For non-Indian startups hiring in India
Hire senior AI and infra engineers in India — without an entity.
We don't just find senior engineers in India — we verify them. Real, reference-checked, and exclusive to you. Then we employ them legally, so you never touch Indian payroll or compliance.
For Series A–C teams hiring senior engineers in India with no local entity.
- Applied AI
- ML infrastructure & MLOps
- AI evaluation & safety
- Senior backend & distributed systems
- Platform & infra
How we vet
Every engineer, fully vetted
Real, verified
Identity and work history confirmed; you know exactly who you're hiring.
Senior-level, proven
Skills checked at the level you actually need, not just a CV claim.
References checked
We speak to real people who've worked with them.
Exclusive to you
We confirm they're not quietly juggling a second job; your hire is focused on your team.
- Built around India's 2025 Labour Codes
- Your own Indian entity not required
- Transparent pricing — published, not hidden
- DPA available · GDPR-ready · DPDP-compliant
India hiring looks easy — until diligence starts asking questions.
Is a contractor agreement actually defensible? Who owns the IP under India's Copyright Act? Is the relationship an employment one in substance? Better to have clean answers before an investor or acquirer asks. TWF Labs is built to get you there.
What we do
One team, from hire to retention.
Specialist recruitment
We source senior AI/ML, backend, and infrastructure engineers — scarce roles that AI tools can't replace. You get a vetted shortlist, not a resume dump, backed by a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Specialist recruitment →Compliance & retention
Once your engineers are on board, we run payroll, statutory compliance (PF, gratuity, and the 2025 Labour Codes), India's DPDP data rules, contracts, and day-to-day HR — on a simple monthly plan. This is what investors check, and what keeps good engineers from leaving.
Compliance & retention →Employment & payroll (EOR)
Need someone on payroll in India before you have an entity? We set up fully compliant employment through vetted partners, so you can hire in days without registering a company — $129 per engineer/month, all-in.
Employment & payroll (EOR) →Fundraise-ready
Built for your next raise.
When investors run diligence, your India team should strengthen the story, not stall it. We make sure contracts are clean, IP is clearly assigned to your company, and every statutory obligation is met and documented — so there's nothing to explain away.
Why “Labs”
Why we call it Labs.
Most staffing firms run on email threads and guesswork. We run on a documented system: every step tracked, every compliance rule sourced, our methodology public, and a changelog when the law changes. You can see how the machine works — because we built it like engineers.
How it works
From first call to first payslip.
- Step 01
Book a call.
Tell us the role and how many hires you're planning.
- Step 02
We source & vet.
Shortlist of senior candidates, first batch in 7–10 business days.
- Step 03
You choose.
Interview, decide, make the offer.
- Step 04
We employ.
Compliant contract, onboarding within 5–10 business days of offer-accept.
- Step 05
We run it.
Monthly payroll, filings, and HR — you just manage the work.
Pricing
Pricing you can actually see.
Deel and Remote make you book a sales call to learn the price. We don't. EOR is $129 per engineer per month, flat and all-in. Recruitment is 12.5% of first-year fixed CTC. Use the calculator to see the full loaded cost.
Illustrative scenario for a ₹22 LPA senior engineer at USD/INR ~84. Run the calculator with your real numbers for the itemised cost.
FAQ
Common questions, direct answers.
Can I hire engineers in India without setting up a company?
Yes. Through an Employer of Record you can employ engineers in India compliantly without registering your own entity; TWF Labs runs the employment, payroll, and compliance for you.
Who owns the IP my India engineers create?
With a properly structured employment contract, all IP is assigned to your company. TWF Labs makes IP assignment explicit in every contract so ownership is clear in diligence.
Is it risky to pay India engineers as contractors?
It can be. Long-term, full-time contractors may be reclassified as employees, IP assignment is often unclear, and it can create permanent-establishment exposure. Converting them to compliant employment removes these risks.
How fast can I hire a senior AI or infra engineer in India?
We typically share a vetted shortlist within the first week and can employ a hire within days via EOR, with no entity of your own.
What does it cost?
Recruitment is 12.5% of first-year fixed salary with a 90-day replacement guarantee. Employment via EOR is $129 per engineer per month, all-in. See pricing for the full breakdown.
Ready to hire in India without the legal headache?
A free 25-minute intro. Pricing included. No obligation.