ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Co-Founder Cto Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Clera

Co-Founder & CTO

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The flywheel is already running -- and the incoming technical co-founder will decide how it evolves. This is not a conventional CTO hire . You will not be executing someone else's roadmap. Several of ...

Clera

Co-Founder & CTO

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The flywheel is already running - and the incoming technical co-founder will decide how it evolves. This is not a conventional CTO hire . You will not be executing someone else's roadmap. Several of ...

Cold Start

CTO Co-Founder

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Cold Start Ventures is seeking exceptional CTO co-founders to lead new companies in their portfolio, backed by tier-1 VCs with significant capital. The role involves joining as a true co-founder ...

Cold Start

CTO Co-Founder

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Cold Start Ventures is looking for exceptional CTO co-founders to lead new companies in their portfolio. The role involves joining as a true co-founder, prototyping and launching products, and ...

Cold Start Ventures

CTO Co-Founder

New York, NY · On-site

... CTO co-founders to lead new companies in our portfolio. Each venture is backed by tier-1 VCs with $1.5M+ in committed day-one capital . You'll join as a true co-founder - with the equity, influence ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCo-Founder Cto Jobs

Co Founder Cto information

See salary details

$48.5K

$59K

$67.5K

How much do co-founder cto jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for co-founder cto in the United States is $59,000.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,000.00 and $64,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges a co-founder CTO faces when building an engineering team from the ground up?

A Co-Founder CTO often encounters the challenge of balancing rapid product development with the need to build a strong, scalable engineering team. Recruiting top technical talent can be difficult in early-stage startups due to resource constraints and company visibility. Additionally, the CTO must establish effective workflows and a collaborative culture while setting long-term technology direction. Navigating these challenges requires strong leadership, clear communication, and a hands-on approach to both technical and people management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a co-founder CTO, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Co-Founder CTO, you need deep technical expertise in software development, architecture, and product management, often supported by a computer science degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with modern programming languages, cloud platforms, and agile development tools, as well as experience with startup technologies, is crucial. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills are essential for guiding teams and aligning technology with business goals. These skills enable the CTO to drive innovation, build scalable products, and ensure the technical vision supports overall company success.

What is a co-founder CTO?

A Co-Founder CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is a founding member of a company who is responsible for leading its technology strategy and development. They typically collaborate with other co-founders to establish the company's vision and culture, while also building and managing the technical team, overseeing product development, and ensuring that the company's technology supports its business goals. As both a founder and an executive, a Co-Founder CTO often helps secure funding, shapes product direction, and plays a key role in early decision-making.
More about Co Founder Cto jobs
What job categories do people searching Co-Founder Cto jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Co-Founder Cto jobs are:
Co Founder Cto jobs near you
Infographic showing various Co-Founder Cto job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,000 per year, or $28.4 per hour.

Co-Founder & CTO

Clera

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

About the Role

A pre-seed AI creative platform — connecting creators who produce video ads with brands — is seeking an exceptional technical leader to join as an equal Co-Founder and CTO. The company is backed by experienced founders and operators with deep roots in consumer tech, gaming, and venture, and has already achieved meaningful early traction with thousands of creators producing content for recognizable brand partners.

The mission: build individualized AI that understands human taste and enables a true creative democracy. The flywheel is already running — and the incoming technical co-founder will decide how it evolves.

This is not a conventional CTO hire. You will not be executing someone else's roadmap. Several of the most consequential architectural and product decisions are deliberately still open, waiting for the right person to own them. You will have real authority, meaningful equity, and genuine co-founder standing from day one.

What You'll Do

  • Define and own the full technical and AI research agenda for the company

  • Architect and ship AI-powered product features in a fast-moving, early-stage environment

  • Build and lead a technically strong engineering and research team as the company scales

  • Make independent architectural and strategic decisions without a predefined roadmap

  • Partner with your co-founder(s) as a true equal to set company direction, culture, and priorities

  • Operate with a high-ownership, high-output mindset — full-time, 6–7 days per week

What We're Looking For

Required

  • Proven track record leading AI research, product development, and building technically strong teams

  • Hands-on experience building and shipping AI-powered products at early-stage startups (pre-seed or seed stage)

  • Comfort operating with ambiguity and making high-stakes decisions independently

  • Full-time availability and willingness to commit at a co-founder intensity level (6–7 days per week)

  • Ability and willingness to work onsite in San Francisco (relocation required if not already local)

  • Eligible to work in the United States without company visa sponsorship

Nice to Have

  • Experience in creator economy, adtech, or generative media

  • Background in generative AI, computer vision, or recommendation/personalization systems

  • Prior co-founder or very early (0-to-1) startup experience

Compensation & Benefits

  • Equity: ~28% equal co-founder equity

  • Salary to be discussed — structured to reflect co-founder standing at a pre-seed stage company

  • No visa sponsorship available

Location

This role is fully on-site in San Francisco, CA. Candidates must be willing to relocate if not already based there. Remote or hybrid arrangements are not available for this position.