Deputy CTO (AI Product)

Role overview

This is a senior technical leadership opportunity based in New Zealand and handled on behalf of a partner company. The role sits at the intersection of product delivery, engineering architecture, and AI/ML execution. As Deputy CTO, you will support the CTO as a key technical leader, staying deeply involved in hands-on development while also guiding backend and machine learning teams. The position calls for someone who can shape architecture, move quickly from idea to prototype, and convert business goals into practical, scalable engineering plans.

You will be working in a fast-moving, globally distributed setup where coordination across engineering, product, and infrastructure is essential. This is a strong fit for a seasoned technologist who enjoys both strategy and coding, and who can operate effectively in ambiguous, evolving environments.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the CTO’s deputy and help maintain technical direction across backend and ML teams when leadership coverage is needed.
• Take ownership of architecture and core technical choices for products and features, with an emphasis on scale, speed, and reliability.
• Stay actively involved in development work, including writing code, delivering features, and building prototypes to test solutions.
• Convert business needs into execution plans and guide small teams of around 5 to 10 engineers from concept through delivery.
• Support people operations tasks such as hiring, offboarding, staffing decisions, compensation input, and team coordination.
• Align with senior stakeholders across teams to keep engineering priorities and product goals synchronized.
• Oversee infrastructure and operational concerns so systems remain efficient, maintainable, and resilient in a changing environment.

Requirements

• A strong backend engineering foundation, with solid system architecture experience and hands-on exposure to C#, Python, Java, or comparable backend technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to keep coding while serving in a senior engineering leadership or management capacity.
• Good commercial understanding and the ability to connect technical decisions with product and business outcomes.
• Proven people leadership experience, including hiring, team management, and allocation of resources.
• Comfort working across the full engineering lifecycle, including architecture, development, infrastructure, and operations.
• A startup-oriented mindset with the confidence to work in small, fast-paced teams and lead by example.
• Strong curiosity and a habit of continuous learning, including willingness to test and adopt new technologies.
• Clear communication skills, structured thinking, and the ability to explain uncertainty when needed.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in software engineering and technical leadership.

Benefits and additional information

• This is a remote, full-time role with flexible working arrangements.
• Salary details are not stated in the listing; compensation will be discussed transparently during the hiring process before employment.
• Annual leave includes 28 calendar days of vacation.
• There are 7 extra wellness days each year for recovery and household needs.
• Employee referral bonuses can reach up to $5,000 for successful recommendations.
• The employer covers 50% of costs for professional training, conferences, and industry events.
• Corporate discounts are available for English language learning programs.
• Health support includes up to $1,000 gross per year for medical insurance or healthcare expenses.
• Workplace support may include equipment or reimbursement for co-working/home office expenses up to $1,000 every 3 years.
• An internal recognition and gamified rewards program is available, with rewards redeemable for merchandise, experiences, and team activities.

Application and privacy information

The application is handled through a partner company, which manages all candidate review and next-step communication. A matching process supported by AI may be used to help screen applications against the role’s main requirements, and shortlisted profiles are shared with the hiring company for final decisions. Interviews and assessments are managed internally by the employer.

Personal data submitted during the application process may be processed to evaluate candidacy and shared with the hiring employer under applicable data protection rules, including GDPR where relevant. Candidates may exercise rights such as access, correction, deletion, and objection. AI tools may assist with parts of the recruitment workflow, but final hiring decisions are made by humans.