Chief technology officer - aerospace & geoai

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) – Aerospace

We’re a European deep-tech startup building stratospheric aerospace platforms and the systems required to operate them reliably at scale. We’re looking for a hands-on CTO to own the entire technology stack, with a strong focus on aerospace hardware and mission-critical systems.

What you’ll do Own the technology vision and execution end-to-end Lead stratospheric platform, avionics and systems development Oversee testing, qualification, reliability and certification Own ground segment and mission infrastructure Coordinate system-level integration with AI and data platforms Build and lead a small, high-quality engineering team Act as a technical reference with institutional and defence partners Who this is for Senior background in aerospace, satellites, defence or other high-reliability systems Experience taking complex hardware from prototype to operations Comfortable making technical decisions under uncertainty Startup mindset: hands-on, pragmatic, systems-driven

Important to know This is not a software-only or AI-only role. This is a builder role in an early-stage startup, where ownership, judgement and hands-on involvement matter more than titles or processes. The environment is fast-moving, and priorities change as the company learns and grows. If you’re someone who enjoys building real systems, taking responsibility end-to-end, and shaping technology from the ground up, we’d like to hear from you.