AI Startup in Stealth Mode · 22 hours ago
Chief Technology Officer
Austin, TX
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
15+ years expAI Startup in Stealth Mode is building a category-defining platform at the frontier of Agentic Commerce. They are seeking a Founding CTO / Head of Engineering to partner directly with the founder, owning the technical vision and architectural foundations of the company.
Computer Software
Responsibilities
Define the core technical strategy and platform architecture from first principles, aligned with long-term product, GTM, and ecosystem goals
Design and build systems that support AI-driven discovery, decisioning, and transactions—optimized for trust, extensibility, and interoperability
Translate an early thesis into real, working systems quickly, while making architectural decisions that compound rather than constrain
Navigate tradeoffs between speed, quality, and durability in a stealth environment without hiding behind process or perfectionism
Hire early engineers, set the technical and cultural bar, and model ownership, clarity, and accountability from day one
Operate as a thought partner to product and GTM leadership, shaping what gets built—not just how it’s built
Build systems that accrue durable advantage through data, workflows, and ecosystem integration over time
Qualification
Required
15+ years of experience building and scaling complex platforms and systems
Proven 0→1 engineering leadership, followed by meaningful scale
Deep background in commerce platforms, AI-driven systems, marketplaces, or distributed systems
Strong architectural judgment in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
Founder mentality: high ownership, comfort with responsibility, and willingness to make irreversible decisions early
Preferred
Senior technical leadership experience at Google, Meta, Amazon, or similarly scaled global technology companies (seniority Director +)
Experience operating across both big-tech rigor and startup velocity
Prior founder, co-founder, early-stage CTO experience or 0-1 platforms in Large enterprises
Demonstrated ability to lead with low ego, strong opinions, and clear decision-making
Pattern recognition from prior platform or interface shifts (e.g., marketplaces, mobile, cloud, AI)
Formal training in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering from a top-tier U.S. institution (e.g., MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Caltech), or equivalent depth demonstrated through exceptional real-world execution and technical leadership
Benefits
Equity
Cash (stage-appropriate)
Company
AI Startup in Stealth Mode
We’re assembling a senior founding team across technical and GTM roles.
Founded in 2025Austin, Texas, US
0-1 employeesFunding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase