CTO / Head of Engineering
Huzzle
About Huzzle
At Huzzle, we connect exceptional talent with top opportunities at leading companies across the UK, US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Our clients include high-growth startups, venture-backed tech companies, and innovative platforms across SaaS, FinTech, AI, and Web3.
Unlike traditional outsourcing agencies, we place you directly with a client-where you're hired in-house as a core team member, with real ownership and long-term upside.
About the Company
Our client is an early-stage, venture-backed startup building a category-defining platform designed to reshape how businesses operate in a digital-first world. Backed by experienced founders and strong early traction, the company is now hiring a founding technical leader at the C-level to define and scale its technology vision.
Job Summary
We're seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) / Founding Engineer to lead the company's technical strategy, architecture, and execution from zero to scale. This is a rare opportunity to join at the ground floor and shape not only the product, but the entire engineering organization, culture, and long-term technical vision.
You will operate as both a hands-on builder and strategic leader, working closely with the founding team, investors, and future hires to drive product innovation and company growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and execute the company's technical vision, architecture, and roadmap
- Lead full-stack product development from MVP to scalable platform
- Make high-impact decisions on tech stack, infrastructure, and system design
- Build and scale the engineering team, including hiring and mentoring top talent
- Establish engineering processes, best practices, and performance standards
- Collaborate with founders on company strategy, fundraising, and product-market fit
- Ensure scalability, security, and reliability of all systems
- Represent the technical function at the executive level with stakeholders and investors
Tech Stack
- Languages: TypeScript, JavaScript, Python (bonus)
- Frontend: React
- Backend: Node.js, Wasp (easy to pick up)
- Infra: Cloudflare Workers/R2, PostgreSQL, Docker
- AI & APIs: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI, Bedrock, Openrouter
- Dev Tools: Cursor, Augment, Git, Linear
A Day in the Life
- Jump into a fast, focused standup to align on goals
- Prototype generative features that combine UX, backend, and AI orchestration
- Share demos via Loom, jam with founders in Slack, and rapidly ship to prod
- Ideate new user flows, sketch mockups, or dive deep into technical tradeoffs
- End the day knowing you shipped real value-and helped shape the future of design
Tech Stack (Ideal Experience)
- Frontend: React, Next.js, TypeScript
- Backend: Node.js (NestJS/Express) or Python (FastAPI/Django)
- Database: PostgreSQL, Redis
- Infrastructure: AWS / GCP, Docker, CI/CD pipelines
- Other: API design (REST/GraphQL), system architecture, DevOps best practices
- 6-10+ years of experience in software engineering, with leadership experience
- Proven track record of building and scaling products in startup environments
- Strong full-stack expertise with the ability to remain hands-on when needed
- Experience leading engineering teams and setting technical direction
- Deep understanding of system architecture, scalability, and cloud infrastructure
- Strong business acumen and ability to align technology with company goals
- Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Prior experience as a Founding Engineer, Head of Engineering, or CTO is highly preferred
Competitive salary (based on experience)
Significant equity stake with early-stage upside
Work onsite in San Francisco alongside founders and leadership team
True ownership over product, engineering, and long-term technology vision
Collaborate with experienced founders and top-tier investors
Opportunity to build and lead a world-class engineering organization