Embedded SRE Model: Elevating Reliability Through Direct Developer Support

As organizations explore different ways to implement Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), choosing the right engagement model becomes crucial. In earlier articles, we looked at the Kitchen Sink model, where SREs juggle everything from monitoring to incident response, and the Infrastructure model, where SREs operate shared platforms across teams. In this article, we dive into the Embedded SRE model — a structure where reliability engineers work directly within development teams to foster a collaborative, hands-on approach to reliability and developer experience.

In the embedded model, SREs are not distant consultants or part of a separate ops silo. Instead, they are integrated members of product teams, working side-by-side with developers daily. Their proximity enables them to offer immediate, context-aware feedback on system reliability and performance.

This deep collaboration shifts reliability left in the development lifecycle, enabling teams to proactively design for stability rather than firefight after the fact.

The value of the embedded model extends beyond operational improvements. It directly enhances the developer experience in several key ways:

• Immediate feedback loops: Developers can ask reliability questions in real time and get actionable guidance without waiting for reviews or separate meetings.

• Application-specific reliability strategies: Embedded SREs understand the nuances of each product, enabling tailored solutions instead of generalized suggestions.

• Reduced firefighting and rework: Teams supported by embedded SREs spend more time building features and less time fixing bugs or recovering from incidents.

• Shift in mindset: Developers begin to naturally consider scalability, observability, and performance as part of their development process.

At its best, the embedded model fosters a culture where reliability is a shared responsibility rather than an afterthought.

To succeed with the embedded SRE model, organizations must be intentional about how these roles are structured and supported. Key strategies include:

• Defined boundaries and responsibilities: Clearly articulate what the embedded SRE owns versus what the development team owns. This avoids confusion and ensures accountability.

• Shared on-call rotations: When SREs and developers share on-call duties, it reinforces shared ownership and encourages better engineering practices.

• Automate first: Embedded SREs should focus on automating repetitive operations and setting up self-service capabilities to reduce long-term toil.

• Gradual knowledge transfer: Over time, embedded SREs should enable developers to handle more operational responsibilities confidently.

This model is especially effective for time-bounded projects or organizations new to SRE. It helps teams develop strong reliability habits before transitioning into more scalable support models.

Despite its challenges, the embedded model delivers unparalleled alignment between development velocity and reliability goals — especially when teams are small to medium in size.

At Agile Analytics, we help organizations measure and optimize the embedded SRE model. Our platform connects delivery metrics like lead time, error budgets, and SLO compliance with qualitative team feedback to pinpoint where embedded SREs are having the greatest impact — or where they need more support.

By identifying reliability bottlenecks and developer friction points, teams can ensure embedded SREs focus their efforts where they matter most.

For organizations beginning their SRE journey, the embedded model offers a powerful entry point:

• It demystifies the SRE role for developers and stakeholders alike.

• It fosters empathy and collaboration through direct engagement.

• It lays the foundation for scaling reliability practices across the organization.

As teams grow and mature, companies may choose to evolve into hybrid or centralized SRE models — but embedding reliability expertise early on ensures that agility and resilience are built from the ground up.

The Embedded SRE model redefines how reliability is built into software delivery. It enables organizations to go beyond SLAs and dashboards, transforming SRE from a support function into a collaborative force that improves both systems and the teams behind them.

By investing in the embedded model — backed by metrics, feedback, and thoughtful execution—organizations position themselves to scale faster, break fewer things, and deliver better experiences for users and developers alike.