Founding CTO/CPTO

Berlin • Cybersecurity & AI Startup • Recently Secured Significant Funding

We are building a next-generation Identity + AI Enforcement platform in Berlin.

Following newly secured funding, we are looking for a technical co-founder who will architect and build the core product from day one.

We are looking for a visionary Founding CTO/CPTO for a hybrid role based in Berlin. If you are passionate about deep tech, thrive in fast-paced environments, and have experience building transactional platforms, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer discovery and validation to refine the value proposition to our three main target groups: Deep Tech founders, investors, and corporate partners.
• Co-build the product vision to establish the leading deep technology database of Europe as well as the most effective match-making platform.
• Establish the technological foundation of a transactional platform, including the data infrastructure.
• Develop and execute the company's technology strategy and roadmap.
• Recruit and lead an in-house, top-tier engineering team.
• Manage the company's data, including storage, analysis, data privacy, and security.

Requirements and Skills

• 10+ years experience in backend engineering and system architecture.
• Proven ability to design and ship complex distributed systems.
• Strong understanding of OAuth/OIDC, API keys, tokens, scopes, identity flows.
• Knowledge of RBAC/ABAC or fine-grained access models.
• Exposure to Zero Trust principles, access control models, or identity governance.
• Experience with AI/LLM systems, agent logic, or willingness to learn fast.
• Understanding of SaaS integration security, OAuth app marketplaces.
• Hands-on coding mentality; can build MVP and early architecture yourself.
• Experience integrating with multiple SaaS systems and APIs.
• Strong security mindset and understanding of modern attack surfaces.
• Ability to move fast, take ownership, and operate independently.
• Experience managing small engineering teams in early-stage environments.
• Hands-on experience with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform) and cloud deployments.
• Low ego, high commitment, and a true founder mentality.

Nice to Have

• Experience with AI/LLM systems, multi-agent orchestration, or agent frameworks.
• Experience with policy engines (custom enforcement logic).
• Experience building event-driven architectures or streaming systems (Kafka, Pub/Sub).
• Familiarity with token analysis, secret scanning, or credential hygiene.
• Experience with cloud IAM (AWS/GCP/Azure roles, service principals).
• Experience with risk scoring, anomaly detection, or behavior-based systems.
• Exposure to agent sandboxing, isolated execution, or container micro-VMs.
• Previous experience in cybersecurity, identity startups.
• Understanding of graph databases, unified identity graphs, or permission maps.
• Prior startup or co-founder experience.

Benefits

• Elevate Europe's Tech Sovereignty: Help shape the culture and strategy of one of Europe's leading Deep Tech platforms for this decade and beyond, empowering Europe's independence from non-European technologies while supporting founders tackling major global challenges.
• Unparalleled Network Access: Gain direct access to Tier 1 European Deep Tech startups, scaleups, and top investors, connecting with the forefront of Europe's Deep Tech ecosystem.
• Founder Culture: Operate with autonomy, driving initiatives as a force multiplier for Tier 1 Deep Tech founders, while refining your skills alongside Europe's leading (Deep) Tech experts.
• Compensation: Receive an equity package in a validated, high-growth business with seed-stage traction and a profitable business model, incl. a compensation tied to business results.