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Cto Startup Jobs in California (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 (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 ...

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Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Location: Poway, CA Company: Tek84, Inc. Position Summary Tek84 is seeking a strategic and hands-on Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the company's technology ...

We are looking for a Chief Technology Officer with 7+ years of experience to serve as the senior-most technical leader across Cold Start's incubator. This role is for a founder-CTO type who has built ...

The Opportunity Postman is a rapidly growing Series D funded startup that specializes in providing ... We are currently seeking an experienced and highly skilled Field CTO to join our team, reporting to ...

Successful startup CTO experience. * 10+ years experience leading development of software and/or data management and curation. * 5+ years of health industry software (preferably at least some AI ...

Successful startup CTO experience. * 10+ years experience leading development of software and/or data management and curation. * 5+ years of health industry software (preferably at least some AI ...

The Field CTO operates at the intersection of revenue, product, architecture, and customer outcomes. This role is highly hands-on, deeply technical, and externally focused, requiring advanced ...

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Cto Startup information

See California salary details

$25.2K

$164.3K

$272.9K

How much do cto startup jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for cto startup in California is $164,330.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,300.00 and $192,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a CTO Startup job?

A CTO (Chief Technology Officer) in a startup is responsible for overseeing the company’s technology strategy, product development, and engineering team. They play a key role in building the tech infrastructure, making crucial architectural decisions, and ensuring scalability. In early-stage startups, a CTO often codes and actively contributes to product development, while in later stages, they focus more on leadership and strategy. Their role is essential in aligning technology with business goals and driving innovation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Cto Startup position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a CTO at a startup, you need deep technical expertise, a proven track record in software development or engineering leadership, and experience scaling technology solutions, often backed by a relevant degree. Familiarity with cloud platforms, agile project management tools, and compliance frameworks (like SOC 2 or GDPR) is commonly expected. Strong soft skills such as strategic vision, adaptability, and effective communication are essential to lead and motivate diverse teams in a fast-paced environment. These skills are vital for driving innovation, aligning technology with business goals, and guiding early-stage companies to sustainable growth.

What are some of the biggest challenges a CTO faces at a startup, and how are they typically addressed?

As a CTO at a startup, you’ll frequently encounter challenges such as managing limited resources, rapidly iterating on product development, and balancing technical debt with new feature innovation. Additionally, you’ll often need to support hiring and mentoring a technical team while aligning technology choices with evolving business needs and investor expectations. These challenges are typically addressed through agile planning, fostering a culture of open communication, and prioritizing tasks that deliver the most value to the business. Startups value CTOs who can remain hands-on when required yet also provide strategic oversight and lead the company through periods of rapid change.
What job categories do people searching Cto Startup jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Cto Startup jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Cto Startup jobs? Cities in California with the most Cto Startup job openings:

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

Job Description:

Look for recruiting partners with me to fill the position. 24 positions available -- the client is a VC firm, and they are continuously forming new companies and hiring CTOs. They aim to incubate 2 companies each month, which means 24 CTOs in the year of 2026.

Requirements for cofounder/CTO:

1. Top 30 schools in United States

2. Previously worked in big tech as an engineer

3. Previously founded a company as a technical cofounder and raised at least 500K. Or, worked as CTO in a startup that raised at least $1M

4. Strong technical ability to build from 0 to 1, and potential to lead a tech team

5. Based in NYC or SF Bay, or willing to relocate

6. Interested in leading a B2B health-tech SaaS company.

The client VC has a strong playbook in B2B health-tech SaaS. Their portfolio have reached over $200M revenue, and raised over $500M from A16Z, Sequoia, Founders Fund, and others.

The client VC typically provides $200K-$3M investment into the company as minority financial investor. The founding team (CEO+CTO) owns the company.

Typically, the candidate will pay themselves $100K-$150K before raising $3M, and can reasonably increase their salary after raising a big round.