ProdataKey (PDK) is a startup headquartered in Draper, Utah that develops innovative, cloud-based, access-control technology for buildings.  The company was founded in 2011 by two brothers. 

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Challenge

In 2019, PDK and its 27-person team was poised for growth. The engineering team included 8 developers; 4 full time and 4  overseas. At that time, one of the co-founders oversaw the entirety of product management, operations, software and hardware engineering, support and more; he was stretched thin. 

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PDK engaged JumpSearch to help find and recruit a technical leader who could partner with the technical co-founder and lead positive change in the development culture, operations, and effectiveness. 

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Approach

JumpSearch conducted in-depth interviews and worked closely with PDK's CEO, Co-Founders, and Senior Engineers to understand the company's background, challenges, and culture (current and aspirational). 

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Our team determined that, organizationally, PDK needed a technical leader who could bring a set of disciplined engineering development practices to the organization and effect cultural, organizational, and technological change in a moderated fashion. To get there, PDK relied on JumpSearch to bring a sound recruiting and hiring process to bear. ​

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RECRUITING PROCESS - JumpSearch instituted best practices that were applicable to PDK's phase of growth and maturity. We partnered with PDK's interviewing team and implemented structured interview process, scheduling, coordination.

 

Interviewer time is expensive, particularly for engineers. We coached interviewers to ensure both interviewers and candidates were maximizing each other's time through effective preparation and coordination across interviewing teams. 

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JumpSearch instituted and moderated regular roundtables to ensure that all interviewers had an opportunity to share their feedback effectively. 

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Results

Within six weeks of the initial engagement, JumpSearch hired an Engineering Manager to partner with Cofounder and oversee an eight-person engineering team. Within a month he was quickly promoted to Director of Engineering reporting to CEO and charged with growing the technical team and up-leveling the performance and output of the engineering for the rest of the organization.