At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape technical strategy and build AI-native products across multiple startups.
- Company: AINAD, a UK-based venture studio focused on AI and SaaS companies.
- Benefits: Flexible work structure, competitive compensation, and significant autonomy.
- Other info: Hybrid role with opportunities for collaboration and mentorship.
- Why this job: Influence the technical foundations of various innovative ventures and avoid common pitfalls.
- Qualifications: Senior technical leadership experience with a strong software architecture background.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
AINAD is looking for a Chief Technology Officer-in-Residence to shape the technical strategy and product foundations of our AI-native, tech-enabled ventures, while defining how we build from idea to MVP to scale across the studio.
About AINAD: AINAD is a UK-based venture studio that builds and scales AI and SaaS companies across sectors like health, education, fintech and productivity. We act as a hands-on co‑founder to our ventures, providing product, engineering, growth, capital and operating support so they can move from concept to scale faster and with more structure.
The Role: As CTO-in-Residence, you will be the senior technical leader across the studio. You will define how we build products, make architecture decisions and structure engineering teams, while working directly with selected portfolio ventures as an embedded or fractional CTO. This is not a single-company “maintenance” role – it’s a strategist–architect–operator position for someone who loves building from first principles across multiple startups. It’s ideal for a senior technical leader (CTO, VP Engineering, technical co‑founder) who wants to apply their experience across several AI and software ventures rather than just one organisation.
What You’ll Do:
- Define and refine AINAD’s technical playbook for building AI-native and SaaS products (architecture principles, tooling choices, delivery patterns).
- Act as a senior technical partner for selected ventures, especially at concept, MVP and early-scale stages.
- Shape early technical strategy: architecture, stack choices, data/AI approach, integrations and scalability considerations.
- Support rapid prototyping and MVP builds, working with product and design to turn concepts into launch-ready products.
- Guide the pragmatic use of AI/ML - when to build, buy or integrate - and how to manage models, data and experimentation safely.
- Set engineering quality standards appropriate to stage (code review, testing, observability, security basics, documentation).
- Help ventures transition from scrappy prototypes to more robust, scalable infrastructure and engineering practices.
- Advise on technical hiring: define profiles, interview candidates, help onboard early engineers and future venture CTOs.
- Coach founders and technical teams on prioritisation, delivery cadence, technical debt management and communication with non‑technical stakeholders.
- Contribute to investor and partner conversations where technical credibility, defensibility and roadmap clarity are key.
What We’re Looking For:
- Significant experience in senior technical leadership roles (CTO, VP Engineering, technical co‑founder, Head of Engineering) in startups or scale-ups.
- Proven track record taking products from 0 → 1 (concept to MVP) and 1 → early scale (stabilising and maturing architecture, teams and processes).
- Strong software architecture background and fluency with modern cloud, data and application stacks.
- Experience with applied AI/ML or AI-enabled products, and comfort evaluating what is technically realistic versus hype.
- Ability to switch context across multiple ventures while maintaining strategic and technical depth.
- Excellent communication skills – able to explain technical trade-offs to founders, investors and customers in plain language.
- Comfortable leading both by doing (reviewing designs, unblocking builds) and by coaching (mentoring engineers and technical leaders).
- High ownership, low ego; enjoys ambiguity and building frameworks where little exists.
What We Offer:
- A “CTO with leverage” role: shape the technical foundations of multiple AI and SaaS ventures rather than just one.
- Significant autonomy to design how we approach architecture, delivery and engineering across the studio.
- Close collaboration with founders, product leaders, commercial leaders and investors on ambitious early-stage ideas.
- Flexible structure (full-time or high-commitment fractional, to be agreed) with competitive compensation and meaningful long-term upside aligned to impact.
- The opportunity to influence the technical DNA of a venture studio and help multiple startups avoid common scaling and architecture pitfalls.
Location: Hybrid / flexible, with a preference for candidates who can spend meaningful time in the UK (especially London) and occasionally join in‑person sessions with founders and the studio team.
If you’re a senior technical leader who loves building products and engineering systems from scratch, and want to do that across several AI-native ventures, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply with your CV/LinkedIn and a short note on why this CTO-in-Residence role at AINAD appeals to you.
CTO-in-Residence in London employer: AINAD
AINAD is an exceptional employer for those seeking to make a significant impact in the AI and SaaS landscape. With a collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and autonomy, employees have the unique opportunity to shape the technical foundations of multiple ventures while enjoying flexible working arrangements. The company prioritises professional growth, offering substantial support for personal development and the chance to work closely with founders and industry leaders in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land CTO-in-Residence in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who's already in the game. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal project that highlights your technical prowess. This is especially important for a role like CTO-in-Residence where you need to demonstrate your ability to take ideas from concept to MVP. Share it on platforms like GitHub or your own website.
✨Tip Number 3
Tailor your approach! When reaching out to companies like AINAD, make sure to highlight your experience with AI and SaaS products. Show them how your background aligns with their needs and how you can help shape their technical strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and the company. So, get your CV ready and let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace CTO-in-Residence in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your experience in senior technical leadership roles, especially in startups or scale-ups. We want to see how you've taken products from concept to MVP and beyond, so don’t hold back on those achievements!
Craft a Compelling Note:In your short note, share why the CTO-in-Residence role at AINAD excites you. Be genuine and specific about what draws you to our mission of building AI-native ventures. This is your chance to show us your passion!
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:Don’t forget to mention your strong software architecture background and any experience with applied AI/ML. We’re looking for someone who can navigate the technical landscape with ease, so let us know how you’ve done this in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at AINAD
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a CTO-in-Residence, you'll need to demonstrate a deep understanding of software architecture and AI/ML applications. Brush up on the latest trends and be ready to discuss how you would apply them in real-world scenarios. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully taken products from concept to MVP.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
This role is all about shaping technical strategies across multiple ventures. Be prepared to articulate your approach to defining a technical playbook and how you would guide startups through their early stages. Think about how you can balance innovation with practicality when discussing architecture decisions.
✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively
You’ll need to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Practice simplifying your language and using analogies to make your points clear. During the interview, focus on how you can bridge the gap between technical teams and founders or investors.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Mentorship Skills
As a senior technical leader, your ability to mentor and coach others will be crucial. Prepare to share specific instances where you've guided teams through challenges, helped onboard new engineers, or improved engineering practices. Highlight your low-ego approach and willingness to lead by example.
