How We Work

Structured Delivery. Predictable Outcomes.

We combine small, high-performing Pod teams with our SPARK™ framework to deliver software that ships on time, meets quality standards, and continuously improves. No surprises, no drama — just consistent execution.

SPARK™ Framework
Cross-functional Pods
Quality Gates
AI-Native Engineering
Start a Pilot ProjectSee SPARK™ in Action

Our Principles

How We Think About Delivery

Every project at Salt is guided by these core principles. They inform how we structure teams, build software, and measure success.

Outcome-Focused

We don't just write code. We focus on delivering measurable business outcomes that matter to your organization.

Pod-Based Delivery

Small, dedicated teams that own their work end-to-end. No hand-offs, no finger-pointing, just accountability.

AI-Native Engineering

We embed AI tools throughout our workflow for faster delivery, better code quality, and continuous improvement.

Continuous Improvement

Every engagement includes metrics tracking and retrospectives. Your product should get better every quarter.

Built-in Quality

Quality gates, automated testing, code reviews, and security scanning are non-negotiable in every project.

Predictable Delivery

Clear timelines, regular demos, and transparent communication. You always know where your project stands.

SPARK™ Framework

Structured Delivery That Actually Works

SPARK™ is Salt's delivery framework for building, modernizing, and scaling software, data, and AI systems. Five stages that bring discipline to agile without the bureaucracy.

Scope & Shape

Week 1-2

Align on what we're doing and why. We understand the problem, context, stakeholders, and constraints to define clear business outcomes.

Key Activities

  • Problem & context analysis
  • Define success metrics
  • Identify risks & dependencies
  • High-level solution outline

Outcome

Clear alignment on goals and approach

Explore SPARK™ in Detail

Pod Teams

Small Teams, Big Impact

Work is delivered by Pods — cross-functional teams of 4-8 people who own outcomes, not just tasks. Each Pod includes engineers, QA, and technical leadership.

Why Pods Work

  • Single point of accountability for delivery
  • Dedicated team that knows your codebase
  • Cross-functional: no handoffs or silos
  • Scales up or down as needs change
  • Built-in QA, code review, and DevOps
  • Regular demos and transparent reporting

4-8

People per Pod

2-3 wks

To get productive

Explore All Pod Types

Feature Pod

Full-stack engineering teams for product development. Build new features, MVPs, and customer-facing applications.

Team: Frontend, Backend, QA, Tech Lead

Best for: Product development, new features, MVPs

Learn more

Platform & SRE Pod

Infrastructure specialists for cloud, DevOps, and reliability engineering. Build scalable, secure platforms.

Team: DevOps, SRE, Cloud Engineers, Security

Best for: Cloud migration, platform modernization

Learn more

Data & AI Pod

Data engineers, ML engineers, and analytics specialists. Build data platforms and AI-powered solutions.

Team: Data Engineers, ML Engineers, Analysts

Best for: Data platforms, ML models, analytics

Learn more

QA & SET Pod

Test automation and quality engineering experts. Build comprehensive testing strategies and automation frameworks.

Team: QA Engineers, SET, Performance Engineers

Best for: Test automation, quality transformation

Learn more

Custom Pod

Tailored team composition for unique requirements. Mix specialists from different domains based on your needs.

Team: Customized based on your needs

Best for: Complex projects, multi-domain initiatives

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Engagement Journey

Start Small, Scale with Confidence

Our engagement model is designed to reduce risk and build trust incrementally. Start with an assessment or pilot, then scale when you're ready.

01

Velocity Audit

1-2 weeks

We analyze your codebase, processes, and team dynamics to identify bottlenecks. You get a clear roadmap with no commitment required.

What You Get

  • Codebase health assessment
  • Process improvement plan
  • Team recommendations
Learn more
Recommended Start
02

Pilot Pod

4-6 weeks

Start with a focused pilot project. A small Pod works on a real deliverable so you can evaluate fit and capabilities with minimal risk.

