Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder

Harrison Clarke; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stake

Impact on company development

Autonomy in decision-making

Opportunities for growth

Job summary

A seed-stage startup in San Francisco is seeking a Founding CTO to define and execute its technology strategy. The role involves leading product development, mentoring a high-performing engineering team, and ensuring alignment with business goals. Candidates should have at least 7 years of software engineering experience and have a track record in startups. This opportunity includes equity and the chance to shape a high-growth company's technical foundation.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including 3+ years in a technical leadership role.
• Proven track record of building and scaling products in a startup.
• Experience as a founder or early employee at a startup is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and articulate the company’s technical vision and roadmap.
• Lead product development from ideation to deployment.
• Recruit and mentor a high-performing engineering team.
• Oversee technical operations and infrastructure.
• Align technical initiatives with customer needs and business objectives.

Skills

Technical leadership

Software engineering

Problem-solving

Team building and mentoring

Communication with stakeholders

Job description

As the Founding CTO, you will be the technical visionary and leader responsible for defining and executing the company’s technology strategy. You will oversee the development of our product, build and lead a high-performing engineering team, and ensure our technology aligns with our business goals. This is a hands‑on role requiring both strategic leadership and technical expertise in a fast‑paced, early‑stage startup environment.

We are a seed‑stage startup currently in stealth revolutionizing an entire industry with cutting edge technology creating precision sensors and redefining an entire space. As a founding team member, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our technical vision, building our product from the ground up, and driving our startup’s success.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Vision & Strategy

• Define and articulate the company’s technical vision, architecture, and roadmap in alignment with business objectives.
• Identify and implement scalable, innovative technologies to drive product development and competitive advantage.
• Stay ahead of industry trends to ensure our technology remains cutting‑edge.

Product Development

• Lead the end‑to‑end development of our core product, from ideation to deployment and iteration.
• Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code while establishing best practices for the engineering team.
• Oversee system architecture, ensuring scalability, security, and performance.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a world‑class engineering team as the company grows.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative engineering culture.
• Establish processes for agile development, code reviews, and continuous integration/delivery.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with the CEO, product, and business teams to align technical initiatives with customer needs and business goals.
• Work with external stakeholders, including investors, partners, and vendors, to communicate technical vision and progress.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee technical operations, including infrastructure, cloud services, and cybersecurity.
• Ensure robust testing, monitoring, and maintenance of systems to deliver a reliable product.

Qualifications

Experience

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership role.
• Proven track record of building and scaling technology products, ideally in a startup or early‑stage environment.
• Experience as a founder or early employee at a startup is a strong plus.

Leadership & Communication

• Exceptional leadership skills with a passion for mentoring and building high‑performing teams.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to wear multiple hats in a fast‑paced environment.

Mindset

• Passion for solving hard problems and building innovative solutions from scratch.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and thriving in a dynamic, resource‑constrained startup environment.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for the company’s technical success.

What We Offer

• Equity: A significant equity stake as a founding team member, offering the opportunity to share in the company’s long‑term success.
• Impact: The chance to shape the technical foundation of a high‑growth startup and make a meaningful impact.
• Autonomy: Freedom to make critical technical decisions and build a world‑class engineering organization.
• Growth: A collaborative, fast‑paced environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.