Fractional CTO / Founding Engineer

The organization is an early-stage fintech engineering startup building an enterprise-style SaaS platform focused on high-reliability workflows in credit and related financial products. The role is a senior technical leader (CTO / founding-engineer thought partner) joining initially on a fractional/contract basis with a clear pathway to full-time. This role will define the technical roadmap, ship an MVP, and scale the product and engineering team while aligning technology with business goals. Responsibilities Act as strategic technical partner to the CEO and founding team; shape product and technical roadmap. Lead end-to-end delivery of the MVP and early product features, including hands-on engineering when required. Define system architecture, technical standards, and operational practices for a secure, reliable enterprise SaaS product. Drive engineering processes: CI/CD, testing strategy, observability, and incident response. Ensure compliance, security posture, and operational discipline appropriate for regulated financial use cases. Hire, mentor, and manage engineering hires and contractors; build a small, high-leverage team. Collaborate with product, design, and business stakeholders to prioritize work that moves key metrics and fundraising readiness. Manage vendor and outsourced engineering relationships and contracts as needed. Provide clear technical input for fundraising materials and investor diligence. Start as a part-time/contract engagement and transition to full-time when fit and business needs align; be available for periodic in-person collaboration. Qualifications 4-10 years of hands-on engineering experience with progressive leadership responsibilities; early-stage startup CTO or founding-engineer experience strongly preferred. Proven track record shipping product quickly and owning delivery end-to-end. Strong product sense and demonstrable business acumen; able to make trade-offs between speed, risk, and scale. Domain experience in fintech is highly preferred; experience with credit- or lending-related products is a plus. Solid technical foundations in system architecture, SaaS platforms, security, and operational excellence. Experience working in enterprise-style SaaS or regulated environments preferred. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong chemistry with founders and small teams. Comfortable starting in a fractional/contract capacity with a willingness to convert to full-time. Willingness to be co-located or relocate to New York State or California for periodic in-person collaboration. Compensation preference for equity-heavy packages; open to negotiation on terms. Baseline technical competency will be verified through interview and technical assessment. #J-18808-Ljbffr Gofractional