What You Get

  • Working software delivered
  • Collaboration style validated
  • Clear go/no-go decision
Learn more
03

Managed Pods

Ongoing

Dedicated cross-functional teams that integrate with your organization. Full accountability for delivery with SPARK™ framework governance.

What You Get

  • Dedicated team
  • Quality gates & SLAs
  • Continuous delivery
Learn more
04

Scale & Expand

As needed

Add more Pods, expand scope, or bring in specialized skills. Our model is designed for growth as your needs evolve.

What You Get

  • Additional Pods
  • New capabilities
  • Broader scope
Learn more
05

Strategic Partnership

Long-term

For clients who want Salt as a long-term engineering partner. Preferred pricing, priority access, and strategic planning together.

What You Get

  • Preferred pricing
  • Priority access
  • Strategic planning
Learn more

Not Sure Where to Start?

Most clients begin with a Pilot Pod — it's the fastest way to see if we're a good fit while delivering real value. Let's discuss your situation.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Why Salt

A Different Kind of Engineering Partner

We're not a body shop. We're not traditional outsourcing. We're outcome-focused engineering teams that integrate with your organization.

Traditional Model
Salt Model
Accountability
Individual contractors you manage
Self-sufficient teams that own outcomes
Quality
Varies by individual, no guarantees
Built-in QA, code review, SPARK™ framework
Communication
Ad-hoc updates, you chase for status
Regular demos, transparent dashboards
Scalability
Hire and onboard each person
Add Pods, instant team expansion
Risk
High — single points of failure
Low — cross-trained, documented teams
Knowledge
Walks out the door with contractors
Stays with your codebase and docs

vs Staff Augmentation

Staff aug gives you people. Managed Pods give you accountability. We take ownership of delivery, quality, and outcomes — you focus on strategy.

Read comparison

vs Traditional Outsourcing

Traditional outsourcers optimize for billable hours. We optimize for shipped features. Our model aligns incentives with your success.

Read comparison

vs Building In-House

Building a team takes 6-12 months. We're productive in weeks. Use us to move fast while you hire, or as a permanent extension of your team.

Read comparison
Learn More About Why Salt

FAQ

Common Questions About Our Approach

Everything you need to know about how we work, our frameworks, and engagement models.

Freelancers are individuals you manage directly — you define the work, coordinate tasks, and handle quality control. With Salt, you get a complete, self-sufficient team (Pod) that owns outcomes. We bring the processes, quality gates, and accountability. You focus on what to build; we figure out how to deliver it.

SPARK™ is our 5-stage delivery framework: Scope & Shape, Plan & Pilot, Architect & Automate, Release & Run, and Keep Improving. It brings structure to agile without bureaucracy. Every phase has clear deliverables, quality gates, and success metrics — so you always know where your project stands and what's coming next.

Typically 2-3 weeks from contract signing to having a productive team. Week 1 focuses on assessment and team formation. Week 2-3 covers onboarding, environment setup, and initial sprint planning. By week 4, your Pod is usually delivering working software.

We can help with that too. Our Dedicated Developers offering provides individual engineers who work under your direction. However, for most projects we recommend starting with a Pilot Pod — you get better outcomes, built-in accountability, and it's often more cost-effective than managing individuals yourself.

Quality is built into the SPARK™ framework at every stage. This includes mandatory code reviews (every PR reviewed by at least one senior engineer), automated testing (80%+ coverage target), security scanning in CI/CD pipelines, architecture decision records, and regular technical debt reviews.

Our teams are based in India and work hours that provide 4+ hours of overlap with US timezones. For East Coast clients, teams typically work 7 AM - 4 PM IST (9:30 PM - 6:30 AM EST). This ensures real-time collaboration during part of your workday while also giving the team focused deep work time.

Yes, our model is designed for flexibility. You can add more Pods as your needs grow, scale down during slower periods, or bring in specialized skills for specific phases. We typically ask for 30 days notice for significant changes to give time for smooth transitions.

All work product belongs to you. Our standard agreements include strong IP assignment, confidentiality provisions, and data protection terms. We can also work under your company's agreements if preferred. Our team members sign individual NDAs and follow strict security protocols.