As the founding CTO of this pre-seed AI defence tech startup, you will build the technical foundation from zero. You will architect multi-agent systems to simulate information warfare and cognitive threats for EU government institutions. This is a hands-on leadership role combining high-level strategy with deep model development and team building.
CTO / Head of Engineering at pre-seed AI defence tech startup
Are you ready to lead the technical vision for a mission-critical defence tech startup? We are seeking a founding CTO to build multi-agent systems that protect populations from information warfare and cognitive manipulation. You will have full autonomy to architect the platform, fine-tune models, and hire the initial engineering team from scratch. This is a rare, co-founder-level opportunity to work at the intersection of AI and national security, shaping the future of European defence from the ground floor. If you are a hands-on builder with previous startup leadership experience, this is your next challenge.
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Location
London, United Kingdom
Compensation
Not Disclosed
Company
Confidential company
Role overview
About the company
Pre-seed AI defence tech startup
What you will do
- Architect and build multi-agent systems for population-level cognitive impact modelling and sophisticated threat simulation.
- Lead hands-on development including training and fine-tuning LLMs while managing complex data architectures for government clients.
- Recruit and lead the initial engineering team while establishing robust security and compliance standards for defence-grade technology.
Who this is a fit for
- Proven track record as a CTO or technical founder at an early-stage startup, ideally having scaled through growth rounds.
- Deep technical expertise in AI/ML, specifically with hands-on experience training or fine-tuning LLMs and complex agent frameworks.
- Based in London (or willing to relocate) with a strong desire to build mission-critical technology from the ground up.
Why this role is remarkable
- Mission-driven work at the intersection of AI and national security, tackling the defining global challenge of cognitive threats.
- Founding-stage opportunity at a pre-seed startup backed by the urgent demand for European defence sovereignty and resilience.
- True co-founder autonomy to shape the technical architecture, engineering culture, and product direction from day one.
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