Software Development Outsourcing With Managed Delivery
Our software development outsourcing puts one senior-led team in charge of delivery. It plans the work, makes the technical decisions, tests, and ships releases on a steady cadence, while you keep control of the priorities and the product.
You set the priorities
- Portalv1.0Shipped
- Billingv1.1Shipped
- Reportsv1.2Building
- Mobile appPlanned
- IntakePlanned
TESTED RELEASES
Senior-led delivery team
Plans, builds, tests, releases
What Is Managed Software Delivery?
Managed software delivery is a way to outsource software work in which the partner answers for delivering working software. One team plans each stage, makes the technical decisions, builds and tests the software, and releases it. You set the priorities and decide when the work is done.
Outsourced software development often hands a vendor a list of tasks and leaves the managing to you. With managed software development, the planning, code reviews, testing, and release work move to the partner too, so your people spend their time on the product and the business.
Managed delivery or staff augmentation?
With augmentation, engineers join your team and your managers direct the work. With managed delivery, the partner runs the team, the plan, and the releases. Choose augmentation if you have delivery leadership in place, and managed delivery if you don't.
WHEN YOU NEED IT
Signs You Need a Managed Delivery Team
Companies usually look for managed delivery when the roadmap keeps growing and the people who should run the business are running developers instead. These are the common signs.
The roadmap is bigger than the team
Features the business needs wait for quarters behind a team that is already full.
Leaders spend their days managing developers
Stand-ups, ticket writing, and vendor follow-ups take time away from the product and the customers.
Your outside team needs every step spelled out
Nothing moves without a detailed spec, and requirements still get misread, so features get built twice.
Releases are rare and risky
Changes pile up for months, ship in one large release, and break something users rely on.
No one owns the architecture
Each developer or vendor makes its own technical choices, and the system gets harder to change every year.
Hiring can't keep up
Senior engineers take months to find and hire, and the work can't wait that long.
OUR APPROACH
How We Run Managed Delivery
We take responsibility for an agreed stream of work, from planning through release, and you keep the product decisions. Senior US-based engineers lead our builds, with nearshore support available for ongoing work.
Task-based outsourcing
- Work handed over ticket by ticket
- You manage the developers
- Billed by the hour, judged by activity
- Knowledge leaves with the vendor
Managed delivery
One team that answers for the result
A senior technical lead, developers, and QA work as one team. That team owns the delivery plan and answers for what ships.
Your priorities, our plan
Your product owner sets the order of work. We turn it into sprints, make the technical calls, and show working software at every review.
Small, tested releases
We work in stages, write tests for core components, and ship through CI/CD, so each release is small and easy to check.
Knowledge that stays with you
We document the architecture and the decisions behind it as we go. Whatever we build, you own, and knowledge transfer is a service we can provide if you bring the work in-house.
OUTSOURCING MODELS
Software Outsourcing Models Compared
Outsourcing models differ mainly in who manages the work day to day. These are the four most companies choose between.
| MODEL | WHO MANAGES THE WORK | BEST WHEN |
|---|---|---|
| Staff augmentation | You do, with engineers working inside your team and process | You have delivery leadership and need more hands |
| Dedicated development team | You set the direction, and the team works only on your product | You want a stable team on one product for the long term |
| Managed delivery | The partner, which owns the plan, technical decisions, testing, and releases | You want working software on a steady cadence without managing developers |
| Fixed-scope project | The partner, against an agreed scope and end date | The scope is clear and unlikely to change |
How we choose the model
Many engagements use more than one. A fixed-scope build can turn into managed delivery after launch, and a managed team can include your own engineers. We recommend the model that matches how much of the delivery you want to run yourself.
WHAT WE DELIVER
What a Managed Team Covers
A managed team can cover end to end software development or only the parts your own team doesn't. Each engagement sets which of these the team owns.
Backlog and sprint planning
We turn your priorities into a planned backlog, size the work with you, and agree what each sprint will deliver.
Architecture and technical decisions
A senior technical lead makes the architecture, integration, and security calls, and records why, so the next engineer can follow the reasoning. See custom software development.
Application and integration development
New features, APIs, and connections to the systems you already run, including web and mobile applications and systems integration.
