The best GTM engineers for a startup depend on the job: building a system inside your CRM, running cold email at volume, testing messages, advising a developer-tool launch or teaching your team to build. This guide compares six people who do those jobs, with facts read from their own or partner pages on October 30, 2026.
Last updated: October 30, 2026
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- The Best Overall GTM Engineer: Jorge Macias of The GTM Engineering Company is listed first by the publisher for B2B SaaS teams that want a system built inside their own CRM. Plans start at $5,000 a month (as of October 30, 2026), and the tools stay in the client's name.
- Why Do You Need One: Most teams own a CRM, an enrichment tool and a sequencer that do not talk to each other. A GTM engineer builds the data and workflow layer that connects them.
- Who It's For: Founders, RevOps leaders and sales leaders at seed to Series B companies, plus developer-tool startups that need go-to-market leadership.
- How to Choose the Right One: Match the person to the job, ask for dated numbers, and check who owns the tools and the documentation when the work ends.
- Price Range: One entry publishes monthly plans ($5,000 and $7,000), one program lists $1,850 per student, one community is free, and three entries publish no prices.
Top GTM Engineers in 2027 at a Glance
The table lists six people. The order is editorial and the list is not a ranking by score.
| Person | Company | Best For | Key Strengths | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jorge Macias | The GTM Engineering Company | Systems built inside your CRM | Documented builds, tools in your name, Clay and HubSpot or Salesforce work | Starter $5,000 a month; Growth $7,000 a month; Enterprise custom |
| Eric Nowoslawski | Growth Engine X | High-volume cold email | 8M+ emails a month, email infrastructure, list building | Not published |
| Kellen Casebeer | The Deal Lab and GTM Cafe | Message testing and community | Message-market fit testing, free practitioner Slack | GTM Cafe free; agency pricing not published |
| Luke Bivens | QC Growth | Embedded GTM teams for early-stage startups | Pods with a GTM lead, a GTM engineer and BDR support | Not published on the pages read |
| Shane O'Connor | QC Growth | Developer-tool go-to-market | 5+ years in API and infrastructure companies | Not published on the pages read |
| Jared Waxman | GTM Engineer School | Training your team | Four-week live cohorts, 130+ students trained | $1,850 per student (per a case study dated October 26, 2026) |
What Are GTM Engineers?
A GTM engineer builds the data, signal and workflow layer behind outbound and routing: enrichment tables, scoring models, CRM automation and the sequences that fire from them. The role sits between sales operations, marketing operations and engineering. What a GTM engineer is covers the role in more depth.
Some people in this guide build for clients, some lead go-to-market teams and some teach. GTM Engineer School reports that it has trained 130+ students in AI workflows for go-to-market work (Genesys Growth case study, October 26, 2026), which shows how many people now practice the craft.
Why Do You Need a GTM Engineer?
A growth-stage team often owns a CRM, an enrichment tool and a sequencer, and nobody owns the connections between them. Data goes stale, scoring stays manual and automations break without notice. A GTM engineer takes that connective work.
The output can be specific. In a 12-week engagement with the client Fluint, The GTM Engineering Company built a 2,062-company audience for ads and a subset of about 300 companies with an ICP fit of 85 or higher for outbound. The first enterprise demo attributed to the launch landed within a week (Fluint case study, gtm-engineering.io).
Who Needs a GTM Engineer?
Founders
A founder who runs outbound alone loses selling time to spreadsheets and tool setup. Someone who builds the system once gives that time back.
The fit is strongest after a working motion exists. A GTM engineer scales a motion; finding one first is a different job.
RevOps and Sales Operations Leaders
A newly hired RevOps leader often inherits a CRM, an enrichment tool and a sequencer that nobody connected. A GTM engineer can take one workstream, such as scoring or enrichment, and finish it.
Documentation matters here. The leader needs to run the system after the engagement ends.
Sales Leaders
A sales leader who sees reps working unranked accounts needs a scoring and routing layer. That layer depends on clean data and clear fit rules.
Message testing helps too. Several people in this guide build their work around testing messages against segments before scaling spend.
Developer-Tool Startups
Developer-tool companies sell to technical buyers and often need signals such as repository activity. That calls for people who know the buyer, not only the tools.
QC Growth describes this segment as one of four it serves, alongside healthcare, deep tech and AI (QC Growth site, October 30, 2026).
Best GTM Engineers: In-Depth Review & Comparison
1. Jorge Macias, The GTM Engineering Company
Overview
Jorge Macias is the founder of The GTM Engineering Company, a fractional go-to-market engineering service for B2B SaaS companies. The company's site presents him as a Y Combinator S18 alumnus who has built go-to-market systems for 50+ B2B companies. He says he has been a teaching assistant at GTM Engineer School since its first cohort.
