Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Octopus by RTG

About this role

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.