Head of Engineering

Foundersmax is seeking a Head of Engineering to lead technical strategy, architecture, and engineering operations across the venture studio and its portfolio companies. You will be responsible for building robust technical foundations, architecting scalable systems, and guiding portfolio founders through rapid product development, MVP launches, and technology optimization.

This is a hands-on leadership role ideal for a technical strategist who can move from zero-to-one while establishing engineering frameworks and systems that scale across multiple ventures.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead technical strategy, system architecture, and engineering execution across the studio and portfolio companies.
• Architect scalable software infrastructure and select core technology stacks for new ventures.
• Partner with founders to build MVPs, optimize product roadmaps, and accelerate time-to-market.
• Establish engineering standards, CI/CD pipelines, QA processes, and best practices for code quality.
• Oversee cloud infrastructure, technical debt management, and platform security.
• Guide technical hiring, team structuring, and engineering culture alongside studio leadership.
• Evaluate technical risk, data privacy architectures, and regulatory compliance considerations across all ventures.
• Support technical due diligence and system integrations for portfolio companies.

What We’re Looking For

• Technical Leadership: 10+ years in software engineering, with experience as a CTO, VP of Engineering, or senior technical leader.
• Builder Experience: Proven track record of building and managing engineering operations from early-stage (zero-to-one) to growth.
• Startup Expertise: Experience in venture capital, venture studios, or fast-paced, high-growth startup environments.
• Architectural Depth: Deep expertise in cloud infrastructure, system design, API architectures, and modern full-stack development.
• Hands-On Ability: Comfortable writing code, reviewing pull requests, and setting up initial infrastructure directly when needed.
• Team Building: Experience recruiting, building, and leading high-performing engineering and product teams.
• Strategic Mindset: Ability to align technical decisions with venture creation goals, product vision, and investor expectations.

What We Offer

• Equity-first founding package (significant ownership in the studio).
• Cash compensation added post-raise or revenue milestones.
• Direct equity participation in every studio portfolio company launched during your tenure.
• Influence over portfolio engineering frameworks and operational structures.
• A seat at the founding table of a studio designed to build lasting companies.