CTO (AI Focus)
Chief Technology Officer
Salt Search · AI / Video Technology / Creative Tech · 10-50 employees · 📍 South Africa, UK
Hands-on founding CTO to architect and build an AI-powered video production and personalization platform at scale for a fast-growing South African startup.
AI Maturity
building
Reports To
CEO
Why Role Exists
New position
Company Stage
startup
Source
reed
Key Responsibilities
- Define and own the end-to-end technical vision and architecture of the AI platform
- Lead hands-on engineering and platform development for AI-driven video production and personalization
- Work directly with customers to shape product direction and gather technical requirements
- Build and scale the engineering team from early stage
- Bridge technology and business strategy as a founding leadership team member
Requirements
- Proven experience building and shipping AI-powered products or platforms
- Hands-on engineering capability — not a purely strategic or boardroom CTO
- Experience in a startup or early-stage technology company as a technical leader
- Strong understanding of video technology, personalization, or media-tech is highly advantageous
Signals
- ⚠ No salary or compensation range disclosed
- ⚠ Dual-location listing (South Africa + UK) creates ambiguity on primary base
- ⚠ No previous company postings — limited employer track record to assess
- ⚠ Truncated job description limits full scope assessment
- ✓ Explicitly hands-on, not a titular CTO role — strong signal of real technical authority
- ✓ Clear AI and product focus with a defined market (video personalization)
- ✓ Direct customer involvement signals cross-functional impact and influence
- ✓ Startup stage means significant equity upside potential
- ✓ Dual-market presence (SA + UK) suggests growth ambition