Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Palomar is a rapidly growing and innovative insurer focused on providing specialty insurance to residential and commercial customers. Palomar welcomes the best and brightest to our thriving team. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Palomar is building a dynamic and diverse team.

Join a company built on a culture of agility, innovation and authenticity that delivers peace of mind and protection to individuals and businesses impacted by adversity.

Location: La Jolla, CA

The Details:

We are seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead our R&D team working in partnership with the CIO on developing the technical strategy to implement the corporate vision. A strong leader with excellent communication skills, a wide breadth of technical competencies and a history of success with delivering new and innovative apps. You will be responsible for overseeing the development and quality assurance teams both in house and near shore as well as managing the R&D budget. We are looking for someone who has led agile teams with innovation and change as a key driver. We are in a unique position as we are a young rapidly growing insurance company utilizing new technologies with talented development and quality assurance teams running mature agile processes.

What will you do:

• Lead and develop the teams responsible for application development, data & analytics, and strategic technology vendor partnerships.
• Develop, maintain, and oversee the technology, data roadmap, and annual budget to support organizational objectives.
• Provide regular updates, insights, and recommendations to the executive leadership team on technology initiatives, priorities, and performance.
• Ensure technology and data projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with business goals.
• Serve as a member of the executive committee, helping align goals to other departmental and organizational objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement technologies that enhance operational efficiency, customer experiences, and the company's products and services.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure technology team effectiveness, service delivery, and business impact.
• Attract, develop, and retain top technology talent while building a strong leadership pipeline across the technology organization.
• Ensure technology delivery processes adhere to SOX compliance requirements and other applicable governance, risk, and regulatory standards.
• Research, assess, recommend, and oversee the implementation of emerging technologies, applications, and platforms.
• Partner with the head of AI to drive company-wide adoption of artificial intelligence capabilities, tools, and best practices.
• Define and execute the technical strategy required to support the company's vision, long-term goals, and growth objectives.
• Collaborate with business leaders and key stakeholders to identify opportunities for technology-enabled improvements and innovation.
• Communicate technology strategy, priorities, risks, and outcomes to executive leadership, board members, and other key stakeholders as needed.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information technology, or a related field; advanced degree preferred. Equivalent executive technology leadership experience, including CTO experience, will also be considered.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience within software development, technology, or engineering organizations, with a demonstrated record of successfully delivering strategic technology initiatives and business outcomes.
• Previous experience serving as a Chief Technology Officer or in a comparable senior technology leadership role strongly preferred.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong organizational, project management, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven experience developing and managing technology budgets, evaluating emerging technologies, conducting technical assessments, and presenting recommendations and proof-of-concept solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to drive the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence capabilities into business processes, software development lifecycles, and enterprise systems.
• Strong leadership, team-building, coaching, and talent development skills, with a commitment to fostering a high-performing and inclusive culture.
• Deep understanding of modern technology ecosystems, including cloud platforms, mobile applications, microservices architectures,.NET, C#, SQL Server, Node.js, Java, and related technologies.
• Hands-on experience leading complex, large-scale technology and digital transformation initiatives from strategy through execution.
• Demonstrated innovation mindset with the ability to think strategically, solve complex problems, challenge conventional approaches, and develop creative solutions that drive business value.
• Insurance industry experience preferred.

We love people who want to:

• Build strong relationships through transparency, trust, and respect for each other.
• Work in an agile environment, with a resilient mindset to find creative solutions to challenges.
• Collaborate and celebrate diverse perspectives, promoting inclusivity and equality.
• Do the right thing with strong conviction and integrity.
• Be bold and innovative to help make an impact.
• Demonstrable track record of working autonomously and driving progress
• Be intellectually curious, think creatively, and pragmatic

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, and like working with happy, authentic, talented people, you'll enjoy a career with Palomar!

What will you get in return?

• Full suite of medical benefits
• Long term financial incentives – stock!
• 401k with 3.5% automatic fully vested employer contributions
• Competitive PTO + holiday program
• Lifestyle spending allowance
• Professional development assistance
• Career exploration opportunities
• Regular company-wide social events (even virtually!)
• To learn more visit us at

Diversity at Palomar

At Palomar, we are committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion in all facets of the organization. We have built an open culture that celebrates the diversity of our workforce, while actively championing equality and inclusion practices that make us a company people want to work with and work for.

We believe that diversity, equality, and inclusion yields greater organizational creativity and productivity, which helps us serve our customers and partners more effectively. Delivering on our diversity commitment returns greater value to our shareholders and ultimately makes a positive impact to the communities in which we do business and to the people who live in them

Accommodations:

Palomar will consider reasonable accommodations to ensure a qualified applicant with a disability can be considered for the position. Palomar will also consider necessary modifications to the physical work environment, or to the way a job is usually performed, so an individual with a disability can perform the essential functions of the position. Additional accommodations will be considered that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment like those that are enjoyed by other employees without disabilities.

For more information about our company, visit us at Palomar is an equal opportunity employer.

No phone calls or agency solicitation please

CCPA job applicant:

Pay range: $275,000-$410,000 + bonus potential & participation in our competitive long-term incentive (LTI) program.

The above pay range is for all US-based roles based on function and level, benchmarked against companies of similar size and scope. To be compliant with local legislation as well as provide greater transparency to candidates, we disclose salary ranges on all job postings regardless of the desired job location. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and the opportunity for annual long-term incentive stock grants. In addition, we offer a highly competitive benefits package. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate experience and qualifications, and may vary from the amounts listed above.