Fractional CTO

The Mandate

Ando is building the intelligence layer for the frontline workforce and the 80M hourly workers in the U.S. and hundreds of millions more globally who have been underserved by every generation of software before us. This is not a scheduling tool. We are building accurate AI-generated demand forecasts, allocation-first labor optimization, and a persistent labor graph that captures skills, reliability, availability, and performance across time and employers, compounding over time into a verified professional identity layer for frontline work and an intelligent system that serves both enterprises and the workers themselves.

The technical surface area is real: real-time operational decisioning, AI-native and agentic systems with humans in the loop, and a data platform trustworthy enough to underwrite people's livelihoods. The person who takes this on is setting the architecture and the standards for graphing the world's frontline labor. That is the gravity of the role, and we want a leader who is drawn to it.

About the Role

This is a fractional engagement to start. It can grow into the full-time leadership seat for the right person, or serve as an interim role that sets the technical foundation and transitions to a full-time hire if long-term full-time isn't what the person is looking for. We're open on direction and will be transparent about fit as we go.

This is a deeply technical role. What we need now is a hands-on engineering leader to set the architecture, establish the AI/ML foundation, run and grow the existing team, and make the principled calls that determine whether the platform scales. We're looking for genuine CTO caliber who is a detail-oriented leader who can earn an enterprise customer's trust, hold an investor's confidence, own the technical vision, and raise the bar for everyone who builds here.

AI / ML / Data Systems

• Serve as Ando's AI/ML visionary — own the strategy for how forecasting, optimization, and labor intelligence become a durable, defensible advantage, and direct the work that builds it
• Set the direction for Ando's AI-native platform end-to-end: demand forecasting, labor intelligence, workforce optimization, scheduling, and real-time decision-making
• Own the data platform architecture: ingestion, normalization, feature systems, model evaluation and monitoring, experimentation, and operational analytics — defining the standards and measurement loops teams execute against
• Design an AI-native architecture, including agentic workflows, with human-in-the-loop, auditability, safety guardrails, and rollback plans — making the principled calls and ensuring they're implemented well
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies and model strategies with a pragmatic engineering and business mindset

Technical Leadership / Engineering

• Own the technical vision and translate it into an executable roadmap; make principled architecture decisions while shipping continuously
• Run engineering execution end-to-end: planning, release processes, and the cadences that keep the team shipping precisely
• Establish the operating model that lets the team scale: planning, reviews, quality gates, release practices, and platform standards that increase throughput and correctness
• Raise the bar on reliability, security, and privacy for enterprise scale: observability, incident response, SLOs, data governance, and security posture
• Balance rapid execution with sound architecture, scalability, and data integrity

Foundation & Team Leadership

• Run Ando's existing engineering organization end-to-end — in-house engineers, contractors, and an engineering manager driving operational excellence — and own its performance, priorities, and standards
• Assess the current team and structure, then shape and grow the org over time — making the calls on where to develop, where to add, and where to adjust for maximum leverage
• Mature the operating model the org scales on, partnering with the engineering manager to drive execution, throughput, and operational excellence
• Raise the hiring bar and recruit the next critical engineering hires as the team grows
• Develop and mentor the team; build a culture of ownership, speed, and high standards
• Lead through ambiguity with crisp communication — strong writing, decision logs, and predictable cross-functional cadences

Strategy / Executive Partnership

• Be the CEO's partner on strategy and platform bets; translate strategy into technical priorities, sequencing, and resourcing with clear tradeoffs
• Represent Ando externally — to investors, advisors, customers, and the broader ecosystem — as the company's senior technical voice
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Operations, Customer Success, and GTM to translate customer signal into shipped software
• Stay close to customers and the market to shape what gets built; engage enterprise stakeholders to earn trust and reflect real operational constraints
• Help define the future of AI-native labor infrastructure and workforce intelligence for shift-based industries

Location

San Francisco–based candidates are preferred, will consider other candidates who are able to establish regular on-site presence and close partnership with Ando's leadership team, which is centered in San Francisco as the company scales.

Applications

Due to the volume of inbound outreach, we are unable to review direct emails or messages regarding this role. Please do not contact Ando employees or leadership directly, as those inquiries will be deleted without review. All applications must be submitted through the official posting to be considered.

Culture at Ando

Ando is a high-trust, high-care organization built on ownership, respect, and thoughtful collaboration.

We value diverse perspectives, clear communication, and personal accountability. We move fast through alignment rather than force, operate comfortably in ambiguity, and build with empathy for the enterprises and workers our systems serve.

These values are core to how we work. Candidates who share them tend to thrive at Ando.

Equal Employment Opportunity, DEI & Legal Notice

Ando Technologies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

And yes, we are proudly DEI. We believe diverse perspectives make teams stronger, systems smarter, and outcomes more equitable. Building infrastructure for the frontline workforce demands empathy, representation, and respect, and we take that responsibility seriously. These values are core to how we work. Candidates who share them tend to thrive at Ando.

By applying for this role, you acknowledge that any information you provide will be processed in accordance with Ando’s privacy practices and applicable data protection laws. Applicant information is used solely for recruiting and employment-related purposes. Submission of an application does not create an employment contract or guarantee of employment.