For many US companies, working with a global engineering partner is the fastest way to add senior capacity without months of hiring. But the wrong partner costs more than it saves. Here is the checklist we recommend to every founder and CTO we speak with.
1. Look for a local point of contact
Time zones and contracts are easier when your partner has a US presence. You get a single accountable contact, US-friendly agreements and overlap for real-time collaboration.
2. Ask how quality is enforced
Every partner says they write clean code. Ask to see their definition of done: code reviews, automated tests, CI/CD pipelines and security scanning should be standard, not add-ons.
3. Check domain experience
AI, fintech and blockchain projects carry domain-specific risk. A partner who has shipped similar products will spot problems early.
4. Protect your IP from day one
Insist on NDAs, full IP assignment, least-privilege access and clear offboarding procedures.
5. Start small
A paid discovery or two-week pilot lets both sides validate fit before committing to a larger engagement.