the approach for a partnership is fundamentally different from applying for a job. you are not selling your labor; you are selling a specialized outcome.
your focus must shift from demonstrating skill > demonstrating strategic value.
1. Define Your Specific Offer: Cognitive Architecture
You are Ink Aether. You don't design products; you architect understanding. Your practice is Cognitive Architecture: the strategic design of software systems to mirror human mental models, thereby reducing cognitive load and accelerating adoption.
Ink Aether Capability Statement
- Packaged Service: A systematic approach to BIM-driven DDD-informed API-design domains, defining their cognitive boundaries, and translating them into a resilient and intuitive software architecture. We build systems that developers don't just use, but understand.
deliverable: a strategic framework, executable protocol blueprint set
Identified Pain Point (Client: Palantir):
Palantir's platforms, like Foundry, are immensely powerful but face a significant barrier to entry: a steep learning curve and high cognitive load for new developers. This slows adoption, increases onboarding costs, and hinders developer efficiency. The pain is the friction between the developer's mental model and the platform's conceptual model.
- problem: complex developer tools = high cognitive load = slow adoption.
- solution: ink aether's "cognitive architecture" approach designs systems that mirror mental models, reducing friction.
2. build the flagship case study
- develop it beyond a concept: create high-fidelity prototypes, detailed workflow diagrams, and a written analysis.
- frame it as a business case: don't just show the screens. explain the why. articulate the architectural principles, the systems thinking, and the projected outcome (e.g., "reduces developer onboarding time by 40%").
- publish it publicly: host it on ink aether's website. this is your proof of work and your intellectual capital. it's what you will lead with.
3. strategic outreach
you do not go through the main careers page. you go through strategic channels.
- identify the right people: you are looking for decision-makers, not recruiters. search linkedin for titles like "head of design," "director of product, developer platform," or "lead product manager, foundry" at palantir.
- engage before you pitch: do not cold-connect with a sales message. follow them. engage with their posts thoughtfully. become a known entity in their professional circle by sharing your own relevant insights (e.g., articles you write on systems thinking in design).
- the warm introduction: after establishing a presence, send a concise, direct message. the goal is not to ask for work. the goal is to start a peer-level conversation.
subject: cognitive architecture for developer platforms
body: "[name], i've been following your work on [mention a specific palantir product or talk they gave]. your team is solving a critical problem in data systems.
my studio, ink aether, specializes in a similar area from an architectural perspective. we recently published a case study on designing cognitive systems for complex workflows [link to your kairos case study].
thought it might be relevant to the challenges you're tackling. open to a brief chat if it resonates."
this approach positions you as an expert colleague, not a job applicant. the entire dynamic shifts from you asking for an opportunity to you offering a valuable perspective.