Johannesburg: Chief Technology Officer (CTO) posted by WatersEdge Solutions

Location: Hybrid South Africa or Remote
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: SaaS | Global Workforce Tech | HR & Compliance

WatersEdge Solutions is recruiting a visionary and hands-on Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead technology strategy and engineering execution for a fast-scaling global HR tech company. This is a high-impact, executive-level role for a leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, architecture, innovation, and people leadershipdriving product excellence and platform scalability across borders.

About the Role

As CTO, you will join the Executive Team and own the vision, architecture, and delivery of a multi-product platform. Youll lead the global Engineering organisation, define the technology roadmap, and ensure platform scalability, security, and innovation. This role balances deep technical engagement with leadership oversight, working closely with Product, Operations, and Commercial teams to deliver real customer value through technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technology strategy aligned with global business goals

• Lead and scale the Engineering team, embedding a culture of excellence and innovation

• Own architectural decisions, balancing speed, scalability, and compliance

• Partner cross-functionally to shape the roadmap and deliver customer-centric solutions

• Implement modern development practices including CI/CD, observability, and test automation

• Ensure platform security and compliance with frameworks such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001

• Champion innovation through AI integration, automation, and developer tooling

• Act as a market-facing technology leader, attracting talent and shaping the companys external brand

• Develop senior technical leaders and create strong succession planning across engineering

What Youll Bring

• Proven leadership experience (CTO, VP Engineering, or similar) in high-growth product-led businesses

• Expertise in building and scaling cloud-native platforms and distributed systems

• Strong hands-on experience with:

  • Frontend: React, TypeScript

  • Backend: Node.js

  • Frameworks: Next.js

  • Cloud: AWS

• Track record leading SOC 2 / ISO 27001-compliant engineering organisations

• Experience implementing modern software development practices at scale

• Excellent communication, storytelling, and stakeholder alignment skills

• Strategic thinker with the ability to solve problems and deliver results

• Passion for innovation and continuous learning

Nice to Have

• Experience scaling globally distributed engineering teams

• Familiarity with fintech, HR tech, or compliance-driven SaaS environments

• Strong eye for design and seamless user experiences

• Proven success leading through hypergrowth and change

Whats On Offer

• Competitive executive compensation package

• Share incentive scheme for long-term value creation

• Generous leave policy and work from anywhere flexibility

• Monthly benefits budget for wellness and insurance

• Hybrid working model and world-class office amenities

• A mission-driven team building the future of borderless work

Company Culture

WatersEdge Solutions partners with businesses shaping the future of global work. Youll join a company that values high performance, precision, and collaborationwith a commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and impact at scale.

If you have not been contacted within 10 working days, please consider your application unsuccessful.