Interim Chief Technology Officer

This role is best suited to a VP of Engineering styled profile currently operating in a tech-led business and ready to step into their first CTO seat. We are looking for trajectory, energy and engineering credibility, prior CTO experience is non-essential. Essential experience Hands-on engineering leadership at scale, with a track record of running mature engineering organisations in tech-led environmentsStrong proficiency with Java-based technology stacksExperience with the Microsoft enterprise ecosystemUse of AI-assisted development tools (Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code or equivalents) with demonstrable productivity outcomesDemonstrated ability to integrate AI capabilities into customer- or user-facing technology layersSubstantial people leadership experience Personal qualities: Intellectually rigorous, with a strong analytical approach to business problem-solvingCollaborative and effective at translating business requirements into engineering executionComfortable building and shipping at paceEnergetic and self-motivatedOpen to continuous learning and rapid adaptation

Barker Owen have been retained to appoint a Chief Technology Officer for a London-listed business with a substantial in-house engineering function. The CTO is the senior engineering leader, responsible for setting technical direction, leading the engineering organisation, and ensuring technology delivers measurable commercial impact. This is an interim opportunity but comes with the possibility of a future permanent appointment. This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role for an engineering leader on an upward trajectory and will suit individuals excited by both leading teams and hands-on building. What you will do The CTO leads an in-house engineering function spanning software engineering, application development, automation, DevOps and architecture. Working in close partnership with peer technology leaders, the CTO is accountable for: Setting and executing the companies engineering strategyLeading the integration of AI capabilities across the technology estateBuilding, developing and raising the bar of the engineering function, with autonomy over hiring and team compositionSetting technical direction and engineering standardsOperating as a credible technology voice within the senior leadership team