Overview

The organization is building an operating system for physical AI — a unified intelligence layer to orchestrate factory machines, robotic arms, drones, and other physical systems across enterprises. This Fractional CTO role is a hands-on advisory position working directly with the founder to shape the technical foundation, guide architecture and hiring, and help position the product for pilots and early customers. The role is strategic and execution-focused, critical to ensuring the platform is secure, scalable, and deployable across diverse hardware environments.

Responsibilities

• Advise on and refine the overall product architecture for a physical AI operating system
• Provide regular technical guidance through weekly check-ins and ongoing collaboration with the engineering team
• Participate in technical interviews to evaluate and validate engineering hires
• Contribute to early-stage product strategy, including roadmap development and pilot client acquisition planning
• Work closely with the founder to align technical direction with business and go-to-market goals

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in a senior technical role (CTO, VP Engineering, Principal/Staff Engineer, or equivalent)
• Deep expertise in one or more of: physical AI, robotics, industrial automation, data privacy, or data sovereignty
• Experience leading or scaling engineering teams
• Background in manufacturing, industrial systems, or hardware-adjacent environments is a strong plus
• Candidates based in the US or Europe are preferred