Chief Technology Officer

📋 Description

• • As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Bjak Sdn. Bhd., you will be at the forefront of defining and executing the company's technological vision and strategy. This is a pivotal leadership role within a dynamic, early-stage startup focused on building a proactive AI system that intelligently carries work forward across conversations, tools, and time. You will be instrumental in enabling users to delegate ongoing tasks to sophisticated AI agents capable of coordinating across complex software, data, and workflows. Your mandate will be to think clearly about systems, make robust technical decisions, and play a crucial role in building the engineering organization from its foundational stages.
• • You will be a key member of the founding team, tasked with shaping the technical direction of the company. This includes not only setting the architectural roadmap but also actively contributing to the growth and development of a high-caliber engineering team distributed across key talent hubs in the US and China. Your leadership will be essential in establishing a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and efficient execution.
• • **Define Technical Direction and Architecture:** You will be responsible for architecting the long-term vision for Bjak's AI systems, the underlying infrastructure, and the developer platform. This involves a deep understanding of trade-offs between rapid iteration and robust, scalable system design. You will ensure that all systems are built with scalability, reliability, and future evolution in mind. Your guidance will be critical in making key decisions related to model integration, the development of sophisticated data pipelines, the implementation of distributed systems, and the overall product architecture.
• • **Provide Engineering Leadership:** You will collaborate closely with engineers to translate the product vision into actionable technical strategies and clear execution plans. A significant part of your role will involve structuring engineering workstreams, ensuring teams remain aligned on priorities, and maintaining exceptionally high engineering standards while keeping the team focused on delivering value. You will be instrumental in establishing and nurturing a strong engineering culture, defining best practices for development, and setting technical standards that permeate the entire organization.
• • **Build and Scale the Engineering Team:** A core responsibility will be to build and scale a world-class engineering team. This includes identifying and attracting top talent in strategic locations like China and the US, as well as nurturing emerging technical leaders. You will define the hiring standards and refine interview processes to ensure that the engineering bar remains exceptionally high, attracting individuals who are not only technically proficient but also aligned with the company's vision and culture.
• • **Drive Coordination and Execution:** You will work hand-in-hand with product, research, and other leadership teams to ensure seamless integration and progress. Your role will involve ensuring that technical workstreams advance smoothly across different teams and geographical locations, proactively identifying and resolving cross-team technical and execution challenges. You will foster an environment where collaboration and efficient problem-solving are paramount.
• • **Embrace an Early-Stage Environment:** Operating within an early-stage startup demands comfort with ambiguity and a hands-on approach. You will be expected to contribute directly to technical challenges while also providing strategic direction. The company operates with a small, senior, and highly capable team where engineers are empowered to own features end-to-end, from initial design discussions through to production monitoring. Open communication, rigorous code and design reviews for all significant changes, and frequent, rapid shipping are integral to the company's operational philosophy. You will champion this collaborative and agile approach.