Stig Node by Stig Labs
A dedicated engineering team on a monthly retainer. We run the team, you point it at your roadmap. No six month hiring cycle, no herding freelancers.
The core concept
Recruiting in house takes three to six months before any code ships. Freelancers are faster, but quality swings and nobody owns the outcome. A pod gives you people who already work together, accountable as one unit from day one.
What is a pod?
A Managed Pod is a self-contained engineering team deployed as a single delivery unit.
It plugs into your existing setup and starts shipping. You don't build the team; you use it.
One unit owns the work from start to finish. Nobody gets to point at a contractor and shrug.
The pod plans, builds, tests, documents and demos. You set the requirements and accept the work. That's the whole division of labour.
You see what's being built, how fast it's moving, and where it's stuck. Every week, without asking.
Pod composition
A typical pod runs 6 to 18 dedicated people, depending on what you're building. Every discipline you need to ship is already in the room.
Leadership
Oversight & code reviews
Core engineering
API & database logic
User experience
UI/UX implementation
Infrastructure
CI/CD pipelines & cloud infra
Quality
Automated testing & QA
Not fixed: grow the pod for a big push, shrink it once you're in maintenance mode. Size and mix follow the project.
Delivery & governance
The pod works inside your repos, your boards and your channels. Code, tickets, docs; all of it stays in your accounts, owned by you, the whole time.
Daily
Sync & update
Weekly
Sprint cycle
Monthly
Strategic review
Why pods
| Model | Core challenges | Typical outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Internal hiring | ✕ Slow to staff (3 to 6 months lead time) ✕ High overhead & recruitment costs ✕ Heavy management load |
High control, but slow velocity and expensive scaling. |
| Freelancers | ✕ Variable quality & availability ✕ Limited accountability ✕ Coordination & knowledge risk |
Cheap initially, but fragile and hard to scale cohesively. |
| Traditional agencies | ✕ Opaque staffing ✕ Inconsistent governance ✕ High change friction |
Transactional relationship often misaligned with product goals. |
| Managed Pods | ✓ One team owns delivery end to end ✓ Oversight built into every sprint ✓ Ramps up in weeks, not months |
Predictable engineering capacity that scales with your needs. |
Performance assurance
Velocity, sprint completion and defect density get tracked from week one. You get the raw figures, not a status theatre deck.
Delivery never hinges on one brilliant person who might quit. The whole pod owns the outcome together.
If someone leaves or underperforms, we replace them and absorb the cost. Your timeline doesn't move.
CI/CD, automated tests, code review and proper documentation come with every pod. You'd have to ask us to skip them.
Security & compliance
Every pod member is background checked and works under least privilege access. If you have your own compliance rules, we work inside them.
We sign an NDA and data protection agreement before any engagement starts.
Our practices follow NDPR, with strict privacy controls around sensitive data.
Pod members get the minimum access they need, and activity is tracked.
Your internal security policies and environment controls apply to us too.
All code and IP developed by the pod belongs exclusively to you.
Engagement model
One fixed monthly fee per pod, priced on size, skills and seniority. No timesheets, no overtime surprises. Just a number you can plan around.
Payment terms
Monthly in advance
Invoices go out at the start of each cycle and are due within 7 to 14 days.
Minimum engagement
3 months
Standard terms run 3 to 6 months and renew by mutual agreement.
Scaling
Up or down, per billing cycle
Match capacity to your roadmap and funding. Changes take effect the next billing cycle.
Termination
4 weeks written notice
No lock in beyond the notice period. Leaving is as simple as joining.
Getting started
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3+
Tell us what you're building. We'll come back with a pod size, a price, and an honest view of how long it'll take.
