Fractional CTO vs VP Engineering: Who Do You Need?
CTO and VP Engineering are different roles with different focus areas. Let's explore when each is needed and how they complement each other.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Fractional CTO | VP Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Strategy and architecture | Delivery and team |
| Technical decisions | Implementation | |
| People management | Strategic | Day-to-day |
| Business interaction | Board, investors | Product, stakeholders |
| Research and innovation | ||
| Processes and methodologies | Defines | Implements |
| Codes personally | Sometimes | Rarely |
| Cost (full-time) | $200K-400K+ | $180K-300K |
When each role is needed
Choose Fractional CTO if:
You need a technical visionary and strategist
- Defining company's technical strategy
- Preparing for an investment round
- Need architect for key decisions
- Important to represent to board/investors
- Small team (up to 10-15 people)
- No budget for full-time CTO
Choose VP Engineering if:
You need an operational leader for the team
- Growing team (15+ developers)
- Need day-to-day management and delivery
- Issues with processes and quality
- CTO is overloaded with operations
- Need to scale the team
- Important hiring and people development
Cost Comparison
Cost per year
Fractional CTO
Fractional (10-15 hrs/week)$60,000-96,000
Recruiting$0
Time to hirenot needed
Total:$60K-96K
VP Engineering
Base salary$180,000-280,000
Bonuses and benefits$40,000-60,000
Recruiting$35,000-60,000
Time to hire2-4 months
Total:$255,000-400,000
Help Me Decide
Answer questions to determine the best approach
Question 1 / 4
Technical team size?
Frequently asked questions
Let's determine the optimal structure
Start with a free 30-minute consultation. We'll discuss your goals, challenges, and determine how I can help.
or