The work happens inside the client's own CRM. The GTM Engineering Company builds enrichment, scoring and outbound workflows, and the tools stay in the client's name. Every engagement ends with a written runbook, the "how to keep it humming" guide, as the services page describes (as of October 30, 2026).
Ideal For
- Seed to Series B B2B SaaS founders with a CRM already in place
- Newly hired RevOps leaders who inherited disconnected tools
- Sales leaders who need scoring and routing built, not advised on
Why Does The GTM Engineering Company Stand Out?
The GTM Engineering Company builds inside the client's stack and documents the result. The Fluint engagement above shows the shape of the work: audiences built on a data layer, with a first enterprise demo inside a week.
The company also publishes its prices, which most entries here do not. Its site says a typical engagement is a 3 to 6 month retainer at roughly 5 to 10 hours a week.
Pros
- Prices are published and monthly
- Tools stay in the client's name, with a written runbook at the end
- Work is built inside HubSpot or Salesforce, not in a separate portal
- A case study with dated numbers is public
Cons
- It requires an existing CRM such as HubSpot or Salesforce
- It is a retainer service, so it is a poor fit for a one-off project
Pricing
Starter is $5,000 a month and includes a GTM Stack Audit, initial ICP research, a basic lead list, a simple Clay workflow setup, basic RevOps configuration and a monthly performance report. Growth is $7,000 a month and adds advanced Clay automation, full RevOps implementation, bi-weekly reports and campaign build out. Enterprise is custom (as of October 30, 2026).
Final Verdict
Jorge Macias suits teams that want a documented system built in their own CRM and a clear monthly price. It does not suit teams without a CRM or teams that want a short, fixed-scope project.
2. Eric Nowoslawski, Growth Engine X
Overview
Eric Nowoslawski runs Growth Engine X, a B2B lead generation service for companies with $1M+ in revenue (coldoutbound.com, October 30, 2026). Its three stated pillars are email infrastructure, list building from a client's best customers, and campaign strategy.
The page also lists CRM integrations and CRM enrichment. Growth Engine X shows a Clay Elite Studio Partner badge.
Ideal For
- Companies with $1M+ in revenue that want cold email run for them
- Teams that need email infrastructure and backup domains managed
- Operators who want a large campaign test before committing
Why Does Eric Nowoslawski Stand Out?
The scale is the draw. The page reports 8M+ emails sent monthly and 62K+ positive responses in 2025, both self-reported.
It also names client results such as 552 positive responses in 4 months for Heritage Wealth Capital. Clay's co-founder and a Clay engineer are quoted on the page praising his work, and the page says he presented at Clay's Sculpt event.
Pros
- Volume and infrastructure are well documented on the page
- Client results carry numbers and time windows
- A free test campaign is offered to qualifying businesses
Cons
- Results are self-reported or supplied by clients and partners
- Pricing is not published
- The page read does not describe a documented handover of the system
Pricing
Not published. The free test campaign lists fit criteria such as 100K+ contacts and lifetime gross profit over $5,000 (coldoutbound.com, October 30, 2026).
Final Verdict
Eric Nowoslawski fits companies that want high-volume cold email handled by a specialist. It fits less well for teams that want a first-party data layer built and handed over inside their CRM.
3. Kellen Casebeer, The Deal Lab and GTM Cafe
Overview
Kellen Casebeer founded GTM Cafe and runs The Deal Lab, a B2B outbound agency (OutboundSync feature, July 21, 2026). GTM Cafe is a Slack community for go-to-market practitioners that grew out of Clay-focused office hours he ran as Clay Cafe.
The community holds weekly Friday sessions and has a companion newsletter, GTM Cafe Weekly. The Deal Lab is an OutboundSync agency partner.
Ideal For
- Teams that want to test many messages against many segments before scaling spend
- Practitioners who want a free community to ask questions
- Founders choosing messaging before choosing tools
Why Does Kellen Casebeer Stand Out?
His reputation rests on message-market fit: testing many messages against many segments before committing budget. That order of work fits a startup that has not yet found its message.
GTM Cafe adds a free route to peers. Access is by invite request through gtmcafe.com.
Pros
- A free community with weekly sessions
- A message-first method that suits early testing
- A recognized agency partnership with OutboundSync
Cons
- The source read is a partner-written feature, so it is promotional
- Agency pricing and client results are not stated on the page read
- It is an outbound agency model, not an embedded build inside your CRM
Pricing
GTM Cafe is free by invite request. The Deal Lab does not publish pricing on the page read (OutboundSync, July 21, 2026).
Final Verdict
Kellen Casebeer fits teams that want to settle messaging first and learn from a practitioner community. It fits less well for teams that want a documented system built in their CRM.