QA and test automation
Tests written with the code and run in CI/CD. Our QA and software testing practice adds regression and performance testing when a release needs it.
Releases and cloud environments
Release planning, deployment pipelines, and hosting on AWS or Azure. See AWS consulting and development.
Support after launch
Once features ship, the same team can fix issues and keep the software current. See application support and maintenance.
HOW IT WORKS
How a Managed Engagement Starts and Runs
A managed engagement starts with discovery, then settles into a steady rhythm of planning, building, and releasing.
STEP 1
Discovery
We review the product, the systems, any existing code, and what a good result looks like.
STEP 2
Team and terms
We agree the scope, who decides what, the team, and how progress gets reported.
STEP 3
First plan
We build the first backlog and release plan with your product owner.
STEP 4
Sprints
The team ships tested increments and shows working software at each review.
STEP 5
Release and re-plan
We release, review the results with you, and plan the next stage.
What you see each sprint
Each sprint review covers what shipped, what's next, and what's at risk, shown in working software instead of a status slide. You can change priorities between sprints, and the plan changes with them.
Growing or shrinking the team
Teams change size with the roadmap. For a national construction and investor real estate lender, the JBS Dev team grew from one developer to three full-time developers plus part-time QA with test automation.
RESULTS
Managed Delivery Results
For USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, a JBS Dev team of an architect, a project manager, a Scrum Master, and three senior developers ran the delivery in two-week sprints over three years. One central HR application replaced the separate ColdFusion and Access applications, and support calls dropped significantly.
3 yrs
Of two-week sprints on one HR program
Government
Centralizing Legacy HR Applications for USDA FSIS
Challenge: HR systems more than 15 years old ran on ColdFusion and Microsoft Access, with almost no integration between them.
Result: One Python, Django, and PostgreSQL application replaced the agency's separate HR applications, and support calls dropped significantly.
Read the federal agency case study"JBS feels more like an extension of our internal team than a traditional vendor relationship."
Senior IT Leader, AmeriVet Partners
RESPONSIBILITIES
Who Owns What in a Managed Engagement
You keep the decisions only your business can make: what to build, in what order, and when it's done. We own how it gets built, tested, and released, and we bring the trade-offs to you at each review.
AI-driven development is a core part of how JBS Dev works. Agentic tooling compresses the routine work, so senior engineers move faster.
YOU DECIDE
Product owner
Sprint review
Priorities and approval
WE DELIVER
Build and test
Code, tests, and CI/CD
Technical lead
Owns the delivery plan
COST AND TIMELINE
What Drives Managed Delivery Cost and Timeline
Managed delivery cost depends mostly on the size and mix of the team and how long the roadmap runs. Six factors drive most estimates:
- 01Team size and mix of roles
- 02Scope and pace of the roadmap
- 03Condition of any existing code
- 04Integrations with other systems
- 05Testing, security, and compliance needs
- 06Length of the engagement
How cost is set
We don't quote a managed team before discovery. Discovery turns the factors above into a team plan and an estimate for the first stage. Before recommending any piece of work, we ask whether it will pay for itself.
How the start date is set
Discovery sets it, and the team starts on the work with the most value or risk. When inherited code has no tests, we add them around the code we change.
Rate versus total cost
A lower hourly rate only looks like a saving if you ignore rework, missed requirements, and the time your own people spend managing the vendor. Compare the cost of working software delivered, not the rate card.
ENGAGEMENT MODELS
Ways to Work With Us
Each model stands alone or leads into the next. Compare all the ways to work with us.
Assessment & Strategy
For companies that need clarity before committing to a build.
Start here if you're not sure what to change first. We review the system component by component, weigh difficulty against business impact, and recommend a path for each part, including what to leave alone. You get a roadmap you can act on with us or on your own.
- Technical assessment
- Architecture review
- AI opportunity mapping
- Modernization roadmap
- Prioritized recommendations
Best when: You need to understand the opportunity, risk, architecture, or roadmap before investing in a larger build.
Projects
For companies ready to build or modernize a defined system.
For a defined scope, senior engineers lead delivery from architecture through release. We work in stages, write tests for core components, and ship through CI/CD. You own everything we build, plus knowledge transfer and documentation tailored to your team.
