Chief Technology Officer (Cto)

WatersEdge Solutions; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 2 500 000 - 3 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A global HR tech company is seeking a visionary Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead technology strategy and engineering operations. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience in high-growth environments and expertise in cloud-native platforms. Responsibilities include defining the technology roadmap and ensuring platform scalability and compliance. This role offers competitive executive compensation and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Competitive executive compensation package

Share incentive scheme

Generous leave policy

Monthly benefits budget

Hybrid working model

World-class office amenities

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience as CTO or VP Engineering in high-growth product-led businesses.
• Expertise in cloud-native platforms and distributed systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder alignment skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute technology strategy aligned with business goals.
• Lead and scale the Engineering team.
• Own architectural decisions to ensure platform security and compliance.

Skills

Leadership experience in high-growth businesses

Expertise in building cloud-native platforms

Hands-on experience with React

Hands-on experience with Node.js

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Passion for innovation

Tools

AWS

Next.js

Job description

Location: Hybrid – South Africa or Remote

Employment Type: Full-Time

Industry: SaaS | Global Workforce Tech | HR & Compliance

WatersEdge Solutions is recruiting a visionary and hands-on Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead technology strategy and engineering execution for a fast-scaling global HR tech company. This is a high-impact, executive-level role for a leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, architecture, innovation, and people leadership—driving product excellence and platform scalability across borders.

About the Role

As CTO, you will join the Executive Team and own the vision, architecture, and delivery of a multi-product platform. You’ll lead the global Engineering organisation, define the technology roadmap, and ensure platform scalability, security, and innovation. This role balances deep technical engagement with leadership oversight, working closely with Product, Operations, and Commercial teams to deliver real customer value through technology.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technology strategy aligned with global business goals
• Lead and scale the Engineering team, embedding a culture of excellence and innovation
• Own architectural decisions, balancing speed, scalability, and compliance
• Partner cross-functionally to shape the roadmap and deliver customer-centric solutions
• Implement modern development practices including CI / CD, observability, and test automation
• Ensure platform security and compliance with frameworks such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001
• Champion innovation through AI integration, automation, and developer tooling
• Act as a market-facing technology leader, attracting talent and shaping the company’s external brand
• Develop senior technical leaders and create strong succession planning across engineering

What You’ll Bring

• Proven leadership experience (CTO, VP Engineering, or similar) in high-growth product-led businesses
• Expertise in building and scaling cloud-native platforms and distributed systems
• Strong hands-on experience with:
• Frontend – React, TypeScript
• Backend – Node.js
• Frameworks – Next.js
• Cloud – AWS
• Track record leading SOC 2 / ISO 27001-compliant engineering organisations
• Experience implementing modern software development practices at scale
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and stakeholder alignment skills
• Strategic thinker with the ability to solve problems and deliver results
• Passion for innovation and continuous learning

Nice to Have

• Experience scaling globally distributed engineering teams
• Familiarity with fintech, HR tech, or compliance-driven SaaS environments
• Strong eye for design and seamless user experiences
• Proven success leading through hypergrowth and change

What’s On Offer

• Competitive executive compensation package
• Share incentive scheme for long-term value creation
• Generous leave policy and “work from anywhere” flexibility
• Monthly benefits budget for wellness and insurance
• Hybrid working model and world-class office amenities
• A mission-driven team building the future of borderless work

Company Culture

WatersEdge Solutions partners with businesses shaping the future of global work. You’ll join a company that values high performance, precision, and collaboration—with a commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and impact at scale.

If you have not been contacted within 10 working days, please consider your application unsuccessful.