CTO - B2B Software Startup - Munich

We're working with a fast-scaling deep tech company building the infrastructure that lets humans and AI agents co-develop safety-critical software, auditable by construction, for industries where \"move fast and break things\" isn't an option.

The business today: 25 people, 17 enterprise customers, a genuinely strong open-source footprint, and a Series A targeted for mid-2027.

They're hiring a CTO to build the engineering organisation behind an entirely new category, not simply manage what already exists.

What you'll own:

• Long-term technical vision and technology strategy for the company
• Scaling the engineering team from ~15 to 30-50 engineers while protecting culture and quality
• Recruiting, mentoring and developing the next layer of technical leadership
• Staying years ahead of the market on AI trends, emerging technology and competitive threats
• Turning customer feedback into long-term product and technology direction, working closely with rollout and commercial teams
• Acting as a true strategic thought partner to the founders on company, product and technology direction
• Representing the company externally, at conferences, with customers, and within the developer community
• Balancing execution speed with the rigour safety-critical software demands

What they need from you:

• Track record of scaling an engineering org from roughly 10 to 50 engineers, or a comparable growth stage
• A builder's mindset, not a manager's. High ownership and accountability
• Strong technical credibility from respected startups or technology companies
• Experience setting engineering strategy inside a fast-growing B2B software business
• Comfort with ambiguity, hands-on when needed, genuinely excited to build from scratch
• Based in Munich, or ready to relocate

Nice to have:

• Exposure to safety-critical domains (automotive, aerospace, rail, medical devices, industrial automation),
• Familiarity with Rust or distributed systems, or experience with AI engineering platforms.

On offer:

• Equity
• The chance to help define a new category over the next 5-10 years
• Working directly alongside the founders as a genuine partner rather than a hire brought in to manage headcount.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background. Due to the high volume of applications, we are only able to respond directly to successful candidates.