Job Description

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) AI EdTech Start-up

Company Overview

Were reimagining how humans learn , connect , and grow emotionally through the power of intelligent digital companions.

Our mission is to make learning personal , empathetic , and emotionally intelligent through tools that bridge psychology , education , and responsible AI design.

Were collaborating with educators and innovators to reimagine how emotional intelligence and learning can thrive together.

📍 San Francisco, California | Early Stage Startup

Role Description

Were seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to join as a founding technical leader. Youll own all technical aspects of the website applicationfrom product architecture to deploymentbuilding the foundation of our web and mobile platforms and leading AI companion development. This is a hybrid role (on-site in SF or remote), ideal for a handson builder who can scale into a leadership position as we grow.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop the web app and mobile platform (MVP) from the ground up.
• Architect and implement LLMdriven conversational systems for emotionally intelligent AI companions.
• Manage the full technology stack: frontend, backend, and cloud infrastructure.
• Lead software development, code reviews, and product iteration cycles.
• Oversee data privacy, security, and system scalability.
• Collaborate closely with the CEO and psychology/education partners to integrate behaviorally informed UX.
• Recruit and mentor early engineering hires as we scale.
• Define and execute the longterm technical roadmap aligned with our product vision and mission.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 2+ years in technical leadership or CTO/founding engineer roles.
• Proficiency in fullstack web development (React, Node.js, Python, or similar).
• Experience with LLMs (OpenAI API, finetuning, retrievalaugmented generation) or conversational AI systems.
• Strong understanding of cloud architecture (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and data privacy best practices .
• Experience building consumerfacing products (preferably in EdTech, wellness, or social platforms).
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical ideas for nontechnical audiences.
• Passion for mental health, emotional intelligence, and ethical AI .
• BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Ideal Candidate

• Youre a builder first handson, selfdriven, and energized by ambiguity.
• You have 2+ years of experience in fullstack development, working confidently with React.js, Node.js, HTML5, CSS3, and TypeScript .
• You can prototype quickly and love transforming 01 concepts into scalable live products.
• You have practical experience with LLMs (OpenAI API, LangChain, or similar), and you understand how to build emotionally intelligent conversational systems .
• Youre fluent in AI/ML fundamentals , product design thinking , and cloud architecture (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• You thrive in lean startup environments with limited resources and high impact.
• Youre aligned with our mission to make technology more empathetic, safe, and humancentered .
• You communicate clearly, value ethical AI design, and balance innovation with privacyfirst principles.
• Youre open to founderlevel equity discussions and committed to growing with the company for the long term.

Values Alignment

• Empathy First: You design and build technology that listens, understands, and uplifts human emotion.
• Privacy by Design: You treat data as sacredprotecting user trust as a foundational principle, not a feature.
• Emotional Intelligence: You believe technology should foster mindfulness, curiosity, and selfawareness.
• Integrity & Transparency: You value clear communication and ethical AI development in every decision.
• Collaboration Over Ego: You thrive in diverse, missiondriven teams where every voice matters.
• PurposeDriven Innovation: Youre motivated by impactcreating tools that genuinely improve lives, not just engagement metrics.
• Resilience & Curiosity: You adapt quickly, learn continuously, and view challenges as opportunities for growth.

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Fulltime

Job function

Information Technology

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