engagements when you don't need one. ### All engagements at a glance | Engagement | Duration | Price | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Precise Productivity Boost | 16 man-days · 8 weeks | €32,000 | Teams struggling to meet deadlines. You suspect inefficiencies but don't know where. | | Real-Time Productivity Metrics | 16 man-days · 8 weeks | €32,000 | No visibility into team performance. Every metric feels like surveillance to the team. | | Organisational Structure & Alignment | 12 man-days · 6 weeks | €24,000 | Product and engineering misaligned. Missed deadlines, unclear priorities, frustration. | | Software Architecture Quality Audit | 16 man-days · 8 weeks | €32,000 | Uncertain about your architecture's ability to support business needs. Worried about technical debt. | | Code Quality Audit | 16 man-days · 8 weeks | €32,000 | Uncertain about maintainability and scalability of your codebase. Rising tech debt. | | Value-Driven Prioritisation | 16 man-days · 8 weeks | €32,000 | Everything is project-based and deadline-driven. No systematic way to prioritise by value. | | Career Frameworks for Growth & Motivation | 16 man-days · 8 weeks | €32,000 | No clear career paths. Compensation model unfair or opaque. Talent attrition rising. | | Strong Learning & Talent Growth | 32 man-days · 16 weeks | €64,000 | Traditional training isn't enough. You need to attract and retain top talent by making learning part of the DNA. | | Executive Board Consultant | Ongoing partnership | €1,600/MD + 10% value bonus | You need ongoing strategic guidance at the leadership and executive level. | | On-Demand Advisory | Per engagement | €1,600/MD | Your growth plan isn't working. You need targeted expertise without trial and error. | ## Is your company a fit? - **Company size:** 10-499 engineers is my sweet spot. Both ends of that range are workable if the fit is right. - **Industry:** Any B2B or B2C software company. I avoid crypto. - **Culture:** Companies that treat engineers like resources or cogs won\\'t enjoy working with me. ## Starting the conversation Email [marian@marian.coach](mailto:marian@marian.coach?subject=Fractional%20CTO%20inquiry) with a paragraph on the current situation and what "success" looks like in the next 12 weeks. I'll come back within 48h with the tightest-fit package and any questions. ## From the blog [All posts →](https://www.marian.coach/blog/) - [![Marian Kamenistak walking the mDevCamp stage in front of a large pink-lit conference backdrop.](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/talk-05.G5yrumUC_jwOhe.webp) ### Fractional CTO for Startups: What It Is, What It Costs, When You Need One What a fractional CTO for a startup does, real market rates, and the 6 signals you need one. Written by a fractional CTO who has run the model since 2023. 10 July 2026 · By Marian Read → ](https://www.marian.coach/blog/fractional-cto-what-it-is-cost-when-you-need-one/) - [![Marian mentoring an engineering leader one on one](https://www.marian.coach/images/blog-covers/how-to-build-trust-with-engineering-teams.webp) ### How to Build Trust with Engineering Teams In engineering management, my vision is to create a productive software delivery environment that developers are proud to work in, with a focus on tangible… 10 August 2020 · By Marian Read → ](https://www.marian.coach/blog/how-to-build-trust-with-engineering-teams/) - [![Full auditorium audience at an engineering leadership conference where Marian Kamenistak spoke.](https://www.marian.coach/_astro/speaker-09.Cgx0l7B4_OIr2s.webp) ### Should I Become a Team Lead? A 6-Dimension Answer Six dimensions predict whether the team lead role will fit you, drawn from 3,400+ mentoring sessions. Take the 3-minute test, get a straight verdict. 22 July 2026 · By Marian Read → ](https://www.marian.coach/blog/should-i-become-a-team-lead/) ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ProfessionalService","name":"Marian Kamenistak | Engineering Leadership Mentoring","url":"https://www.marian.coach/fractional-cto/","image":"https://www.marian.coach/_astro/talk-36.pEYi650i_1jOCeO.jpg","description":"Fractional CTO, interim VPE, and board adviser. 10 productised engagements from €24k. 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