We are looking for an experienced Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the technical vision, architecture, and technology strategy for a next-generation digital wealth management platform. The platform includes native iOS and Android applications, a web-based administration portal, and an AI-powered investment and advisory engine.
As CTO, you will be responsible for defining the platform's long-term technology direction, architecture, security, and governance while partnering closely with the Engineering Director, AI Engineering team, Product, and business stakeholders. This is a strategic leadership position focused on technology vision, technical governance, and business alignment rather than day-to-day software development.
Key Responsibilities
Technology Strategy & Architecture
- Define and own the end-to-end architecture for mobile applications, web platforms, AI services, backend systems, and cloud infrastructure.
- Establish technology standards, architectural principles, and engineering best practices.
- Lead architectural decisions across microservices, event-driven systems, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and real-time data platforms.
- Drive technology roadmaps, architecture evolution, scalability, and technical debt management.
- Define non-functional requirements including scalability, performance, availability, resilience, and security.
AI & Innovation
- Define the organization's AI strategy and oversee the integration of AI-powered capabilities.
- Guide the development of LLM-powered services, conversational AI, and intelligent automation.
- Establish AI governance frameworks covering model quality, explainability, monitoring, bias mitigation, auditability, and regulatory compliance.
- Ensure AI solutions meet business objectives while operating within regulated financial environments.
Security & Compliance
- Own the platform's security architecture, including authentication, authorization, encryption, API security, and identity management.
- Ensure compliance with financial regulations, data privacy laws, and security standards across all markets.
- Oversee disaster recovery, business continuity, and platform resilience strategies.
- Establish governance for audit trails, compliance reporting, and regulatory readiness.
Engineering Leadership
- Provide technical leadership across engineering teams and resolve complex architectural challenges.
- Lead architecture reviews, technical governance, and engineering decision-making.
- Define engineering standards, technical hiring criteria, and technology best practices.
- Identify technical risks and ensure mitigation strategies are implemented throughout the product lifecycle.
Executive Stakeholder Management
- Act as the primary technology advisor to executive leadership, clients, investors, and strategic partners.
- Translate complex technical concepts into business-focused recommendations.
- Partner with Product, Engineering, and Project Management teams to align technology delivery with business goals.
- Support client engagements, pre-sales activities, RFP responses, and investor presentations.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (Master's degree or MBA is preferred).
- 10+ years of technology leadership experience in roles such as CTO, VP Engineering, or Head of Engineering.
- Minimum 3 years of experience within FinTech, WealthTech, Digital Banking, or Neo Banking.
- Proven experience delivering enterprise-scale digital platforms within regulated financial environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading AI/ML products, preferably involving financial advisory, portfolio management, risk scoring, or intelligent decision-making.
- Strong expertise in distributed systems, microservices, cloud-native architecture, APIs, and real-time platforms.
- Hands-on knowledge of AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform and modern DevOps practices.
- Experience integrating KYC/eKYC providers, payment gateways, trading platforms, and market data providers.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity, identity management, encryption, compliance, and financial regulations.
- Experience leading engineering organizations of 8–15+ engineers.
- Excellent stakeholder management, leadership, and communication skills.
- Fluent in both Arabic and English.
Nice to Have
- Experience building Wealth Management, Investment, Trading, or Digital Banking platforms.
- Knowledge of MENA financial regulations, AML, KYC, and data residency requirements.
- Experience with LLMs, AI Agents, Conversational AI, or Generative AI products.
- Experience presenting to executive boards, regulators, and investors.
- Background in vendor management, technology budgeting, and strategic sourcing.