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Chief Technology Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Department: Engineering Reports to : President and CEO Position Type : Regular/Full-Time/On-Site/Exempt Location : San Jose, CA The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is ...

Chief Technology Officer, Rochester, NH We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to fill the role of Chief Technology Officer. This critical position will work closely with the executive ...

New

CTO

Fresno, CA · On-site

$185K - $195K/yr

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Role Overview: We are seeking an experienced Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead our technology strategy and oversee all technical aspects of our company. The ideal ...

Working at the intersection of strategy and code, the CTO partners with the CEO to define the engineering direction, align the CPO and COO to keep the roadmap sound and moving at pace, and work with ...

Join as CTO for our software engineering department as we scale! As a tech company ourselves, this is a crucial role. We offer competitive compensation with sizeable equity option negotiable. We're a ...

Working at the intersection of strategy and code, the CTO partners with the CEO to define the engineering direction, align the CPO and COO to keep the roadmap sound and moving at pace, and work with ...

Chief Technology Officer

Longmont, CO · On-site

$220 - $350/hr

Working at the intersection of strategy and code, the CTO partners with the CEO to define the engineering direction, align the CPO and COO to keep the roadmap sound and moving at pace, and work with ...

We are in search of a visionary and experienced Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead our technological development. The successful candidate will work alongside other top executives and will have a ...

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Chief Technology Officer information

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$25.5K

$166.5K

$276.5K

How much do chief technology officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief technology officer in the United States is $166,511.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $132,000.00 and $195,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is CTO higher than director?

A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is typically a senior executive responsible for a company's overall technology strategy and innovation, and is generally higher in hierarchy than a director, who manages specific departments or teams. The CTO often reports to the CEO and has broader strategic responsibilities, while directors focus on operational management within their areas. The exact hierarchy can vary by organization, but the CTO usually holds a higher leadership position than a director.

What are the 4 types of CTO?

The four common types of Chief Technology Officers are the Executive CTO, who focuses on strategic leadership; the Technical CTO, who oversees technology development and infrastructure; the Product CTO, responsible for product innovation and management; and the Startup CTO, who often handles both technical and operational roles in early-stage companies. These roles vary based on company size, industry, and organizational structure, and they often require strong technical expertise and leadership skills.

What Does a Chief Technology Officer Do?

As a chief technology officer, you manage the technical aspects of your company. In your role as CTO, you may provide leadership for a technology department, help execute a technology strategy, and coordinate with other executive managers to better understand what the company needs and how that should fit into various plans and budgets. Chief technology officers often establish a technical vision, study leading-edge technologies, ensure data security, and help analyze target markets and business models. Depending on the needs of the company, chief technology officers may specialize in specific areas or focus more on software and intellectual property than systems and hardware.

What is a typical CTO salary?

A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) salary varies widely based on industry, company size, and location, but typically ranges from $150,000 to over $250,000 annually in many regions. CTOs with extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities can earn higher compensation, often including bonuses and stock options.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chief Technology Officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Technology Officer, you need extensive experience in software development, IT infrastructure, and strategic leadership, often supported by a degree in computer science or engineering. Familiarity with enterprise architecture, cloud platforms, cybersecurity frameworks, and agile methodologies—as well as certifications like PMP or AWS—are commonly utilized in this role. Exceptional communication, visionary leadership, and the ability to drive innovation are critical soft skills for success. These capabilities ensure the organization leverages technology strategically to achieve business goals and maintain a competitive edge.

What is a Chief Technology Officer?

A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is a senior executive responsible for overseeing an organization's technological direction and strategy. They lead the development and implementation of technology solutions to support business goals, often managing IT teams and collaborating with other executives. CTOs evaluate new technologies, ensure the security of information systems, and drive innovation to maintain a competitive edge. Their role is vital in aligning technology initiatives with the company's vision and ensuring efficient, scalable tech operations.

What is the difference between Chief Technology Officer vs Chief Information Officer?

AspectChief Technology Officer (CTO)Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Primary FocusTechnology development, product innovation, and technical strategyIT infrastructure, systems management, and internal technology operations
CredentialsTypically requires engineering, computer science degrees, and technical certificationsOften requires IT management experience, business administration, and relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentR&D teams, product development, and technical departmentsIT departments, internal support teams, and enterprise systems
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, startups, and product-focused organizationsPrevalent in large corporations, finance, healthcare, and government sectors

The CTO focuses on driving technological innovation and product development, while the CIO manages internal IT systems and infrastructure. Both roles require strong technical backgrounds but serve different strategic purposes within an organization.

