Job Description

Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Artificial Intelligence (AI) Required, Work From Home

We are looking for a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) who can think clearly about systems, make strong technical decisions, and help build the engineering organization from the ground up. The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will be part of founding team to shape the technical direction of the company, while helping build a strong engineering team across the globe. This position is 100% Remote.

MUST BE WILLING TO TAKE A 60 MINUTE CODING ASSESSMENT.

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Responsibilities:

Technical Direction:

- Define the long-term architecture for AI systems, infrastructure, and developer platform.

- Evaluate trade-offs between speed of iteration and long-term system design.

- Ensure systems are designed for scalability, reliability, and long-term evolution.

- Guide key decisions across model integration, data pipelines, distributed systems, and product architecture.

Engineering Leadership:

- Work with engineers to translate product direction into clear technical execution.

- Help structure engineering workstreams and keep teams aligned on priorities.

- Maintain high engineering standards while keeping the team focused on shipping.

- Establish engineering culture, development practices, and technical standards across the company.

Building the Team:

- Build and scale a world-class engineering team across key talent hubs including China and US.

- Identify strong technical leaders and help build a high-quality engineering organization.

- Define hiring standards and interview processes to maintain a high engineering bar.

Coordination and Execution:

- Work closely with product, research, and leadership teams.

- Ensure technical workstreams move forward smoothly across teams and locations.

- Help resolve cross-team technical and execution challenges.

Qualifications

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Qualifications:

- Strong technical foundation in system architecture, large-scale systems, distributed architecture.

- Artificial Intelligence (AI) experience required.

- Ability to reason clearly about complex systems and make pragmatic technical decisions.

- Experience building or leading high-performing engineering teams.

- Strong judgment on technical trade-offs and engineering priorities.

- Comfortable operating in early-stage environments with high ambiguity.

- Clear communication and ability to align teams.

- We are particularly interested in candidates who enjoy building teams, superior products and shaping engineering organizations.

Benefits include medical insurance, Dental, Vision, Savings Plan Options, PTO, etc.

Keywords: San Francisco CA Jobs, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), AI, Architecture, Artificial Intelligence, Chief Technology Officer, CTO, Data Pipelines, Distributed Systems, Engineering, Infrastructure, Product Architecture, Software Developers, Remote, Work From Home, California Recruiters, IT Jobs, California Recruiting

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Additional Information

Please check out all of our jobs at www.nextstepsystems.com.

Compensation: 180000 to 250000 (USD) (YEARLY)

About the company

Next Step Systems focuses on matching information technology professionals with permanent, full-time jobs across the United States. It covers a wide range of IT areas including software, hardware, networking, storage, database, web, sales, and IT management, and handles roles at all levels. The process involves recruiting, screening, and placing qualified candidates with employer clients, providing end-to-end staffing support. The firm differentiates itself through a long track record (since 1995) and strategic growth, notably the 2014 acquisition of Parallel Partners to broaden its ability to serve both company clients and job seekers. Its goal is to deliver quality, professional service that connects employers with top IT talent and helps candidates find lasting careers.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

null

Founded

1995

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

September 2026 site shows active openings across AI, cloud, and security roles.
August 2026 job pages advertise multiple remote AI engineer roles with salary ranges.
May 2026 posts show ongoing demand for cleared and specialized technical recruiters.

What critics are saying

Customer concentration in recruiting makes revenue hostage to client hiring freezes.
AI-driven candidate matching is crowded; bigger firms can copy these job descriptions fast.
No funding or scale disclosures signal vulnerability if placements slow into 2026.

What makes Next Step Systems unique

Founded in 1995, Naperville-based Next Step Systems specializes in IT recruiting.
Its 2026 site spans AI, cloud, data, cybersecurity, and clearance hiring.
It markets 30 years of sourcing and vetting technical talent since August 2025.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Remote Work Options

Hybrid Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Phone/Internet Stipend

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Stock Options

Company Equity

Conference Attendance Budget

Professional Development Budget

Family Planning Benefits

Fertility Treatment Support

Adoption Assistance

Parental Leave

Home Office Stipend

Commuter Benefits

Gym Membership

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Employee Assistance Program