Engagement models
Four ways to work with our engineers
Choose the model that fits the work, not the one a provider happens to sell. We offer all four, and we will tell you which one we would pick in your position.
Choose a dedicated developer for long-term product work, a contract developer for a defined term or skill gap, contract-to-hire to test a permanent hire on real work, and a project build when you need an outcome delivered without managing the engineers yourself.
For product companies and agencies
Dedicated developer
- Works only on your product, full-time
- Joins your standups, Slack or Teams, Jira and Git
- Monthly fee agreed before the start
- Scale up or down with notice
- Best for roadmaps longer than six months
For teams with a defined need
Contract developer
- Named developer for a fixed term, usually 3 to 12 months
- Clear start date, end date and exit
- Contract-to-hire available if you want to convert
- Suits Indian companies, GCCs and overseas teams
- Best for delivery peaks and specialist gaps
For a defined product or feature
Project build
- Scope, milestones and price agreed in writing
- We own delivery, you own the code
- Weekly demos rather than status reports
- Documentation and handover included
- Best when the outcome matters more than headcount
Compared
All four models side by side
| Dedicated | Contract | Contract-to-hire | Project build | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical length | 6 months or more, rolling | 3 to 12 months | Contract period, then permanent | Defined by scope |
| Who directs the work | You | You | You | TechNimbus |
| Billing | Monthly | Monthly or hourly | Monthly during contract | Milestones |
| Best for | Long roadmaps | Peaks and specialist gaps | Testing fit before hiring | Defined outcomes |
| Flexibility | Scale with notice | Extend or end at term | Convert or end | Change requests |
| You interview the developer | Yes | Yes | Yes | You meet the team |
How it works
The same four steps for every model
STEP 01
A call about the work, not a sales pitch
We talk through the role or product, your stack, your hours and your budget. If we are not the right fit, we say so on that call.
You leave with a written summary: the profile we would put forward, the engagement model that suits the work and a realistic start date.
STEP 02
Shortlist and your own interview
Every developer we put forward has been technically interviewed by a senior engineer on our side. You then interview them yourself, as you would any hire.
Nothing is signed until you have met the person who will do the work. No bait and switch between the interview and the first day.
STEP 03
Start inside your tools
The developer joins your Slack or Teams, your Git, your board and your ceremonies. For project builds we set up the repository, environments and CI on day one.
You get the same working hours every week, with agreed overlap for UK, European or US teams.
STEP 04
Monthly review and honest course correction
We check in with you every month on output, communication and fit. If something is not working, we deal with it early rather than letting a contract run down.
Extend, scale up, scale down, convert a contractor to your payroll, or end cleanly at the agreed date.
What is the best engagement model for hiring developers?
There is no single best model. Dedicated developers suit long product roadmaps, contract developers suit defined terms and specialist gaps, contract-to-hire suits roles you want to test before hiring, and project builds suit defined outcomes without an in-house team.
Can we change engagement model later?
Yes. Common moves are from a project build to dedicated developers after launch, and from contract to permanent through contract-to-hire. We agree any change in writing.
Which model is most popular in India in 2026?
Contract hiring is the fastest-growing, at about 38% of IT engagements in India in 2026 according to CompanyBench, up from around 28% in 2023.
How is each model billed?
Dedicated developers are billed monthly. Contract developers are billed monthly or hourly for the agreed term. Project builds are billed against milestones in a written scope.
Start a conversation
Tell us what you need to build
Send a short brief. We reply within 48 hours with a clear plan, a realistic timeline and an honest view on whether we are the right team for it.