Tech Director, CTO Office

Job Description

Chemify is revolutionising chemistry. We are creating a future where the synthesis of previously unimaginable molecules, drugs, and materials is instantly accessible. By combining AI, robotics, and the world’s largest continually expanding database of chemical programs, we are accelerating chemical discovery to improve quality of life and extend the reach of humanity.

We are seeking a Tech Director to lead Chemify's CTO Office and help shape how technology strategy is translated into execution. You'll be at the centre of technology leadership, setting the cadence for planning and delivery, driving cross-functional programmes, and ensuring that strategic decisions result in measurable outcomes.

You'll be the force behind effective execution: preparing the CTO for critical conversations, maintaining momentum across teams, and acting as a trusted delegate who can confidently represent the CTO's priorities and drive alignment at every level of the organisation.

The work spans machine learning, software-defined robotics and modern agile delivery. While you won't be hands-on with model development or control software, you'll need the technical credibility to challenge assumptions, spot critical dependencies, and quickly separate genuine blockers from issues that can be resolved through effective coordination and decision-making.

• Lead the CTO Office, defining and maintaining the operating rhythm for planning, governance and execution across the technology organisation.
• Own technology planning and delivery governance, including quarterly planning, OKRs, leadership reviews and cross‑functional alignment.
• Maintain clear visibility of delivery across programmes, including progress, dependencies, risks and constraints, ensuring issues are surfaced early and managed effectively.
• Act as a trusted delegate for the CTO, supporting decision‑making, representing priorities, and ensuring alignment across technical and business stakeholders.
• Enable CTO effectiveness through structured briefings, decision support, and coordination of strategic priorities across the organisation.
• Lead strategic reporting for the Board, investors and executive leadership, translating technical progress, delivery performance and risks into clear, decision‑ready insights.
• Lead and coordinate complex cross‑functional programmes across machine learning, robotics and platform engineering teams, ensuring effective execution from planning through delivery.
• Partner with engineering and technical leaders to improve delivery effectiveness, predictability and organisational alignment.
• Coordinate delivery across teams operating on different cadences, from rapid software release cycles through to longer‑term research and development work.
• Apply sufficient technical fluency in machine learning (including MLOps, model deployment and training infrastructure) and software‑defined robotics (including ROS/ROS2, simulation and digital twins) to identify risks, challenge assumptions and support sound decision‑making.
• Identify and manage risks at the intersection of software, machine learning and hardware systems, particularly where abstraction meets physical constraints.
• Act as a strategic partner to the CTO on organisational design, hiring, technology strategy and investment priorities.
• Lead high‑impact special projects including vendor evaluation, build‑versus‑buy decisions, capability development and organisational change initiatives.
• Anticipate emerging technical and organisational challenges and proactively drive actions that support long‑term strategic objectives.

• Experience in operational leadership roles such as Chief of Staff, Technical Programme Director, Head of Operations, or equivalent, with…