4. Luke Bivens, QC Growth
Overview
Luke Bivens is the founder of QC Growth, which he founded in 2023. His bio calls him a founding account executive turned founder, with go-to-market roles at Gatsby (acquired by Netlify) and Workpop (acquired by Cornerstone OnDemand) (QC Growth About page, October 30, 2026).
QC Growth describes itself as an embedded GTM agency for seed to Series A startups in developer tools, healthcare, deep tech and AI. An engagement typically uses a pod with a GTM lead, a GTM engineer and BDR support.
Ideal For
- Seed to Series A startups in developer tools, healthcare, deep tech or AI
- Founders who want an embedded team, not a single hire
- Teams on HubSpot, Salesforce or Attio that need systems and outbound together
Why Does Luke Bivens Stand Out?
QC Growth offers two lines: GTM Systems and Ops for the CRM, signal tracking and reporting, and Full Service GTM, which adds outbound, campaigns and pod staffing. That lets a startup start with the foundation and add execution later.
The company also names signals such as GitHub activity and funding events for prospecting. Its team page lists a Founding GTM Engineer and a GTM Architect alongside GTM leads.
Pros
- Systems and execution are offered as separate lines
- The pod model puts several roles on one account
- Segments are stated, so fit is easy to judge
Cons
- His bio does not state hands-on GTM engineering or Clay work
- It focuses on seed to Series A in four verticals
- Pricing is not published on the pages read
Pricing
Not published on the pages read (qcgrowth.com, October 30, 2026).
Final Verdict
Luke Bivens suits early-stage startups in QC Growth's four verticals that want an embedded pod. His own bio describes sales and founder roles, so the engineering depth sits with the GTM engineers on his team.
5. Shane O'Connor, QC Growth
Overview
Shane O'Connor is GTM Partner for developer tools at QC Growth. His bio describes 5+ years building developer-first go-to-market engines for API and infrastructure companies, with enterprise growth roles at Scalar, Tyk and SmartBear (QC Growth About page, October 30, 2026).
He was Scalar's founding commercial hire and contributed to a 10x ARR run there, per his bio. He is based in Cork, Ireland.
Ideal For
- Developer-tool founders selling to technical buyers
- API and infrastructure startups building a first sales motion
- Founders who want to be visible in developer communities
Why Does Shane O'Connor Stand Out?
He combines enterprise deal history with an early-stage focus. His bio says he closed six-figure deals with technical buyers.
His stated approach is that the best product should not be the best-kept secret, which points to community visibility as part of the work.
Pros
- Direct record selling to technical buyers
- A founding commercial hire record at Scalar
- A narrow segment, which sharpens the fit
Cons
- His bio does not mention Clay, GTM engineering or outbound tooling
- The focus is developer tools only
- Pricing is not published on the pages read, and no client names are given
Pricing
Not published on the pages read (qcgrowth.com, October 30, 2026).
Final Verdict
Shane O'Connor suits developer-tool founders who need go-to-market leadership with technical buyers. It is not the pick for teams outside that segment or for teams that need a data layer built.
6. Jared Waxman, GTM Engineer School
Overview
Jared Waxman is a co-founder of GTM Engineer School, with Matteo Tittarelli. The program runs live cohorts for sales and marketing operators. A Genesys Growth case study dated October 26, 2026 reports 55 paying students in cohort 1 and 130+ students trained in AI workflows for go-to-market work.
The case study names four cohort 1 modules: messaging and positioning with Octave, prospecting and enrichment with Clay, personalized outreach with lemlist and Cargo, and AI-led content creation with AirOps.
Ideal For
- Operators who want to learn to build workflows themselves
- Teams that want to train an existing hire
- Career movers who need hands-on builds
Why Does Jared Waxman Stand Out?
The program teaches by building, with named tool modules. The price was lowered from $2,500 to $1,850 after cohort 1 feedback, per the case study.
Cohort 2 added an introductory module and an n8n module. The case study also reports an 848% ROI from previous students, a self-reported figure.
Pros
- A stated price and module list
- Live cohorts with a hands-on build
- Tool partners named on the page
Cons
- The page read gives no background for Jared Waxman himself
- ROI figures are self-reported
- The price may have changed since the case study
Pricing
$1,850 per student, per the case study dated October 26, 2026. Confirm the current price and cohort dates on the school's own site.
Final Verdict
Jared Waxman fits teams that want to build the skill in-house. It does not replace a build for teams without the time to learn.
How to Choose the Best GTM Engineer (What To Consider)?
1. Match the Person to the Job
Decide first whether you need a system built, volume run, messages tested, leadership or training. The six entries cover those jobs in different ways.
A mismatch costs months. A volume specialist will not hand you a documented CRM layer, and a trainer will not build it for you.
