CTO / Head of Engineering

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