- Modernization projects
- Custom applications
- Cloud platforms
- Data systems
- Integrations
- AI agents
Best when: You have a clear business problem, workflow, or platform that needs to be built, modernized, or connected.
Teaming / Managed Delivery
For companies that need experienced delivery capacity.
When you need more than a single project, services we can provide include architectural guidance for your existing team, hands-on development, QA, and ongoing support. Senior US-based engineers lead our builds, and nearshore support is an option for ongoing work.
- Senior-led teams
- Embedded engineering
- Ongoing development
- Knowledge transfer
- Flexible support
Best when: You need reliable engineering capacity, technical leadership, or ongoing delivery support without adding unnecessary management overhead.
Project stalled with another vendor? Software Project Rescue
WHY JBS DEV
How to Choose a Software Development Outsourcing Partner
A good partner reduces the management work on your side. Ask these five questions before you sign.
- Who leads the work day to day?
- A senior technical lead from JBS Dev. Senior US-based engineers lead our builds, with nearshore support available for ongoing work. You'll know who is on the team, and the people you meet in the first call do the work.
- What will they own beyond the hours?
- Ask for it in writing. In a managed engagement, we own the delivery plan, the technical decisions, testing, and releases. You own the priorities and the final say on what's done.
- How will you know how it's going?
- Through working software. Each sprint review shows what the team built, and the backlog shows what's next. If a sprint misses its goal, you hear it at the review, with the reason and the plan.
- Who owns the code and the knowledge?
- You do. You own everything we build, including the code and the intellectual property. We document the architecture and decisions as we go, so your team or another partner could take over.
- Can the team change as the work does?
- Yes. Teams grow or shrink with the roadmap, and roles such as QA, a data engineer, or a project manager join when the work calls for them.
JBS Dev is a senior-led custom software development company, founded in 1999, that builds, modernizes, and integrates enterprise systems around the technology clients already own.
FAQ
Managed Software Delivery FAQs
What is software development outsourcing?
It means hiring an outside company to design, build, test, or support software instead of doing all of it in-house. Some models add individual engineers to your team. Others hand a partner the whole delivery. With managed software delivery, JBS Dev owns the planning, technical decisions, testing, and releases, and you keep the product decisions.
What's the difference between managed delivery and staff augmentation?
Who manages the work. With augmentation, engineers join your team and your managers direct them day to day. With managed delivery, JBS Dev runs the team, the delivery plan, and the releases, and answers for the result. You set the priorities in both. If your delivery management is already in place, see staff augmentation.
Is managed delivery the same as a dedicated development team?
Close, with one difference. A dedicated development team works only on your product, and someone still has to run it. In managed delivery, the JBS Dev team also plans the work, makes the technical decisions, tests, and releases, so you aren't managing developers. You can run a dedicated team either way, and we'll help you decide which fits.
Is managed software delivery the same as IT managed services?
No. IT managed services usually cover infrastructure, networks, and help desks. Managed software delivery covers building and shipping software, including planning, architecture, development, testing, and releases. Cloud environments and hosting can be part of the application work, but the engagement isn't a general IT help desk.
Who is on a managed delivery team?
It depends on the work. A team usually has a technical lead, senior developers, and QA, and adds roles such as a project manager or Scrum Master when the scope calls for them. For USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the JBS Dev team was an architect, a project manager, a Scrum Master, and three senior developers.
Can your team work alongside our developers?
Yes. A managed team can include your engineers or work beside them. We agree who reviews code, who decides on architecture, and how releases are approved, so the work runs as one delivery effort. When your team is ready to take over, knowledge transfer and documentation are services we can provide.
How much do managed software development services cost?
It depends on team size and roles, the scope and pace of the roadmap, the condition of existing code, integrations, testing and compliance needs, and how long the engagement runs. We don't quote before discovery. Discovery turns those factors into a team plan and an estimate for the first stage, so you can compare it with what delivery costs you today.
Do you use AI in software delivery?
Yes, with engineers accountable for the result. AI-driven development is a core part of how JBS Dev works. Agentic tooling compresses routine work, such as drafting tests and documentation, so senior engineers move faster. Engineers review what the tools produce and decide what ships.
