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Cto Startup Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Ohnward Bancshares

AI Analyst

Maquoketa, IA · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

Works closely with CTO, IT team, departments, and employees. DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES Essential Duties and Responsibilities To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform ...

OHNWARD BANCSHARES

AI Analyst

Maquoketa, IA · On-site

Reports to Chief Technology Officer. * Works closely with CTO, IT team, departments, and employees. DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES Essential Duties and Responsibilities To perform this job successfully ...

OHNWARD BANCSHARES

AI Analyst

Maquoketa, IA · On-site

Reports to Chief Technology Officer. * Works closely with CTO, IT team, departments, and employees. DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES Essential Duties and Responsibilities To perform this job successfully ...

Ohnward Bancshares Inc

AI Analyst

Maquoketa, IA · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Works closely with CTO, IT team, departments, and employees.DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIESEssential Duties and ResponsibilitiesTo perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each ...

Pearson

Senior Lead, Service Management

Des Moines, IA · On-site

Head of Platform Engineering / Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) Function: Platform Engineering - OCTO Bring order to complexity. Govern with rigour. Make ...

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Selectra

Tech Lead - Équipe HOP (H/F) - CDI

Nevada, IA · On-site

$70 - $87/hr

Vous reprenez le lead d'une équipe resserrée (deux développeurs senior et un mid), en lien direct avec le CTO. Une chose doit être claire d'emblée : c'est un poste de terrain. Vous coderez tous ...

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$156.4K

$259.7K

How much do cto startup jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for cto startup in Iowa is $156,398.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $124,000.00 and $183,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a CTO startup?

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 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 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 popular job titles related to Cto Startup jobs in Iowa?

For Cto Startup jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cto Startup jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Cto Startup jobs in Iowa are:

Cto Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cto Startup job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $156,398 per year, or $75.2 per hour.

Biobased Chemicals Platform Chief Technology Officer

Iowa State University

Ames, IA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Iowa State University rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

390th of 631 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Position Title:
Biobased Chemicals Platform Chief Technology Officer
Appointment Type:
Contract
Job Description:
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will lead efforts to identify and accelerate the development of new technologies and innovations with strong commercial potential in the biobased products platform and related areas. This person will also serve as a driver for developing interfaces between the University and industry in this area to facilitate technology development and supporting collaborations. The CTO will possess and/or develop a deep understanding of innovations being developed within universities and across industry in the biobased products platform space with commercial potential. The CTO will also work closely with BioConnect staff to vet and prioritize opportunities for commercial development in Iowa. The CTO and BioConnect partners will provide ongoing oversight of prioritized ventures.
The CTO will:
  • Understand the technologies/innovations being developed within the universities and scout for relevant innovations across Iowa.
  • Serve as a focal point at Iowa State University for industry to partner with and collaborate with researchers in this area.
  • Lead technical vetting and prioritizing of innovations as potential commercial opportunities.
  • Provide ongoing technical product development guidance to prioritized ventures, ensuring that timely progress is made against commercial development milestones.
  • Understand University resources and expertise that could be of value for any developing ventures in the biobased products platform and, with BioConnect staff, develop and manage processes through which these resources can be accessed.
  • Serve as a member of the Biobased Product platform leadership team.
  • Serve as a partner with the NSF RuralSTAMINA Engine on Biomanufacturing.

In partnership with BioConnect staff, the CTO will:
  • Develop and implement strategies for translating innovations in Biobased Product platform to commercial products.
  • Vet and prioritize for ongoing Biobased Product platform support, technologies/innovations based on their combination of technical potential and commercial viability.
  • Guide prioritized ventures towards commercial development.
  • Build and maintain relationships among platform researchers at the universities and with industry partners and coordinate (as well as conceive) joint activities and projects.
  • Serve as primary contacts into their assigned platform.

Required Minimum Qualifications
  • Master's degree or equivalent industrial experience in a relevant scientific discipline with at least 10 years of experience developing bioscience technical innovations for commercial application.
  • Demonstrated ability to create and work towards a technological vision.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and proven collaborative leader. Will be required to work and elicit cooperation across a diverse range of stakeholders.
  • Results-driven, creative, commercially oriented leader with demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities.
  • Understanding of project management discipline, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • PhD or equivalent industrial experience in a relevant scientific discipline with at least 10 years of experience developing bioscience technical innovations for commercial application.
  • Experience working in industry, particularly in a product development and/or entrepreneurial role.
  • Experience in the biobased products area.

About
Iowa is adopting a more aggressive, formalized approach to organizing for economic development in the bioscience sector, focusing on four technology platforms: biobased products, precision and digital agriculture, vaccines and immunotherapeutics, and medical devices. To coordinate this effort, BioConnect Iowa was established within the state's public-private economic development partnership. Success will require an evergreen pipeline of commercially-oriented innovations. Universities will play a vital role filling this pipeline, and this position at Iowa State University will be central to that effort, focusing specifically on the biobased products platform.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on "Apply" and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of Application/Cover Letter

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or toll-free: 1-877-477-7485.
Proposed Start Date:
October 1, 2026
Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period
Time Type:
Full time
Pay Grade:
Contract
Original Posting Date:
August 27, 2026
Posting Close Date:
September 10, 2026
Job Requisition Number:
R19809
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.

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