Secondment services

Engineering secondment services

Q: How is secondment different from outstaffing or contracting?

Secondment is a structured engagement where the engineer is fully embedded in your team for a defined duration (typically 3–24 months) with the explicit option to convert to FTE. Outstaffing is similar but typically open-ended and not converted. Contracting is short-term, project-based work without team integration.

Q: Can I convert a seconded engineer to a full-time hire?

Yes. There is no buyout fee or conversion charge. We facilitate the transition and the engineer can start as a direct or EOR-managed FTE the next month.

Embed senior engineers from Asia into your existing team for 3–24 month engagements. Full-time commitment, your processes, our payroll and compliance handled.

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Why companies use secondment

Faster than full-time hire

Skip the 3–6 month FTE recruitment cycle. Onboard a seconded engineer in 1–2 weeks who acts as a fully embedded team member.

Lower-risk than direct hire

Test fit before committing to full-time. If the engagement does not work, we replace them at no cost.

Convertible to FTE

Most secondment engagements convert to permanent hires. We support the transition with no buyout or conversion fees.

How secondment works with Second Talent

Define the engagement

Tell us the duration (3–24 months), the stack, the seniority level, and the deliverables. We scope the engagement and price it transparently.

Match in 24 hours

We send 6–8 pre-vetted profiles within 24 hours. Each candidate has experience with similar engagements.

Embed and ship

Your seconded engineer joins your team using your tools, your standups, your code review process. We handle their payroll, taxes, and compliance.

Convert or release

At the end of the engagement, you can convert to FTE (no buyout fee), extend, or release with no penalty.

Secondment FAQs

How is secondment different from outstaffing or contracting?

Secondment is a structured engagement where the engineer is fully embedded in your team for a defined duration (typically 3–24 months) with the explicit option to convert to FTE. Outstaffing is similar but typically open-ended and not converted. Contracting is short-term, project-based work without team integration.

How long is a typical secondment?

Most engagements run 6–12 months. Minimum 3 months, maximum 24 months. Most clients convert their seconded engineers to full-time within the first year.

Can I convert a seconded engineer to a full-time hire?

Yes. There is no buyout fee or conversion charge. We facilitate the transition and the engineer can start as a direct or EOR-managed FTE the next month.

How much does secondment cost?

Transparent monthly pricing based on the engineer's seniority and country. Senior engineers typically range from $3,000–$8,000/month all-inclusive. No upfront fees.

Do I manage the seconded engineer day-to-day?

Yes. The engineer reports into your manager, joins your standups, follows your code review process, and uses your tools. We handle payroll and HR admin in the background.

What our clients say

Thanks to Second Talent, Open Campus quickly built a skilled tech team of 10 within two months, boosting productivity by 70% and accelerating our Web3 platform's development. This success has strengthened our role in decentralized education and fueled our market expansion, highlighting our leadership in Web3 innovation.

Jonah L.

Head of Portfolio (raised US$100m)

Second Talent helped Beyond Cars (acquired by Carro) swiftly build a top-tier tech team in just a month, accelerating our platform's development and boosting productivity. This success allowed us to expand into new markets, ultimately leading to our acquisition by a major automotive e-commerce company.

Garry Y.

Co-Founder (acquired by Carro)

Partnering with Second Talent has been a game-changer for our tech expansion. Their ability to source top-tier talent from Vietnam helped us scale rapidly while maintaining quality. Their pre-vetted candidates integrated seamlessly, and their account management ensured smooth onboarding.

Tom F.

Co-founder (#1 US Real Estate Coach)

Second Talent played a key role in our tech expansion, quickly providing high-quality frontend talent that integrated seamlessly into our projects. Their pre-vetted candidates, smooth onboarding process, and excellent support helped us build a strong, cost-effective team that drives our success.

Marco A.

Co-founder & CTO

Second Talent built our team of pre-vetted engineers who made our hiring decisions straightforward. Once onboarded, our tech team saw a significant boost in productivity and development speed. Their excellent account management and responsive customer service also ensured smooth handling of all post-onboarding HR matters.

Jack N.

Director of IT (10,000+ employees)

Second Talent helped us rapidly scale by sourcing top-quality SDR talent from Indonesia. Their pre-screened candidates fit perfectly, and their smooth onboarding and support built a strong, cost-effective team that helped to test and experiment sales with another market.