Chief Technology Officer “CTO” – Founding ...

Chief Technology Officer “CTO” – Founding Engineering LeaderDirect HireSalary Range : $200,000 - $300,000Benefits : Startup level benefitsFounding CTO / Engineering LeaderSan Francisco (Hybrid / In Office)About the CompanyWe’re an early-stage AI-driven startup operating at the intersection of media, creativity, and advanced tech. In just a few months, we’ve hit significant revenue milestones and are positioned for hypergrowth. Our goal is to scale from early traction to breakout success—fast.The team is small, senior, and intensely focused. Everyone here is a builder who thrives in ambiguity, values product craftsmanship, and moves quickly with clear ownership. We’re backed by a strong syndicate of angel investors and are actively shaping our next stage of funding.We’re now looking for a seasoned technical leader who can match our pace and help us scale both product and team.What You’ll DoBe the technical foundation: drive engineering strategy, architecture, and infrastructure decisions from the ground upLead by doing: write production-level code in your strongest area (backend, AI systems, or frontend) while building and mentoring a high-performing engineering teamShape product alongside founders, designers, and users—fast iteration and direct feedback loops are keyArchitect robust systems capable of handling real-time collaboration and compute-intensive AI workloadsWork cross-functionally to turn ambitious product ideas into reliable, beautiful, and fast experiencesBuild toward internal AI/ML capabilities including model deployment, scaling inference, and experimentation infrastructureWho You AreA hands-on engineering leader who thrives in a zero-to-one environment and enjoys scaling systems and teamsSomeone who’s seen multiple stages of growth, ideally as a founder, early technical leader, or startup CTOProduct-minded and user-obsessed—you care deeply about what gets built, not just howComfortable with rapid cycles, incomplete data, and hard technical tradeoffsAble to navigate both individual contribution and executive-level leadership, switching as the business demandsDrawn to high-upside opportunities and willing to go all-in on a mission that excites you8+ years in software engineering with 2+ years in a leadership or founder-level roleEnd-to-end product development—from first commit to customer adoption at scaleExperience with high-performance backend systems, modern frontend stacks, or AI/ML pipelinesFamiliarity with GPU infrastructure, model inference workflows, and scaling cloud-based systemsStrong system design and a track record of architectural ownershipBonus: experience in generative media, creator tools, or real-time rendering pipelinesThe Tech Stack (Not Set in Stone)Infrastructure: Cloud-native, edge compute, Docker, GPU orchestration, CDNsAI/ML: Inference streaming, integration of video/image generation models, real-time model-servingTooling: Testing automation, performance monitoring, internal tooling for fast iterationWhy This Role is UniqueExecutive-level scope: Be a foundational leader with major influence on company directionUncapped potential: Equity and upside reflect the timing of the opportunityProduct velocity: Join a team that ships fast and frequently, without red tapeImpact: Help build a product from the ground up that could reshape how millions create and engage with contentCulture: Transparent, direct, ownership-driven, and highly collaborativeCompensationCompetitive salary range (flexible based on experience and needs)Equity package reflecting early leadership impactBenefits and relocation support if neededWe help people find the next step in their careers in technology, marketing, sales, human resources, finance, accounting, and real estate. Check out what jobs we have available today.Follow the hottest hiring trends. #IYKYKTalent Insights is THE place to keep up with the latest trends in hiring. From market analysis to hot takes on talent practices, tune in to learn (and maybe be entertained).Email *What best describes you? *drop us a lineNeed help with hiring? Turns out, we'd love to help. Contact us below.If you're looking for a new job, check out the job openings for our clients here .We'd love to hear from you! Please fill out the form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.First NameLast NameEmail *Company Name *Company Website URL *How can we help you hire? *How did you hear about us? *Subscribe to our Talent Insights Newsletter #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-21