On behalf of my client, we are searching for a Chief Technology Officer to lead the next phase of growth for a venture-backed deep-tech company building an integrated drone + software platform for real-world deployment.
This is a pivotal leadership role: taking a strong early system and scaling it into a production-ready, compliant, revenue-generating service.
If you’re a hands-on technology leader who has scaled complex systems into the real world—and want to shape a category-defining platform at a critical inflection point, we’d love to hear from you.
The Mission
First 90 days
* Bring structure and cadence to a multidisciplinary engineering team (~9 across software, robotics, aerospace, GNC)
* Reduce technical & documentation debt while maintaining delivery pace
* Build an investor-ready technology narrative (architecture, IP, roadmap, maturity plan)
* Establish reliability, testing, and release processes fit for regulated deployment
12–18 months
* Scale engineering to 20–30+ while maintaining quality and accountability
* Deliver a compliant MVP system capable of paid operations
* Advance manufacturing readiness (supplier + in-house capability)
* Define and track KPIs linking technical maturity to regulatory progress and fundraising
What You’ll Own
* End-to-end technology strategy & systems architecture (hardware, embedded/autonomy, cloud, operations tooling)
* Engineering org design, hiring, and performance management
* Reliability engineering: testing, release gates, field readiness, continuous improvement
* Manufacturing engineering oversight (DFM, suppliers, quality systems)
* Full product ownership (no Head of Product): roadmap, trade-offs, execution
* Clear communication with investors and partners on technical direction, risks, and IP
We’re Looking For
* Experience delivering deep-tech products combining hardware + software (e.g. robotics, aerospace, autonomous systems)
* Proven leadership: scaling teams, setting high standards, making tough calls
* Track record of taking products from early stage → real-world deployment
* Comfortable operating in regulated / safety-critical environments
* Strong systems thinker across disciplines (software ↔ embedded ↔ robotics ↔ manufacturing)
* Able to move fast without sacrificing structure, quality, or compliance
Nice to Have
* Drone/UAS or aviation experience
* Manufacturing scale-up and supplier ecosystem exposure
* Experience linking technical KPIs to commercial growth and fundraising
Working Model
* Hybrid: 2+ days/week on-site (near Cambridge, UK)
* OR Dublin-based with regular travel
* Distributed team across UK & Ireland, with growing international exposure