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Cto Startup Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Chief Technology Officer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$160 - $180/hr

As CTO, you own Devyantram's company-wide technology vision and roadmap across the full stack, and ... Startup, skunkworks, or frontier‑technology experience. * Defense, aerospace, or ...

The CTO serves as the primary technical point of contact; the central "belly button" connecting G-TEAD Headquarters, including contracts, Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs), and deputy ...

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Cto Startup information

See Virginia salary details

$25.3K

$165.1K

$274.1K

How much do cto startup jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for cto startup in Virginia is $165,083.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,900.00 and $193,300.00 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 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.

Infographic showing various Cto Startup job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 74% In-person, 10% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $165,083 per year, or $79.4 per hour.

Chief Technology Officer

Devyantram

Ashburn, VA • On-site

$160 - $180/hr

Other

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Devyantram is building a unified platform of bionic robots, from nanoscale to humanoid, powered by a bionic brain system that fuses biotechnology, nanotechnology, and AI to tackle global challenges in climate, medicine, and defense.

Role Summary

Devyantram is building a multi-scale polymorphic bionic robotic system platform that integrates organoid intelligence, photonic computing, AI, and robotics into capable physical embodiments.

As CTO, you own Devyantram's company-wide technology vision and roadmap across the full stack, and you are personally the hands‑on technical leader for robotics hardware and embodiment. You set technical direction across organoid intelligence, photonic computing, AI, and bioelectronics in partnership with the domain leads who run those research programs, while owning mechanical, actuation, and physical‑systems architecture directly for the nanoscale to humanoid robots.

What You Will Own
  • Technology vision and roadmap across the full stack, shaped jointly with the CEO; technical authority and the call on how it gets built sit with you, with hardware and embodiment owned hands‑on.
  • End‑to‑end physical‑system architecture connecting brain, controls, power, sensing, actuation, and structure into unified platforms.
  • Actuation and transmission design: motors, drivetrains, soft actuators, artificial muscles, and smart‑material mechanisms.
  • Mechanical architecture, CAD workflows, prototyping, fabrication, and hardware‑integration pipelines, with a bias toward speed from concept to working hardware.
  • Integration of embedded electronics, power, thermal, and structural constraints under real operating envelopes, including defense‑grade reliability.
  • DFM and DFA strategy, supply chain, actuator and component sourcing, contract‑manufacturer relationships, and BOM‑cost discipline from first prototype through scale‑up.
  • Foundational mechanical and mechatronics IP: invention disclosures and patentable system designs, in coordination with patent counsel.
  • Building and leading the mechatronics and hardware function over time: hiring, mentoring, and setting engineering standards.
  • Technical authority in investor, partner, and diligence conversations on hardware and embodiment.
Required Qualifications
  • MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.
  • 8+ years in robotics hardware, mechatronics, or advanced mechanical systems.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership: founding engineer, technical lead, or comparable ownership of a hardware program and the engineers on it.
  • Whole‑system integration experience: you have shipped integrated robotic systems, not just designed isolated components.
  • Strong background in precision mechanisms, robotic actuation, and transmission design.
  • Hands‑on builder: strong prototyping, fabrication, and experimental‑validation skills. You are comfortable in the lab.
  • Fluency in CAD and mechanical design tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or similar). Table stakes, not the bar.
  • Ability to operate at both strategic and deeply technical levels in a startup environment.
  • Comfort operating in a defense‑adjacent context.
Strongly Preferred
  • Humanoid, legged, or advanced mobile‑manipulation experience.
  • Soft robotics, compliant systems, or bio‑inspired mechanisms.Experience with high‑performance, dynamic robotic platforms (Boston Dynamics‑class systems and the engineering culture behind them).
  • Working knowledge of ROS2, Isaac Sim, and the embodiment constraints that controls and simulation impose.
  • Startup, skunkworks, or frontier‑technology experience.
  • Defense, aerospace, or hardened‑systems background.
You Will Be Measured By
  • Speed from concept to functioning hardware.
  • Quality, robustness, and extensibility of our robotic embodiments.
  • Technical coherence between embodiment, controls, intelligence, and manufacturability.
  • Ability to translate ambitious platform vision into credible, dated engineering milestones.
  • Strength of hardware IP, patents filed, and defensibility of core designs.
  • Effectiveness in building the hardware‑engineering capability and team.

The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.

The pay range for this role is:

160,000 - 180,000 USD per year (Ashburn, VA)

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