Imagine you’ve been tasked with setting up a new engineering team, perhaps expanding into a brand-new location. It’s an exciting opportunity—a clean slate to build something remarkable. But it’s also a high-stakes challenge. The success of your entire venture hinges on your first few hires. Get them wrong, and cracks will form. Get them right, and you’ll establish a strong foundation for long-term success.

The Foundation Team

You might think the first step is hiring a local leader to run the show. Don’t. It’s a risky bet unless you already know their capabilities inside and out. Plus, a leader typically won’t roll up their sleeves to deliver the code you need. Instead, focus on hiring two exceptional senior engineers—productive doers—who will set the tone for everything that follows.

These two hires will form your Foundation Team. Their qualities will be the bedrock of your team’s culture, technical standards, and overall cohesion.

Here’s what to look for:

• Knowledge – They must have the technical depth and relevant experience to deliver what’s needed.
• Skill – Beyond knowledge, they should demonstrate the ability to apply it effectively. Great code, strong problem-solving, and hands-on contributions are essential.
• Behaviour  – Most importantly, they must embody the cultural and behavioural qualities you want the rest of the team to adopt.

This last point is critical. Your Foundation Team will set the standard for how your team collaborates, grows, and succeeds. By prioritising qualities like integrity, positivity, and a strong work ethic, you’ll establish a culture that ripples through the organisation. And because they’ll help hire the rest of the team, their influence will multiply.

Why the Foundation Team Matters

Your Foundation Team isn’t just a pair of engineers—they’re your partners in building something meaningful. They’ll feel a sense of ownership because they’ve been part of the team from the start. Trust them, and give them a clear mission: recruit and help shape the next hires to ensure the team delivers exceptional results.

When potential hires meet your Foundation Team, they’ll see the culture and calibre of the team reflected in them. Strong candidates are drawn to strong teams. Starting with the right people creates a magnetic effect, attracting top talent who align with your vision.

However, as your Foundation Team matures and grows, they may eventually move on to leadership positions elsewhere. That’s okay. Seeing these engineers progress in their careers is a natural outcome of their success and reflects positively on the team you built. It’s far less disruptive than hiring a local leader who doesn’t work out and facing the more complex process of replacing them.

Appointing a Leader

As the team grows to a critical size, you must appoint a local leader to guide it forward. If one of your Foundation Team members has demonstrated leadership qualities, they’re the natural choice. Be clear from the start that leadership opportunities are on the horizon, and offer regular feedback to help them prepare.

Not every senior engineer wants to lead, and that’s okay. If neither of your Foundation Team is the right fit—or if they’re thriving in their current roles—you can look externally for a leader. Be transparent with your team and position the new leader as a mentor and coach who will elevate the entire group.

Building for Success While Preparing for the Unexpected

While your focus is building a robust and successful team, planning for the unexpected is equally essential. Success isn’t guaranteed; even with the best hires, things can go wrong. By starting with a Foundation Team, you reduce this risk. Replacing senior engineers, if necessary, is far less disruptive than removing a leader whose role is critical from day one.

Your Foundation Team is more than just the first two hires—it’s the blueprint for the team you’re building. Their knowledge, skills, and behaviours will define the culture, set the bar for technical excellence, and create a legacy of collaboration and success.

At Globawise, we’ve helped clients establish new engineering centres by applying this approach many times. Whether you’re building a team from scratch or expanding into a new location, we can guide you through every step to ensure your team starts strong, grows stronger, and is prepared for challenges. Let’s build something great together!