Field CTO

Lightbend - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

Remote - Chicago, IL

Publishing Industries

About the position

The Field CTO at Lightbend serves as a technical visionary and trusted advisor, focusing on bridging the gap between innovative software solutions and client needs. This role involves leveraging expertise in Akka, Kalix, Java, and cloud-based distributed systems to guide customers through technical decision-making and product adoption. The Field CTO collaborates with internal teams and clients, represents the company at industry events, and drives the integration of emerging technologies to align solutions with customer goals.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with clients to identify technical needs and provide tailored solutions that address their challenges, focusing on Akka, Kalix, Java, and cloud-based distributed systems.
• Lead technical presentations and product demonstrations to showcase Lightbend's software capabilities, emphasizing scalability, resilience, and performance.
• Act as the primary technical liaison between clients and internal product teams, ensuring seamless communication and execution of client projects.
• Drive the adoption of emerging technologies, including real-time streaming and cloud-native architectures, within client environments.
• Provide thought leadership on industry trends, best practices, and innovative solutions at conferences and webinars.
• Write and blog about best practices with Lightbend's technology.
• Assist in troubleshooting and resolving complex technical issues, ensuring optimal client satisfaction and product performance.
• Collaborate with product development teams, relaying client feedback to influence the roadmap and future product improvements.
• Mentor and support internal teams, sharing deep technical knowledge and ensuring adherence to industry standards.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally, driving alignment and mutual success.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in software development and architecture, with a strong focus on Akka, Kalix, Java, distributed systems, microservices, and cloud-native applications.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Expertise in real-time streaming, event-driven architecture, and modern cloud infrastructures (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels in a fully remote environment.
• Experience in leading technical teams and managing multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic setting.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in the financial services, telecom, or logistics industries is a plus.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the financial services, telecom, or logistics industries is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Opportunities for professional development and ongoing education.
• Flexible work schedule and fully remote work environment.
• Collaborative, inclusive culture where innovation is encouraged.