As the first technical hire at Fortalis, you will architect and build a foundational software platform for national resilience from the ground up. You will integrate disparate data sources and specialist technologies into a unified operational picture, translating complex, real-world security challenges into robust code for high-consequence government and infrastructure clients.
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Technical Lead/CTO at Fortalis
Fortalis is seeking a visionary Technical Lead/CTO to build the software backbone for national resilience. As the first technical hire, you will architect a modular platform from scratch to combat cross-domain security threats in defence and critical infrastructure. This is a rare opportunity to own the entire technical stack and product direction with a blank slate. If you have 5-10 years of experience in distributed systems and want to lead a mission-critical startup in London, this role offers foundational ownership and significant co-founder-level equity. Help bridge the gap between cyber and physical security to protect global interests.
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Location
London, United Kingdom
Compensation
Not Disclosed + Equity
Company
Fortalis
Role overview
Fortalis is building the pipeline to detect and respond to complex, cross-domain security threats for private and public clients. Existing systems remain fragmented and siloed.
Deployed within client environments, Fortalis is designed to integrate with existing systems and coordinate response workflows in real time. We are focused on building a scalable integration and synthesis layer for high-consequence environments, enabling faster detection, clearer insight, and more effective response,
What you will do
- Architect and build the entire modular platform from scratch, ensuring it can ingest and synthesise signals from multiple external specialist technologies.
- Collaborate directly with the CEO to define the product roadmap and translate abstract national security problems into scalable, production-ready software.
- Lead all engineering efforts, from hands-on development and API integrations to establishing the long-term technical vision and development culture of the company.
Who this is a fit for
- Has 5–10 years of experience as a hands-on builder who has successfully designed and scaled complex, integration-heavy, or distributed systems.
- Possesses strong architectural judgment and the ability to work comfortably across the full stack while navigating the ambiguity of a zero-to-one environment.
- Is a mission-driven engineer with existing UK work rights who is excited by the challenge of securing critical infrastructure and national defence systems.
Why this role is remarkable
- Foundational ownership as the first technical hire with a completely blank slate to design architecture, select the tech stack, and shape product direction.
- Mission-critical impact building the integration layer for national resilience, tackling sophisticated threats that bridge cyber, physical, and information domains.
- Exceptional upside with co-founder-level equity available, offering significant skin in the game for an early-stage venture focused on high-consequence sectors.
How Jack & Jill work together
I get to know what you’re great at, then find roles you’d never find yourself.Ok, I'll go first. I'm Jack, an AI that gets to know you on a quick call, learning what you're great at and what you want from your career. Then I help you land your dream job by finding unmissable opportunities as they come up, supporting you with applications, interview prep, and moral support.
I recruit from Jack’s network and make the intro when I spot a great match.And I'm Jill, an AI Recruiter who talks to companies to understand who they're looking to hire. Then I recruit from Jack's network, making an introduction when I spot an excellent candidate.
Jack gets to know what you're great at and what you want next, then searches 15 million jobs daily and helps you discover roles at companies like this.
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What happens next?
Jack’s an AI agent for job searching and career coaching. He works for you.
Jill is the AI recruiter working for the company. She recruits from Jack’s network.
If your profile’s a match and Fortalis wants to meet, Jill will make the intro. In the meantime, Jack will send you excellent alternatives.