Our Culture
Small by Design
The best work happens when talented people are trusted to think critically, take ownership, and focus on quality. That's the whole org chart. If you want your ideas to matter and your craft to keep sharpening, you'll feel at home here.
What we hold each other to
House rules
01 Good enough rarely is
Read it twice. Test it on the worst phone you can find. Fix the spacing nobody will notice (somebody always notices). If you wouldn't sign it, it isn't done.
02 Own the whole problem
You won't get a spec and a safety net — you'll get trust and a deadline. Make calls you can defend. And the moment you're in deep water, say so. Nobody drowns quietly here.
03 Ask the questions
Know why you're doing something, not just what. Ask what happens next, who's counting on it, what could go wrong. That's how you end up owning the outcome instead of just the task.
04 Learn it, then teach it
The tools change every year, and fake expertise is exhausting. Say “I don't know” out loud, go find out, and bring it back for the rest of us. Nobody's impressed by a bluff.
05 Be human
Some days are heads-down and hard, and that's real. But so is being tired, distracted, or just done for the day. We'd rather you say so than push through and pretend. Grace first, always.
T-F Facts
14 humans across 4 time zones
2 coastal hubs, 1 continent
5 dogs with strong opinions and big attitudes
9 languages spoken, 4 of them programming
1 coin collector, 1 DJ, multiple DIYers and endless hobbies
0 meetings that could've been an email (aspirational)
TOGETHER, IRL
Hybrid by default. Together on purpose.
We work hybrid, but we make a point of being together via client visits, workshops, and the occasional trip. Face-to-face still builds a kind of connection a video call can't.
It's part of a bigger deal: we're building careers and developing people, not just filling roles.
“Working at Temper And Forge feels like being trusted to do your best work, but never left to figure it out alone.”
What we look for
The best teammates aren't defined by a resume alone.
We look for people who:
01
Finish what they start
The interesting part is easy. The follow-through is the job. Chase the last 10%. Close the loop. That's what we care about.
02
Ask the awkward question
Every project has one thing nobody wants to bring up. Be the person who brings it up kindly and early.
03
Show work before it's ready
Don't wait for perfect. Show the rough version while there's still time to change it, and be open to feedback.
04
Disagree without making it weird
Push hard for your idea, lose gracefully, commit fully. Consensus isn't the goal, but good decisions are.
05
Jump in unasked
Always lend a hand. Nobody here waits for a ticket to help.
06
Hold opinions loosely, standards tightly
Strong taste, low ego. The brief wins over the portfolio, every time.
Technical skills matter.
Character matters just as much.
