Chief Technology Officer

Company: Zania
Location: San Francisco
Posted on: May 3, 2025

Job Description:

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - US Based - ZaniaLocation: San Francisco, California (In-office, close collaboration environment)
Industry: AI - Cybersecurity - Compliance Automation
Company Stage: VC-backed, early growth
Reports To: CEOAbout ZaniaZania is reshaping the future of security and compliance through AI-powered automation. Our mission is to eliminate the friction, cost, and complexity of security audits by building intelligent AI agents that help companies navigate frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and NIST with precision and speed.Our clients include Fortune 500 enterprises, Top 10 audit firms, and global universities. Backed by top-tier investors and led by alumni from Microsoft, Reddit, Brex, Airbnb, Oracle, and Zoho, we're scaling fast - and looking for a world-class CTO to shape and lead our technology vision.The OpportunityAs our Chief Technology Officer, you'll be a core member of the executive team, responsible for defining and leading Zania's technology strategy, product architecture, and engineering organization. You will play a foundational role in scaling our platform, launching innovative AI-driven features, and ensuring our technology stack evolves with world-class reliability, security, and performance.This is an in-office role based in San Francisco, designed for deep, cross-functional collaboration with leadership and engineering teams.What You'll Do

• Own and evolve the technical vision and long-term architecture for Zania's AI-native security compliance platform.
  
• Lead the engineering team across backend, frontend, infrastructure, and AI/ML, fostering a culture of innovation, velocity, and accountability.
  
• Partner with the CEO and cross-functional leaders to define company strategy, product direction, and technical roadmaps.
  
• Ensure platform scalability and reliability as we scale to thousands of customers and handle increasing data complexity.
  
• Guide build-vs-buy decisions across infrastructure, tooling, and integrations.
  
• Drive hiring, mentorship, and career development for a high-performing engineering team.
  
• Stay ahead of the curve on AI/ML advancements, cybersecurity trends, and compliance automation opportunities.
  
• Collaborate with sales and customer success teams to understand enterprise needs and influence roadmap priorities.
  Ideal Background
  • 10+ years in software engineering, with 5+ in technical leadership roles (e.g., CTO, VP of Engineering, Head of Engineering).
    
  • Proven track record of building and scaling B2B SaaS products, ideally in cybersecurity, compliance, or developer tools.
    
  • Deep hands-on expertise in Python, FastAPI, React/TypeScript, and cloud infrastructure (preferably Azure).
    
  • Experience leading AI/ML-driven products or integrating LLMs into user-facing applications.
    
  • Strong understanding of security best practices, data privacy, and enterprise architecture.
    
  • Experience managing high-velocity engineering teams and product iteration in startup environments.
    
  • Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to translate vision into execution.
    
  • Comfortable in fast-paced, in-office environments that demand urgency, precision, and ownership.
    Bonus Points For
    • Previous experience at a high-growth startup or experience scaling from Series A to C.
      
    • Domain expertise in SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, HIPAA, or similar frameworks.
      
    • Contributions to open-source projects or developer tooling ecosystems.
      
    • Public speaking, technical writing, or thought leadership in AI or security.
      What We Offer
      • Executive-level compensation with a meaningful equity package.
        
      • Opportunity to build an enduring company from the ground up.
        
      • In-office role based in San Francisco for close collaboration with our founding team.
        
      • Direct access to top-tier investors, advisors, and enterprise clients.
        
      • A mission-driven culture grounded in trust, excellence, and impact.
        How to ApplyIf you're a visionary technologist ready to lead the next generation of AI-powered security compliance, we'd love to hear from you.Apply directly or reach out to careers@zania.ai with your resume and a brief note on why you'd be a great fit.
        #J-18808-Ljbffr

Keywords: Zania, Gilroy , Chief Technology Officer, IT / Software / Systems , San Francisco, California