Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Placements24; Queenstown; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stake

Executive health insurance

Unlimited PTO

Remote work

Home office stipend

Tech allowance

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Chief Technology Officer for a rapidly scaling renewable-energy software startup. This fully remote, executive role leads the technology division, oversees engineering, R&D, and IT infrastructure, and shapes the platform's technical direction to support fast growth.

You will mentor a global engineering team, define roadmaps, drive cloud, data, and AI initiatives, and partner with the executive team to align technology with business strategy while delivering

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in computer science, engineering, or related field; PhD a plus.
• 10+ years in software engineering and tech leadership in startups.
• Experience building and scaling technology platforms and teams.
• Strong cloud, microservices, AI/ML, and data engineering knowledge.
• Proven leadership and ability to mentor distributed teams.
• Strategic thinker with excellent communication and budgeting skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the company's technology strategy and roadmap.
• Lead engineering, product development, and IT operations teams.
• Drive innovation in software, data science, and cloud infra.
• Ensure scalability, security, and reliability of platforms.
• Oversee recruitment, retention, and development of engineering staff.
• Align technology with business goals; manage technology budget.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

People management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

PhD (plus)

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Microservices

CI/CD

AI/ML

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly scaling tech startup focused on revolutionizing the renewable energy sector through innovative software solutions, is looking for a visionary Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead their technology division. This fully remote, executive leadership position is critical to setting the company's technological direction, driving product development, and ensuring the scalability and robustness of its platform. You will oversee all aspects of engineering, research and development, and IT infrastructure, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. The ideal candidate possesses a strong blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and proven leadership experience in fast-paced startup environments. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact on a company poised for rapid growth and to shape the future of sustainable technology. As a fully remote role, you will have the flexibility to work from your preferred location while collaborating with a global team. You will be instrumental in building and mentoring a world-class engineering team, defining technical roadmaps, and ensuring the company leverages cutting-edge technologies to achieve its ambitious goals. Your strategic vision will guide the company's technological evolution and competitive positioning.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the company's overall technology strategy and roadmap.
• Lead and manage all engineering, product development, and IT operations teams.
• Drive innovation in software development, data science, and cloud infrastructure.
• Ensure the scalability, security, and reliability of the company's technology platforms.
• Oversee the recruitment, retention, and development of top engineering talent.
• Collaborate with the executive team to align technology strategy with business objectives.
• Manage the technology budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Represent the company's technology vision to investors, partners, and the public.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, identifying opportunities for competitive advantage.
• Foster a culture of agility, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the technology organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field. A Ph.D. is a plus.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering and technology leadership, with a proven track record in a CTO or VP of Engineering role.
• Extensive experience building and scaling technology platforms, preferably in a startup or high-growth environment.
• Deep understanding of cloud computing (AWS, Azure, GCP), microservices architecture, AI/ML, and data engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor diverse, distributed engineering teams.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in the renewable energy sector or related technology fields is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and secure technical funding or partnerships.
• Passion for innovation and driving technological advancements.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive salary of ZAR.
• Significant equity stake and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive executive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible unlimited PTO and remote work flexibility.
• Home office setup stipend and technology allowance.
• Budget for professional development, conferences, and personal growth.
• Opportunity to shape the future of a groundbreaking company.
• Direct impact on a mission-driven organization.
• Executive leadership team collaboration.