Chief Technology Officer

Role Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Fractional CTO/Technical Expert to join our mission-driven project focused on developing products that incentivize companies to provide internet access to underserved communities. As part of an open-source technology initiative, this role will help provide children and young people with access to information and elevate schools as anchor points to uplift entire communities. This is a fractional consulting role for 1 year, ideal for a senior technical leader with experience in blockchain technologies and global product development.

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About the Work

• Design and explore various technical architectures for a global marketplace, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.
• Collaborate with product managers, software engineers, external partners, and stakeholders to understand and translate project requirements into technical solutions.
• Build Proof of Concepts (PoCs) for proposed solutions to validate their technical feasibility.
• Provide strategic technical guidance to support the success of the program initiative.
• Review technical submissions from external vendors and partners, assessing feasibility, quality, innovation, and alignment with the project’s mission.
• Conduct regular technical reviews to ensure vendor and partner work meets quality standards and projects stay on scope, on time, and on budget.
• Develop and maintain detailed technical documentation for proposed designs.

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About You

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. (A first university degree combined with two additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.)
• At least 5 years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing technology solutions.
• Proven experience with blockchain and/or cryptocurrency technologies.
• Strong understanding of smart contract development and relevant programming languages such as Solidity, Java, or similar.
• Experience with blockchain platforms like Ethereum, Hyperledger, or other decentralized frameworks preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional, globally distributed teams and work with external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Experience in open-source projects or communities is a plus.

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Geographic Requirements

• Absolutely must be an EU passport holder
• strong preference for candidates located in Geneva, Switzerland
• Barcelona, Spain is another great option as some of the team is based there
• We are open to consider anyone in the EU as long as they are willing to travel to Geneva for meetings

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Travel Requirements

You'll be required to travel for stakeholder meetings and project assessments:

• 1 trip to Geneva (5-night stay)
• 2 trips to African countries (5-night stays each)