At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us as a hands-on CTO, building core infrastructure and backend systems.
- Company: Be part of an innovative startup shaping the future of technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy early-stage equity, high ownership, and a fast-paced work environment.
- Other info: Ideal for engineers eager to build from scratch and make a real impact.
- Why this job: This role offers the chance to lead tech decisions and grow with the company.
- Qualifications: Proficiency in modern backend languages and strong systems design skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a high-caliber engineer to join as a CTO. You should be deeply hands-on with code, technically opinionated, and capable of building production systems from scratch. This is a role for someone who enjoys execution but also has the potential (or ambition) to lead technology at a company-defining level.
What You'll Do
- Build and own core infrastructure and backend systems
- Design and implement APIs, data models, and scalable services
- Collaborate closely with founders on product direction and technical architecture
- Ship code fast, validate assumptions, and iterate
- Lay the groundwork for the future engineering team (tooling, processes, and architecture)
Core Technical Requirements
- Proficient in one or more modern backend languages (e.g. Python, Go, TypeScript, Java, Rust)
- Strong systems design skills — you can model real-world systems and reason about scale, latency, and trade-offs
- Comfortable building from zero — greenfield work doesn’t scare you; in fact, you prefer it
- Experienced with cloud infrastructure — AWS, GCP, or similar; IaC (Terraform, Pulumi, etc.) is a plus
- Competent with databases and data modeling — SQL and NoSQL, designing schema for scale
- Comfortable writing tests and deploying production systems — you care about code quality and reliability
Bonus Experience (Not Required, but Valuable)
- Worked at a Pre-Seed or Seed-stage startup through to Series A
- Built or deployed software used by enterprise customers
- Experience with applied machine learning or MLOps (not just academic or notebook-based work)
- Exposure to event-driven architectures, streaming systems (Kafka, etc.), or real-time data pipelines
- Frontend experience in React, TypeScript, or similar modern frameworks
What We Offer
- Early-stage equity and the opportunity to shape foundational decisions
- High ownership, zero bureaucracy — build what matters, fast
- Founders who value engineers, ship code, and work closely with you
- A role that grows with you — if you have CTO potential, you’ll have a path
You should apply if: You’re an engineer first — you solve problems through code, you like building things that work, and you’ve got the technical depth to back it up.
Technical Co-Founder // Startup CTO (Go and React) employer: LinkedIn
Join a dynamic startup as a Technical Co-Founder and CTO, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape the future of our technology and infrastructure from the ground up. We foster a culture of high ownership and rapid execution, allowing you to work closely with founders who value your engineering expertise and vision. With early-stage equity and a clear path for growth, this role is perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in a collaborative and innovative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Co-Founder // Startup CTO (Go and React)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with other tech founders and engineers in your area. Attend meetups, conferences, or online forums where you can connect with like-minded individuals. This can help you gain insights into what startups are looking for in a CTO and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your hands-on coding skills by contributing to open-source projects or building your own side projects. This not only demonstrates your technical abilities but also your passion for coding and problem-solving, which is crucial for a role like this.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in cloud infrastructure and modern backend languages. Being well-versed in tools like AWS, GCP, and Terraform will make you stand out as a candidate who can hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your vision for technology at a startup level. Think about how you would approach building a tech stack from scratch and be ready to share your ideas during interviews. This shows that you’re not just a coder, but a strategic thinker.
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Co-Founder // Startup CTO (Go and React)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your experience with backend languages like Go and your proficiency in systems design. Emphasise any previous roles where you built production systems from scratch or worked in a startup environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, express your passion for engineering and problem-solving through code. Mention specific projects where you've demonstrated your ability to build scalable services and collaborate on product direction.
Showcase Relevant Projects:Include links to your GitHub or portfolio showcasing relevant projects, especially those involving cloud infrastructure, databases, or modern frameworks like React. This will give the hiring team insight into your hands-on coding skills.
Highlight Leadership Potential:Even if you haven't held a formal leadership role, discuss instances where you've taken initiative or led projects. This will demonstrate your ambition and potential to grow into the CTO role.
How to prepare for a job interview at LinkedIn
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your proficiency in backend languages like Go or Python. Bring examples of your past work, especially any greenfield projects, to demonstrate your hands-on coding abilities and systems design skills.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Research the startup's mission and product direction. Be ready to discuss how your technical expertise can align with their goals and how you can contribute to shaping the technology at a company-defining level.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Practice solving real-world problems that involve system design, scalability, and trade-offs, as this will showcase your ability to think critically and execute effectively.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Potential
Even if you're applying for a hands-on role, show that you have the ambition to lead. Discuss your vision for building a future engineering team and how you would lay the groundwork for processes and architecture that support growth.
