Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Placements24; Pietermaritzburg; Hybrid; ZAR 2,400,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive salary with equity options

Global health, dental, and vision

Professional development budget

Flexible remote work environment

Impactful product strategy and tech-dr

Access to cutting-edge tools and tech

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary CTO to shape technology strategy and execution for a remote FinTech startup. Lead a global engineering team, drive platform scalability and security, and guide product roadmap with emphasis on innovation.

The role demands deep cloud, security, and architectural expertise, plus strong leadership and strategic thinking to scale the business through rapid growth.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years in technology leadership roles, with a proven CTO/VP Engineering track record.
• Extensive software development and cloud experience (AWS, Azure, GCP) with microservices and API design.
• Strong FinTech, cybersecurity, and data privacy knowledge (GDPR/POPIA).
• Proven ability to lead distributed engineering teams remotely.
• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience with agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).
• Proven budget and project management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the company's technology vision, strategy, and roadmap.
• Oversee design, development, deployment, and maintenance of software and tech infra.
• Lead and mentor a geographically distributed engineering and IT team.
• Drive product development innovation and explore emerging technologies.
• Ensure scalability, reliability, security, and performance of the platform.
• Develop and manage the technology budget for cost-effectiveness.
• Establish cybersecurity policies to protect data.
• Collaborate with executive team to align tech with business goals.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and make strategic investments.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Cloud computing

Cybersecurity awareness

Agile methodologies

Team leadership (remote)

Technology strategy

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/Engineering

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

API design

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an innovative FinTech startup poised for significant growth, is seeking a visionary Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead their technology strategy and execution. This is a fully remote, executive-level position responsible for all aspects of the company's technology infrastructure, software development, and digital innovation. The CTO will play a critical role in shaping the product roadmap, driving technological advancements, and ensuring the scalability and security of our client's platform. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of modern technology stacks, agile methodologies, and cybersecurity best practices, coupled with strong leadership and strategic thinking capabilities. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of technological innovation in the financial services sector from a remote setting. We are looking for a transformative leader who can inspire a high-performing engineering team and build robust, cutting-edge solutions. Your expertise will be crucial in guiding the company through its next phase of rapid expansion and technological development.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the company's overall technology vision, strategy, and roadmap.


• Oversee the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of all software and technology infrastructure.


• Lead and mentor a high-performing, geographically distributed engineering and IT team.


• Drive innovation in product development and explore emerging technologies to enhance platform capabilities.


• Ensure the scalability, reliability, security, and performance of the technology platform.


• Develop and manage the technology budget, ensuring efficient resource allocation and cost-effectiveness.


• Establish and enforce strong cybersecurity policies and protocols to protect company and customer data.


• Collaborate closely with the executive team to align technology strategy with business goals.


• Stay abreast of industry trends and technological advancements, recommending strategic investments.


• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning within the technology department.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.


• 10+ years of progressive experience in technology leadership roles, with a proven track record as a CTO or VP of Engineering.


• Extensive experience in software development, cloud computing (AWS, Azure, GCP), microservices architecture, and API design.


• Strong understanding of FinTech, cybersecurity, data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, POPIA), and compliance.


• Demonstrated ability to build and scale high-performing engineering teams remotely.


• Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.


• Exceptional communication, leadership, and interpersonal abilities.


• Experience with agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).


• Proven ability to manage complex technology budgets and projects effectively.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive salary, significant equity options, and performance-based bonuses.


• Comprehensive global health, dental, and vision insurance.


• Generous professional development budget for conferences, certifications, and training.


• Flexible remote work environment with support for home office setup.


• Opportunity to shape the technology and future of a groundbreaking FinTech company.


• Direct impact on product strategy and technological innovation.


• Regular virtual team-building events and retreats.


• Access to cutting-edge tools and technologies.