Company Name: HYRD

Job Details: Be,an,Early,Applicant,Hiring,Remotely,in,Chicago,,IL,In-Office,or,Remote,200K-250K,Annually,Senior,level

Job Url: https://builtin.com/job/chief-technology-officer/7875992

Job Description: THE OPPORTUNITYHYRD is seeking a Technical Co-Founder/CTO to architect and build the Career Operating System that will revolutionize how millions navigate their professional lives. This is a co-founder opportunity to own a significant equity stake while building category-defining technology.We're creating the infrastructure for careers - an AI-powered platform that automates job applications, personalizes skill development, and matches talent with opportunities. With paying customers already using our MVP, we're ready to scale from hundreds to millions of users.Location: Remote (US-based preferred)Compensation: 2.5-4% founder equity (RSA), transitioning to $200-250K salary upon Series A fundingStart Date: ImmediateWHAT YOU'LL BUILDAs CTO, you'll transform our validated MVP (currently on Airtable, Make.com, Softr) into a scalable platform supporting millions of professionals. You'll architect three interconnected products:HYRD Core - The Application EngineAutomated job application system processing thousands dailyAI-powered resume optimization for each opportunityReal-time application tracking and response managementIntegration with major job boards and ATS systemsSKILLD - The Learning LayerPersonalized skill assessment and gap analysisAI-driven learning path recommendationsCourse platform integrations and progress trackingCertification and credential managementSOURCD - The Talent MarketplaceB2B2C matching algorithm connecting talent with enterprisesCompany portals with analytics dashboardsTalent pipeline management systemsPayment processing and SaaS billing infrastructureThe AI Intelligence LayerNLP for resume-job matchingCareer trajectory prediction modelsSalary optimization algorithmsPersonalized recommendation enginesYOUR RESPONSIBILITIESFirst 30 Days:Complete technical audit of current no-code systemDesign architecture for scalable Career OS platformCreate migration strategy maintaining zero downtimeBegin recruiting first 2 engineers on equity packagesDeploy immediate improvements to current systemFirst 90 Days:Launch MVP of new platform architectureIntegrate all three products into unified systemBuild initial engineering team (3-4 engineers)Achieve 99.9% uptime and <200ms response timesPrepare infrastructure for 10,000+ usersFirst Year:Scale platform to support 100,000+ usersBuild and lead team of 8-10 engineersImplement advanced AI features and automationsLaunch mobile applicationsEstablish HYRD as technical leader in career techTeam You'll Build:Immediate Hires (Months 1-3):Head of AI/ML - Lead all AI initiativesSenior Full-Stack Engineers (2-3) - Core platform developmentDevOps/SRE - Infrastructure and scalingSecond Wave (Months 3-6):Data/Integrations Engineer - API and data pipelineProduct Designer - User experience ownershipProduct Manager - Product strategy and roadmapAdditional Full-Stack Engineers as neededWHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORTechnical Requirements:Essential Skills:8+ years software development experience3+ years in technical leadership roles (CTO, VP Engineering, Tech Lead)Full-stack expertise (React, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL)System architecture for high-scale platformsExperience with AI/ML integration (OpenAI, Claude APIs)DevOps and cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP)HYRD-Specific Needs:Experience migrating from no-code (Airtable, Zapier) to scalable architectureKnowledge of web scraping at scale and API integrationsBackground in marketplace or SaaS platformsUnderstanding of job boards, ATS systems, or HR tech helpfulLeadership Experience:Built and scaled products from 0 to 50K+ usersRecruited and managed engineering teams of 5+ peopleHired engineers on equity-heavy packagesComfortable with technical debt trade-offsExperience in resource-constrained environmentsMindset & Personality:Excited to work for equity until funding (critical requirement)Hands-on coder who still builds alongside the teamBelieves in democratizing career successThrives in ambiguity and moves fastMakes pragmatic technical decisionsCustomer-obsessed problem solverWHY JOIN HYRDMassive Opportunity:$400B career services market growing 23% annuallyFirst-mover advantage building the Career OS categoryClear path to unicorn valuationReal Traction:Revenue-generating with paying customers pre-launchProven product-market fitStrong customer demand overwhelming current systemsTrue Ownership:2.5-4% founder equity stake with RSA structureAdditional milestone-based equity (0.1-0.25% per milestone)Direct partnership with CEOShape technical vision from day oneImpact:Solve a problem affecting 3 billion professionals globallyDemocratize access to career opportunitiesBuild technology that changes how the world worksCOMPENSATION STRUCTUREImmediate (Equity-Only Phase):2.5-4% founder equity (Restricted Stock Award)4-year vesting with 1-year cliffMilestone top-ups (0.1-0.25%) for:Successful platform migrationReaching 10K usersSeries A closeKey feature launchesMinimal stipend possible for critical expensesPost-Series A (Target: 12-18 Months):$200-250K base salaryMaintain full equity stakePerformance bonusesComprehensive benefitsAdditional equity grants at funding milestonesTHE INTERVIEW PROCESSInitial Call (30 min) - Mission alignment and vision discussion with CEOTechnical Deep Dive (90 min) - Architecture discussion and system designLeadership Assessment (60 min) - Team building and culture fitFinal Round (Half day) - Present 90-day plan, meet advisors, finalize termsREQUIREMENTS CHECKLISTMust-Haves: Can work for equity-only until Series A funding 8+ years coding experience with recent hands-on work Built and scaled consumer platforms before Previous startup experience (not just FAANG) Available to start within 30 days Based in US or compatible time zonesNice-to-Haves: HR tech or career services experience Previous successful exit Strong engineering network for recruiting AI/ML expertise beyond API integration Experience with no-code toolsHOW TO APPLYSend the following to [careers@gethyrd.com] with "CTO - Career OS" in subject:Your Story: Why does democratizing career success matter to you?Technical Proof: Link to something you built that scaled (GitHub, live product, case study)90-Day Vision: How would you approach the migration from no-code to scale?Availability: Confirmation you can work for equity and your start dateLinkedIn/Resume: So we can see your journeyPriority given to candidates who:Can start immediatelyHave built HR tech or marketplace platformsBring a network of engineers willing to work for equityShow passion for the mission beyond just the technologyA NOTE FROM THE CEO"We're looking for a true technical co-founder who sees the massive opportunity in building the Career OS. You'll have complete technical autonomy, significant equity, and the chance to build something that impacts millions of lives.Our current MVP is generating revenue with paying customers. Now we need someone who can transform this early traction into a platform that scales to millions while building a world-class engineering team.The technical challenges are real (scaling job applications, AI matching, marketplace dynamics), the impact is massive (every professional needs this), and the opportunity is once-in-a-lifetime.If you want your work to define your legacy, this is it."-Drake, CEO & FounderABOUT HYRDHYRD is building the operating system for careers - the platform every professional will use to navigate their work life. We automate job searching, personalize skill development, and match talent with opportunities. With the job market in chaos and AI transforming every role, professionals desperately need what we're building.We're a remote-first team obsessed with solving the broken job search process. Revenue-generating pre-launch and preparing for Series A, we're positioned to become the definitive platform for career management.Ready to build the Career OS? Apply now.HYRD is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.