Executive Search Fees For Technology Roles 2026

As I reflect on our company's recent executive search process for a VP of Engineering, I'm still struck by the complexity and nuance involved in finding the right candidate. We're a mid-stage startup in the AI space, and our existing team was struggling to keep up with demand. We knew we needed someone with a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership chops to take our engineering team to the next level. After a lengthy internal debate, we decided to work with an external search firm to help us identify and recruit top talent. That's when we were introduced to Paragon by Riviera Partners, who had a reputation for placing high-caliber leaders at similar companies. What surprised me was the depth of their network and the quality of candidates they were able to present. We ended up hiring an exceptional candidate who had previously led engineering teams at several prominent tech companies. The search process took about 12 weeks, and the fee was substantial, but it was worth it for the expertise and results we got. Now that we've completed the search, I'm left wondering: what are the long-term implications of outsourcing executive search, and how can companies like mine balance the need for specialized recruitment expertise with the desire to build in-house talent acquisition capabilities?