How does a Chief Technology Officer typically collaborate with other executive leaders to align technology strategy with business goals?

A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) works closely with other executives such as the CEO, COO, and CFO to ensure that the technology roadmap supports the overall business strategy. This collaboration often involves participating in leadership meetings, translating business needs into technical requirements, and providing input on major product or operational initiatives. CTOs also bridge communication between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders, helping to prioritize projects and investments that drive growth. This cross-functional partnership is vital for aligning innovation with organizational objectives and ensuring resources are allocated effectively.

What would a chief technology officer do?

A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is responsible for overseeing a company's technological development and strategy, managing IT teams, and ensuring that technology aligns with business goals. They evaluate and implement new systems, manage technical resources, and often stay informed about industry trends and innovations. Strong leadership, technical expertise, and strategic planning are essential skills for a CTO.
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Infographic showing various Chief Technology Officer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 93% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $166,511 per year, or $80.1 per hour.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Trinity Technology Solutions

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

About Client

Client  is a venture-backed leader in biometric security, headquartered in Cupertino, California. We build privacy-first, AI-powered access control systems used by Fortune 50 enterprises and operators of the world’s most critical infrastructure.

Our flagship product is a tightly integrated hardware, edge AI, and cloud platform that enables frictionless, high-assurance authentication across hyperscale data centers, financial institutions, airports, universities, and secure facilities. As digital identity becomes foundational to global security, Client is positioned to define what comes next.

The Role

We are seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to own the end-to-end technical vision and execution of Client ’s platform and products.

This is a builder CTO role for a systems-level leader who can architect, scale, and ship deeply integrated hardware, software, and AI systems. The CTO will lead large, multidisciplinary engineering teams and will be responsible for designing and delivering the next 1–3 generations of Client ’s core products.

This role is not advisory, not research-only, and not business development–oriented. The CTO is the company’s senior-most technical authority, accountable for turning long-term product vision into reliable, manufacturable, and globally deployable systems that win in the market.

What You’ll Own

Technology Vision & Architecture

-Define and own Client ’s technology and platform roadmap with a 3–10 year horizon.

-Architect next-generation biometric identity systems across facial authentication, edge AI, secure hardware, and cloud services.

-Ensure all product evolution balances accuracy, latency, security, privacy, cost, and scalability.

Engineering Leadership

-Lead and scale engineering organizations spanning hardware, firmware, embedded systems, AI/ML, and cloud software.

-Set technical standards for reliability, security, performance, and manufacturability.

-Make final architectural decisions and drive disciplined execution across teams.

Product Evolution

-Own the evolution of Client ’s core products across multiple generations, delivering step-function improvements in customer value and market differentiation.

-Partner closely with Product and Design to translate customer needs and market opportunities into shipped capabilities.

-Ensure innovation moves from concept → prototype → production → deployment.

AI, Edge & Privacy

-Guide the development of computer vision and AI systems optimized for on-device inference and real-world environments.

-Champion privacy-first and security-by-design approaches across the stack.

-Build platforms that can adapt to future identity modalities and regulatory requirements.

Market & Technical Leadership

-Represent Client  as a technical leader with customers, partners, and at industry forums.

-Maintain awareness of relevant standards and compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, NIST, FedRAMP) as design constraints—not ownership areas.

Culture & Talent

-Build a culture of strong technical judgment, systems thinking, and high accountability.

-Mentor senior engineering leaders and develop next-generation technical talent.

-Encourage fast iteration paired with production-grade rigor.

What We’re Looking For

-10+ years in senior technical leadership roles (CTO, VP Engineering, VP Product Engineering, or equivalent).

-Proven experience leading both hardware and software engineering teams at scale.

-Deep expertise in hardware/software convergence, edge computing, embedded systems, and cloud-connected devices.

-Track record of shipping complex, high-reliability products into production.

-Strong product intuition and the ability to think in product generations, not just features.

-Background in security, biometrics, AI, computer vision, or adjacent deep-tech domains.

-Technical degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Bonus Experience

-Hands-on experience with AI/ML systems for computer vision or biometric applications.

-Experience designing privacy-first or security-critical platforms.

-Patent portfolio or history of shipping novel, defensible technology.

-Exposure to relevant standards bodies or technical working groups.

What we’ll filter out is this:

-Strategy-only execs

-“Innovation lab” leaders

-Non-technical product leaders

What we hope to attract instead:

-Former VP Engs who should be CTOs

-CTOs from edge AI / robotics / security / infra

-Product-minded technologists who’ve shipped hardware multiple times