CoFounder & Head of Engineering / CTO for CyberSecurity Startup

Berlin • Cybersecurity & AI Startup • Recently Secured Significant FundingWe are building a next-generation Identity + AI Enforcement platform in Berlin.Following newly secured funding, we are looking for a technical co-founder who will architect and build the core product from day one.We are looking for a hands on Founding Head of Engineering/CTO for a hybrid role based in Berlin. If you are passionate about Cyber Security and AI tech, thrive in fast-paced environments, and have experience building complex platforms, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.ResponsibilitiesOwn the entire technical architecture across identity, AI agent systems, and enforcement.Design & implement full technical architecture of the cyber product.Build the AI agent identity model, sandboxing, trust scoring, and agent behavior engine.Lead engineering execution: roadmap breakdown, sprint planning, delivery.Build core services: connectors, policy engine, risk engine, real-time enforcement layer.Hire and lead the initial engineering team.Work closely with the CEO on high-level technical direction.Support enterprise sales with technical deep dives, PoCs, and security validation.Maintain high standards of security, reliability, and architectural quality.Co-build the product vision to establish the leading cyber technology of Europe as well as the most effective platform.Establish the technological foundation of a platform, including the data infrastructure.Develop and execute the company’s technology strategy and roadmap.Recruit and lead an in-house, top-tier engineering team.Manage the company’s data, including storage, analysis, data privacy, and security.Make Europe and world more Cyber resilientRequirements and Skills10+ years experience in tech leadership roles10+ years experience in backend engineering and system architecture.Proven ability to design and ship complex distributed systems.Strong understanding of OAuth/OIDC, API keys, tokens, scopes, identity flows.Knowledge of RBAC/ABAC or fine-grained access models.Exposure to Zero Trust principles, access control models, or identity governance.Experience with AI/LLM systems, agent logic, or willingness to learn fast.Understanding of SaaS integration security, OAuth app marketplaces.Hands-on mentality; can build MVP and early architecture yourself.Experience integrating with multiple SaaS systems and APIs.Strong security mindset and understanding of modern attack surfaces.Ability to move fast, take ownership, and operate independently.Experience managing small engineering teams in early-stage environments.Hands-on experience with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform) and cloud deployments.Prior startup experience.Low ego, high commitment, and a true founder mentality.Nice to HaveExperience with AI/LLM systems, multi-agent orchestration, or agent frameworks.Experience with policy engines (custom enforcement logic).Experience building event-driven architectures or streaming systems (Kafka, Pub/Sub).Familiarity with token analysis, secret scanning, or credential hygiene.Experience with cloud IAM (AWS/GCP/Azure roles, service principals).Experience with risk scoring, anomaly detection, or behavior-based systems.Exposure to agent sandboxing, isolated execution, or container micro-VMs.Previous experience in cybersecurity, identity startups.Understanding of graph databases, unified identity graphs, or permission maps.Previous Technical Product leadership and design experience.The identity model, token lifecycle, permission graph, and SaaS risk flowsPrior co-founder experience.Write production-grade backend code or at least understand it deeply.BenefitsCo-Founder Equity — meaningful ownership in a high-growth cybersecurity company.Competitive Compensation — salary aligned with market, flexible early-stage arrangements possible.Founding Team Status — shape the company from day one and own critical technical decisions.Fresh Funding Secured — immediate runway to build, hire, and execute fast.Full Technical Ownership — lead architecture across identity, AI agents, and enforcement.High Autonomy — freedom to design and build without corporate overhead.Work with a Technical CEO — fast iteration, strong alignment, clear direction.Cutting-Edge Domain — identity security, SaaS-to-SaaS access, AI agent governance.Massive Learning Curve — quickly gain depth in cybersecurity, identity, and AI systems.Enterprise Exposure — meet customers with the CEO, lead deep dives, and own PoCs.Fast Career Path — evolve into CTO-level leadership as we scale the engineering team.Berlin Location — top-tier tech environment with strong cybersecurity and AI ecosystems.Direct Impact — your architecture and code become the foundation of the entire platform.Note: This position includes optional relocation support to Berlin.