Expression of Interest: Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

United States
Type: Full time
Register Interest

Sentient Shield is currently accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for this role to build our talent pipeline for upcoming defense contract phases. We are not actively hiring for an immediate start but welcome qualified candidates to submit their credentials for future consideration.

About Sentient Shield

Sentient Shield was born from a singular goal: to ensure that those who go into harm's way return home stronger. By combining Humanics-focused engineering with next-generation material science, we are empowering the modern soldier to move faster, stay longer, and survive the unsurvivable.

Job Overview

We are seeking a visionary Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to spearhead the engineering execution, technology roadmap, and technical scale-up of our soft exoskeleton platform. As a key member of the executive team, you will translate breakthrough scientific research into mission-ready, deployable defense products. You will oversee all engineering verticals—software, electronics, textiles, and robotics—ensuring alignment with military requirements, strict program deadlines, and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities

  • Technical Strategy: Establish and execute the long-term technological vision, product architecture, and engineering roadmaps for the company.

  • Engineering Leadership: Build, mentor, and scale a world-class, multi-disciplinary engineering organization across software, hardware, and textiles.

  • Program Execution: Direct product development lifecycles to ensure milestones are met for defense acquisitions, grants, and commercial contracts.

  • IP Strategy: Collaborate with legal counsel to aggressively expand and defend the company’s patent portfolio and proprietary technical advantages.

  • Field Trials & Validation: Champion a culture of rigorous physical testing, personally reviewing data and outcomes from tactical field trials on military installations.

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary technical interface for defense agencies, prime contractors, and strategic institutional partners.

Required Qualifications

  • Security Clearance: Must hold, or be fully eligible to obtain and maintain, a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret (or higher) security clearance.

  • Citizenship & Compliance: Must be a U.S. citizen or a national of a NATO alliance country.

  • Regulatory Compliance: Must meet all criteria to maintain compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

  • Education: Master’s or Ph.D. in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a highly related technical discipline.

  • Experience: Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive engineering leadership experience, with a proven track record in the defense sector or deep-tech hardware space.

  • Scale-Up Track Record: Demonstrated success taking complex, hardware-software integrated products from technology readiness level (TRL) 4 to TRL 9.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sentient Shield is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by applicable laws and regulations.

Register Your Interest