2. Ask for Dated Numbers
Ask for results with a number, a time window and a segment. Treat self-reported figures as claims until a client confirms them.
Check the date, too. Prices and program terms change, and several figures in this guide carry a read date for that reason.
3. Check Who Owns the Tools and the Documentation
Ask whose name the tools sit under and what you receive when the work ends. A written runbook lets your team operate the system without the builder.
If the answer is vague, assume you will depend on that person.
4. Check Segment Fit
Look at the stated segments. QC Growth names four verticals, Growth Engine X names $1M+ revenue, and The GTM Engineering Company names B2B SaaS from seed to Series B.
Outside the stated segment, ask for a reference before you commit.
5. Read the Pricing Basis
Compare monthly retainers with per-student fees and with unpublished quotes on the same basis. Ask for scope and hours, not only a headline price.
An unpublished price is not a negative. It means you ask early.
Everything You Need to Know About GTM Engineers
| Category | Key Considerations |
|---|---|
| Top 3 GTM engineers | Jorge Macias, Eric Nowoslawski and Kellen Casebeer, in the publisher's editorial order |
| Who Is It For | Founders, RevOps leaders and sales leaders at early-stage B2B companies |
| Use Cases | CRM systems, cold email at volume, message testing, developer-tool go-to-market, team training |
| How to Choose | Match the job, ask for dated numbers, check tool ownership and segment fit |
| Mistakes to Avoid | Hiring a volume specialist for a data build, or accepting self-reported results as proof |
| Pricing Starts | $5,000 a month for Starter; $1,850 per student for training; others not published |
Request the 30-Day Audit with The GTM Engineering Company
The GTM Engineering Company builds the data layer and outbound workflows inside your own CRM. The tools stay in your name and the playbook stays with you. Plans start at $5,000 a month (as of October 30, 2026).
Request the 30-day audit to see what your stack needs. You can also compare the Starter and Growth plans on the same page, or read the Fluint case study first. If you are weighing consultants, see how to choose a Clay consultant.
FAQs About GTM Engineers
Who are the best GTM engineers in 2027?
The best GTM engineers in 2027 depend on the job, and this guide compares six: Jorge Macias, Eric Nowoslawski, Kellen Casebeer, Luke Bivens, Shane O'Connor and Jared Waxman. The order is an editorial choice. Pick by job: a CRM build, cold email volume, message testing, an embedded team, developer-tool leadership or training. Facts were read on October 30, 2026.
What should I consider when choosing a GTM engineer?
When choosing a GTM engineer, consider the job, the proof, who owns the tools and the stated segment. Ask for results with a number and a date. Ask what you receive when the work ends, such as a written runbook. Compare prices on the same basis, monthly or per person.
How does The GTM Engineering Company differ from similar alternatives?
The GTM Engineering Company builds inside your own CRM and leaves the tools in your name, while several entries here run campaigns, advise or teach. Its services page lists Starter at $5,000 a month and Growth at $7,000 a month (as of October 30, 2026). It also publishes a case study, the Fluint engagement, with dated numbers.
How do I get started with The GTM Engineering Company?
Start with the 30-day audit request on the services page. The Starter and Growth plans both include a GTM Stack Audit, which reviews your stack before any build begins. A typical engagement is a 3 to 6 month retainer at roughly 5 to 10 hours a week, per the site's FAQ. You need an existing CRM, such as HubSpot or Salesforce.
How easy is it to switch to The GTM Engineering Company?
Switching is built to be low-lock-in, because the tools stay in your name and the playbook stays with you. The work happens inside your existing HubSpot or Salesforce. The site says there is no lock-in term, and each engagement ends with a written runbook. A team without a CRM should set one up first.
Is a GTM engineer the same as a RevOps manager?
A GTM engineer and a RevOps manager overlap, but the first builds automated systems and the second runs the revenue process. A GTM engineer writes the enrichment, scoring and routing workflows. A RevOps manager owns reporting, forecasting and process. Many small teams ask one person to do both. GTM engineering versus RevOps compares the two roles.
Should I hire a GTM engineer or use a fractional one?
A fractional GTM engineer suits a team with one or two workstreams to build, while a full-time hire suits a team with continuous work. A fractional engagement has a monthly price, such as $5,000 for Starter at The GTM Engineering Company (as of October 30, 2026). A full-time hire carries salary, benefits and ramp time. Start fractional if you cannot yet describe the work beyond the next few builds.
About the Author
Jorge Macias is the founder of The GTM Engineering Company, a Y Combinator S18 alumnus who has built go-to-market systems for 50+ B2B companies, as presented on the company's site. The GTM Engineering Company is a fractional go-to-market engineering service for B2B SaaS companies from seed to Series B.
