As the first technical hire, you will architect and build a modular, interoperable platform to detect and respond to cross-domain security threats. You will design a system that synthesizes signals from cyber, physical, and information domains, translating complex real-world national resilience problems into robust, production-ready software for high-consequence environments.
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Technical Lead / CTO at Fortalis
Are you ready to build the software layer for national resilience? This early-stage London startup is seeking a Technical Lead / CTO to architect a platform that integrates cyber, physical, and information signals for high-consequence environments. As the first technical hire, you will own the entire stack from a blank slate, working alongside the CEO to solve fragmented security challenges for critical infrastructure. If you have 5-10 years of experience building complex distributed systems and want a role with co-founder level equity, this is your chance to build something that truly matters.
About this role
Role overview
About the company
Fortalis is building the pipeline to detect and respond to complex, cross-domain security threats for private and public clients. Existing systems remain fragmented and siloed.
Deployed within client environments, Fortalis is designed to integrate with existing systems and coordinate response workflows in real time. We are focused on building a scalable integration and synthesis layer for high-consequence environments, enabling faster detection, clearer insight, and more effective response,
What you'll do
What you will do
- Design and implement a scalable system architecture that integrates multiple external SME technologies and disparate data sources.
- Work directly with the CEO to prototype and build the synthesis layer that produces decision-ready intelligence for government clients.
- Own the entire engineering lifecycle, from selecting the tech stack and tooling to hands-on development and future team building.
Who you are
Who this is a fit for
- 5–10 years of experience in hands-on engineering with strong architectural judgment in integration-heavy or distributed systems.
- Proven ability to build robust software from first principles, staying deep in the code while navigating high-level product ambiguity.
- Strong motivation for mission-driven work in national resilience, with the existing legal right to work in the UK.
Why this role
Why this role is remarkable
- Full technical ownership of a mission-critical platform from a completely blank slate, with direct influence on the company's product direction.
- Opportunity to build foundational technology for national security and defense, tackling complex problems that existing siloed systems cannot solve.
- Meaningful equity is available, offering a co-founder level stake or early employee options for a truly vested interest in the mission.
Jack & Jill
How Jack & Jill work together
I get to know what you’re great at, then find roles you’d never find yourself.Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
I recruit from Jack’s network and make the intro when I spot a great match.And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
Meet Jack
Jack gets to know what you're great at and what you want next, then searches 15 million jobs daily and helps you discover roles at companies like this.
How does this work?
Jack’s an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack’s network.
If it’s a match and the company wants to meet you, they’ll make the intro. In the meantime, if you’d like, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.