CTO possible co-founder role hands on Rust, Blockchain, AI, startup experience a must have

Travoom • Austin, TX

43d • Remote

About The Position

We’re seeking a hands-on CTO, and possibly a co-founder, who can own the core technology strategy of OleOle and lead its execution from day one. You will define and build the platform's architecture, oversee engineering direction, and help shape the company’s long-term roadmap. You won’t be managing a large team yet — you’ll be rolling up your sleeves and building alongside the founding team, with equity compensation during the pre-funding phase and a full-time paid position after funding. OleOle is building the world’s first social networking and messaging platform for football fans, integrating features similar to WeChat, Twitter, WhatsApp, and TikTok. Our tech stack is native, built in Rust, and we are in the early development phase after completing the prototype and wireframes. We are seeking a hands-on, technical, and strategic CTO who has built and scaled startups. You will lead, mentor, and coach a young, global, remote engineering team operating on deferred compensation until we close funding.

Requirements

• A proven startup leader – You have 7-10+ years as a CTO and have led engineering teams at early-stage startups.
• A technical expert – Strong background in Rust and is an active coder.
• A team coach & mentor – You can motivate and develop junior engineers.
• Experienced in remote teams – You have led distributed teams across multiple time zones.
• Willing to work for deferred compensation – Until funding closes, the team is working on a sweat equity model.
• Creative problem solver who can courageously propose and support new ideas to our organization.
• Ability to adapt. An ideal candidate will welcome the opportunity to solve a broad range of problems using a wide array of technologies.
• Comfortable with ambiguity, shifting priorities and general growing pains of an early-stage technology company
• An exceptional entrepreneurial judgment that fosters independence over micro-management

Nice To Haves

• Ideally has access to capital – While not required, a CTO with investor connections would be a huge plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead development of the native Rust backend, including APIs, microservices, and system architecture.
• Integrate and manage real-time messaging infrastructure using WebSockets and event-driven services.
• Oversee the Solana-based OleX token, including smart contract development, wallet logic, and payments architecture.
• Build the backend framework for AI-powered features, including translation, recommendation engines, and user content analysis.
• Ensure security, scalability, and performance across all systems, especially in crypto and gambling environments.
• Partner with the CEO and broader team to align technical goals with the company’s global vision.
• Lead & build our Rust-native platform from the ground up.
• Mentor & develop a young engineering team working for deferred compensation.
• Ensure scalability, security, and performance of our architecture.
• Work hands-on with the codebase, setting up best practices.
• Coordinate development timelines for Phase 1 (7–8 months) and Phase 2 (9–10 months).
• Align with our vision to build the world's largest sports social platform.

Benefits

• Equity & Upside – Deferred now, but big rewards as funding closes.
• Startup Culture – Be a founding leader in a fast-moving, high-impact environment.
• Global Reach – Work with a team of top engineers worldwide.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees