Technical Co-founder / CTO

Company Description DS916 is an emerging technology-focused venture based in Rotterdam, dedicated to building scalable, data-driven products and services. The company aims to combine strong technical foundations with practical business applications to address real-world challenges. As a growing organization, DS916 offers significant opportunity for ownership, impact, and influence over its technical direction. Team members collaborate closely across disciplines, fostering a culture of experimentation, continuous learning, and responsible innovation. Role Description The Technical Co-founder / CTO will lead the overall technology vision, architecture, and implementation for DS916. This full-time, on-site role in Rotterdam involves designing and owning the product technology stack, overseeing software development, and ensuring systems are secure, scalable, and maintainable. Day-to-day responsibilities include hands-on coding, reviewing technical designs, managing infrastructure, and setting engineering standards and best practices. The role also includes collaborating with non-technical partners on product strategy, translating business requirements into technical roadmaps, and supporting fundraising and investor discussions with clear technical narratives. The Technical Co-founder / CTO will build and mentor a high-performing engineering team and help shape DS916’s culture and long-term technical strategy. Qualifications - Strong analytical skills for problem-solving, system design, and data-driven decision-making. - Excellent communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams, partners, and investors. - Experience with sales and marketing collaboration to align technical capabilities with go-to-market plans. - Ability to conduct and apply research to evaluate technologies, architectures, and product opportunities. - Proven experience in leading engineering teams, preferably in startup or early-stage environments. - Hands-on expertise with modern software development (e.g., cloud platforms, APIs, databases, DevOps practices). - Background in designing scalable architectures and ensuring reliability, security, and performance. - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. - Entrepreneurial mindset, comfort with ambiguity, and willingness to take ownership as a co-founder.