Deputy CTO; AI Product

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Deputy CTO (AI Product) based in Switzerland.

This is a high-impact technical leadership role at the intersection of engineering, architecture, and product execution. You will act as the right hand to the CTO, helping steer backend and ML teams while remaining deeply hands‑on in development and delivery. The role combines strategic ownership of system architecture with the ability to prototype and ship code when needed. You will translate complex business challenges into scalable technical solutions and lead small, focused teams toward fast execution.

Operating in a fast-moving, globally distributed environment, you will ensure alignment across engineering, product, and infrastructure. This position is ideal for a senior technologist who thrives in both leadership and hands‑on engineering and enjoys solving ambiguous, evolving problems.

• Act as deputy to the CTO, representing technical leadership across backend and ML teams when required, ensuring continuity of vision and execution.
• Own end-to-end architecture and technical decision‑making for products and features, ensuring scalability, performance, and reliability.
• Remain hands‑on in development, actively writing code, shipping features, and building prototypes to validate solutions.
• Translate business needs into technical execution plans, leading small teams (5–10 engineers) from concept to delivery.
• Lead and support people operations including hiring, offboarding, resourcing, compensation input, and team coordination.
• Drive cross-team alignment with senior stakeholders to ensure synchronization across technical and product priorities.
• Oversee infrastructure and operational responsibilities, ensuring systems are robust, maintainable, and efficient in a fast‑changing environment.

• Strong backend engineering background with deep understanding of system architecture; experience in C#, Python, Java, or similar backend technologies.
• Proven ability to remain hands‑on in coding while operating in a senior technical leadership or management role.
• Solid business acumen with the ability to connect technical decisions to product and business outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in people management, including hiring, team leadership, and resource allocation.
• Comfortable working across the full engineering lifecycle: architecture, development, infrastructure, and operations.
• Startup mindset with the ability to thrive in fast‑paced, small‑team environments and lead by example.
• Strong curiosity and continuous learning mindset, with willingness to experiment and adopt new technologies.
• Excellent communication skills with clear, structured thinking and the ability to articulate uncertainty when needed.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in software engineering and technical leadership roles.

• Remote full‑time opportunity with flexible working arrangements.
• Compensation details shared transparently during the recruitment process prior to employment.
• 28 calendar days of annual vacation.
• 7 additional wellness days per year for personal recovery and household needs.
• Referral bonuses of up to $5,000 for successful candidate recommendations.
• 50% coverage of professional training, conferences, and industry events.
• Corporate discounts for English language learning programs.
• Health‑related benefits, including up to $1,000 gross annually for medical insurance or healthcare expenses.
• Workplace support including equipment provision or co‑working/home office reimbursement up to $1,000 every 3 years.
• Internal recognition and gamified rewards system redeemable for merchandise, experiences, and team activities.