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Forward Share Network
VP Engineering Expert Operator – Dwayne King
Get Matched in 48 Hours →A fractional VP Engineering provides the full VP Engineering scope – hiring architecture, engineering process design, technical roadmap alignment, team culture, and incident management – for companies that need VP-level engineering leadership without the four-to-six month timeline of a full-time executive search. Dwayne King has operated in this role across SaaS, fintech, and AI-native products, stepping in as the operating VP Engineering from day one.
The early warning signs that an engineering org needs VP-level leadership now
Most engineering orgs that need a VP Engineering are not in crisis – they are in a slow decline that is easy to rationalize. Sprint completion rates are trending down but still above 60%. Senior engineers are mentioning "process friction" in 1:1s but not enough to flag urgently. The CTO is spending more time unblocking engineering decisions and less time on technical direction. The last two hires took longer than expected and two candidates declined offers for reasons that were not fully understood. Each of these signals in isolation is manageable. As a pattern, they indicate that the engineering org has grown past the informal leadership model that was working at the previous scale and needs a VP-level expert operator to build the next layer.
What Dwayne covers in the fractional VP Engineering scope
Dwayne operates as the VP Engineering – not as a consultant who reviews and recommends. He owns hiring (job descriptions, interview design, offer decisions), engineering process (sprint cadence, code review standards, incident response), technical roadmap alignment (weekly syncs with product and design, ensuring engineering is building against the right priorities), and team culture (1:1 cadence with senior engineers, promotion process, performance management). He attends leadership team meetings as the engineering voice and represents engineering in board presentations where relevant. The CTO remains the primary technical visionary; Dwayne owns the engineering organization's operating effectiveness.
When to bring in a fractional VP Engineering versus waiting for a full-time hire
A full-time VP Engineering search at a growth-stage company typically takes four to six months from opening the role to the hire's first day. During that window, the engineering org is either operating without VP-level leadership (which often produces the slow-decline pattern above) or the CTO is absorbing the VP Engineering scope (which typically means technical direction suffers). A fractional VP Engineering starts within weeks. Dwayne frequently assists with the full-time search while operating in the role – writing the job description, reviewing candidates, and ensuring a clean handoff when the permanent hire is ready. The company does not lose momentum during the search.
A STAR case from the Forward Share Ventures network
Situation: A Series B fintech company at $18M ARR had 28 engineers and no VP Engineering. The CTO had been absorbing the VP Engineering scope for seven months following a departure. Engineering sprint completion rate was at 58%, three senior engineers had flagged burnout concerns, and two hires in the prior quarter had declined offers citing "unclear engineering culture." The board had flagged engineering velocity as a Series C readiness risk.
Result: Dwayne joined in week two after engagement. He ran a four-week engineering operating audit, redesigned the team structure into four squads, implemented a new sprint cadence with structured retrospectives, and established a 1:1 program for all eight senior engineers. He also reopened the VP Engineering search and assisted the CTO in interviewing candidates. Sprint completion rate reached 74% within one quarter. The next two hires both accepted offers, both citing the engineering culture clarity as a factor. The full-time VP Engineering was hired and onboarded in month five of Dwayne's engagement.
Forward Share Ventures expert operators are selected from a verified STAR Portfolio™ of documented outcomes. Cases are shared with client permission.
"Engineers know when there is no one who owns their team's operating effectiveness. They do not always say it directly – it comes out as 'the process is unclear' or 'communication is hard' or 'I'm not sure where my career is going here.' Those are VP Engineering problems, not CTO problems. When those signals are present and there is no VP Engineering to address them, the best engineers start looking."
– Dwayne King, Engineering Expert Operator, Forward Share Ventures
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request an introduction to this expert operator?
Submit a brief through the match form at Forward Share Network. The team reviews your situation, confirms the expert operator's availability, and arranges a 20-minute introductory call – typically within 48 hours of your submission. No commitment is required before the intro call.
What engagement formats are available?
Three main structures: a structured advisory seat (one 60-minute session per month plus async availability), a scoped consulting project (30, 60, or 90 days with defined deliverables), or a strategic advisory retainer for ongoing functional partnership. The right format depends on your situation and timeline.
How much time does a typical engagement require?
Advisory engagements run roughly 2–3 hours per month per company, including the structured session and async exchanges. Scoped projects are more intensive for the duration – scope and time commitment are defined at kickoff. Most expert operators carry 2–4 active engagements simultaneously.
Are there placement fees or exclusivity arrangements?
No placement fees. Forward Share Network operates on an engagement model, not a transactional staffing model. Expert operators are not exclusive to any company – they bring the perspective of working across multiple situations simultaneously, which is a core part of the value.
What if my situation changes mid-engagement?
Engagements are structured with defined check-in milestones – typically at 30-day intervals. If your situation shifts, scope can be renegotiated at the next milestone. For scoped projects, the team can also configure a scope amendment before the halfway point if circumstances change materially.
Ready to match? No prep needed. 20 minutes.
Get Matched in 48 Hours →How It Works
Tell us your gap
20-minute read with Vish. We map the function, stage, and urgency — no deck required.
We match in 48 hours
You receive 1–3 STAR-verified operators matched to your exact situation — reviewed and accountable.
Deploy in days
No contract lock-in. Start with a sprint or ongoing engagement. Cancel any time.
How We Compare
The honest breakdown — what separates a Forward Share expert operator from your other options.
| Criteria | FSV Expert Operator | Staffing Agency | Full-Time Hire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to deploy | 48 hours | 3–6 weeks | 3–6 months |
| Commitment | Cancel anytime | Contract-locked | 12+ months |
| Track record | STAR-verified outcomes | Resume-screened | References only |
| Cost model | Engagement-based, no fee | 20–30% placement fee | Base + equity + benefits |
| Quality | Top 5% — curated from 400+ | Available candidates | Best hire at this stage |
| Risk | Low — no long-term lock-in | Medium — fee non-refundable | High — mis-hire is 1.5–2× salary |
Find Your Expert in 48 Hours.
No prep needed. 20 minutes. You'll leave with a clear read on your gap — and the right operator to close it.
STAR-Verified · No Placement Fee · Cancel Anytime