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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Group Chief Technology Officer - **Company:** Fast Forward Solutions - **Location:** Bad Hofgastein, Austria - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Continuous Integration, Data Infrastructure, Software Architecture, Large Language Models, Reliability of Systems - **Published:** August 8, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.at/details/5832063582 ## About the Role We are looking for an experienced C-level technology leader who combines strong technical expertise with the ability to lead transformation across a complex, multi-market organisation. The ideal candidate understands how to balance centralisation with local autonomy and can identify which technology capabilities should be consolidated at Group level to improve scalability, efficiency, quality and speed of execution. This person will be comfortable operating both strategically and hands-on. They will be able to engage in detailed architectural discussions, assess the quality of technical solutions and build credibility with senior technology leaders through genuine technical expertise. The successful candidate will also bring strong people leadership skills and experience managing senior, autonomous technology executives. They will be expected to align local CTOs around a common Group strategy, create clear governance and decision-making structures, and build collaboration across markets without slowing down local delivery. Experience implementing AI solutions in production environments and translating them into measurable business value will be essential. We are seeking a leader who can effectively connect technology, product and commercial priorities across the Group., * Several years of experience as a Group CTO, CTO, CIO, VP of Engineering or in a comparable C-level technology leadership role * Experience working as part of an executive leadership team * Proven experience leading technology across multiple countries, markets or business units * Strong experience in technology centralisation, organisational integration or Group-wide transformation * Ability to determine which capabilities should be centralised, standardised or retained locally * Experience leading and developing senior technology executives, including local CTOs, Technology Directors or Heads of Engineering * Strong people leadership, stakeholder management and influencing skills * Excellent technical expertise and a hands-on approach to software architecture and engineering * Experience working with high-traffic consumer internet platforms, including fintech, e-commerce, marketplaces or comparison platforms * Practical experience implementing AI solutions in production environments * Knowledge of modern AI technologies, including LLMs, RAG, vector databases, fine-tuning and AI agents * Ability to make informed build, buy or partner decisions * Experience building effective technology governance and decision-making structures * Strong understanding of CI/CD, platform engineering, cloud infrastructure, security-by-design and technology governance * Ability to connect technology strategy with business, commercial and revenue objectives * Proven experience in fintech, financial services, large-scale e-commerce or online comparison platforms * Excellent communication skills and the ability to operate effectively with executive, technical and commercial stakeholders ## Description The role will focus on building a more integrated and scalable technology operating model, identifying which capabilities, platforms and processes should be centralised at Group level while preserving the agility and market responsiveness of local teams. The Group CTO will lead a senior team of local CTOs and provide strategic direction across architecture, AI transformation, platform development, data, partner integrations, security and engineering standards., * The Group CTO will define and execute the Group-wide technology strategy as a member of the Group Executive Leadership Team, ensuring that technology investments support the organisation's long-term commercial and strategic objectives. * A key responsibility will be to design and implement the Group technology operating model. This will include assessing which platforms, capabilities, processes and teams should be centralised, standardised or shared across markets, and which should remain under local ownership. * The Group CTO will lead, support and develop a senior team of local CTOs, ensuring alignment around shared priorities, technology standards, governance and delivery expectations. The role will involve building a strong leadership community across markets, facilitating knowledge sharing and creating clear accountability for both Group-wide and local initiatives. * The position will also be responsible for driving the organisation's AI-first transformation. This includes developing the data infrastructure, platforms and governance required to implement AI solutions at production scale, as well as identifying practical use cases in areas such as offer personalisation, dynamic pricing, lead scoring, customer service automation and employee productivity. * The Group CTO will oversee major architectural decisions supporting platform development, scalability, reliability and security across the organisation. An important part of the role will be identifying opportunities to consolidate technology platforms, reduce duplication and create reusable Group-level solutions. * The role will also oversee the development of partner integrations, including the standardisation of APIs, improvement of system reliability and creation of solutions that increase the value of the Group's platforms for commercial partners. Additional responsibilities will include: * Defining Group-wide technology principles, architecture standards and engineering practices * Creating an effective governance model for technology decisions and investment prioritisation * Leading the centralisation of selected technology capabilities, platforms and services * Building strong cooperation between local technology teams and Group functions * Establishing clear ownership between Group-level and local technology organisations * Improving engineering effectiveness, delivery quality and operational resilience * Promoting shared platforms, reusable components and common technology standards * Overseeing technology risk, cybersecurity, compliance and business continuity * Supporting build, buy or partner decisions across technology, data and AI * Working closely with the Management Board, product leaders and commercial stakeholders ## Related Videos - [Green Cloud Computing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/592-green-cloud-computing) - [Swapping a Data Warehouse at Runtime: Zero-Downtime Migration Without Changing a Single Client](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100311-swapping-a-data-warehouse-at-runtime-zero-downtime-migration-without-changing-a-single-client) - [Modern software architectures](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1684-modern-software-architectures) - [Inside Mercedes-Benz: How CIO Katrin Lehmann is Empowering 5,000 Developers and Driving Digital Change](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1360-inside-mercedes-benz-how-cio-katrin-lehmann-is-empowering-5-000-developers-and-driving-digital-change) - [WebAssembly: The Next Frontier of Cloud Computing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/972-webassembly-the-next-frontier-of-cloud-computing) - [Successful talent development in tech: A joint journey of executives and talents](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1497-successful-talent-development-in-tech-a-joint-journey-of-executives-and-talents) ## Related Articles - [The Biggest German Tech Companies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/424-the-biggest-german-tech-companies) - [Best Companies to Work For in Austria: Top 25 Companies in 2023 ](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/192-best-companies-to-work-for-in-austria-top-25-companies-in-2023) - [Where to Find German Tech Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/366-where-to-find-german-tech-jobs) - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies in Europe](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/162-highest-paying-tech-companies-in-europe)