> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2219891-tech-lead-cto-open-authenticity-infrastructure-nonprofit](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2219891-tech-lead-cto-open-authenticity-infrastructure-nonprofit). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Tech Lead (CTO) - Open Authenticity Infrastructure (Nonprofit) - **Company:** AUTHENTIC, INC. - **Location:** Munich, ND, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $60,000.0 - $68,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Data Systems, Digital Signature, Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), JSON, Key Management, Systems Development Life Cycle, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Digital Archives - **Published:** August 25, 2026 - **Apply:** https://arc.dev/remote-jobs/j/redirect/pf1fzwgph6 ## About the Role * Senior software engineering experience with a track record of leading complex systems end-to-end * Strong working knowledge of applied cryptography, including hashing, digital signatures, key management, and the judgment to reason about integrity-critical system design * A public track record others can check: publications, standards contributions or RFCs, conference talks, or open-source projects where you are a named author or maintainer * Fluency in English (internal language is English; German for institutional partner work is an add-on) * Comfortable representing technical work to non-technical institutional partners * Willingness and ability to travel to Germany for key occasions, several times per year, * A doctorate in cryptography, computer science, or an adjacent field * Experience with timestamping or anchoring protocols, including keeping one running over years * Familiarity with archival systems and standards: Archivematica, Preservica, EAD, Dublin Core, PREMIS, or comparable * Experience integrating software with heterogeneous database environments or institutional data systems * Prior experience in a startup, early-stage organization, or similar setting, with (co-)responsibility for building a tech infrastructure from the ground up * Hands-on experience with one or more of the specific standards in our stack: Ed25519 / RFC 8032, SHA-256 / FIPS 180-4, OpenTimestamps, did:webvh, JSON-LD, RFC 8785, C2PA, or hash-based signatures such as XMSS and SLH-DSA * Fluency in German * Based in Munich, or the ability to travel to Munich for important meetings, e.g. with partner institutions We do not expect anyone to match every line. If you are strong on the cryptographic side and light on archives, or the reverse, apply and tell us which side you are on. We would rather hear from someone smart and driven by similar values who does not tick every box. ## Description What we need now is the person who takes technical ownership and makes the system better than we could on our own. This is a founding engineering role, which means real responsibility for a technically meaningful product and for the direction it takes. Core system development * Own the full development lifecycle of our verification platform, from cryptographic foundations to the public-facing verification interface. * Maintain and evolve our four-layer proof architecture (file fingerprinting, GAMI Proof Record construction, institutional digital signatures, distributed timestamp anchoring). * Ensure the continued cryptographic integrity of the system as it scales and standards evolve, e.g. planning for post-quantum resilience. * Review and improve the existing codebase with your own informed perspective on architecture. Archival integration * Build integrations with diverse archival systems, including Archivematica and Preservica. * Ensure usability for institutions with very different technical capacities. Technical leadership and communication * Lead our engineering team: three full-time engineers, two interns, a volunteer developes, and a master's thesis student. * Be the technical voice in conversations with our institutional partners, with funders and research labs, on conference stages, and in public-facing technical communications. * Contribute to shaping the long-term technical roadmap with your own ideas. ## Related Videos - [This Machine Ends Data Breaches](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/574-this-machine-ends-data-breaches) - [Tips and Tricks for Working with JSON](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1229-tips-and-tricks-for-working-with-json) - [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works) - [The Future of Recruiting: Innovations and Challenges in the European IT Sector](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1056-the-future-of-recruiting-innovations-and-challenges-in-the-european-it-sector) - [Modern Data Architectures need Software Engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1030-modern-data-architectures-need-software-engineering) - [Introducing JSON Structure](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100219-introducing-json-structure) ## Related Articles - [The Biggest German Tech Companies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/424-the-biggest-german-tech-companies) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market) - [System change: restart as developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/39-system-change-restart-as-developer) - [Jobs in Germany for Americans](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/423-jobs-in-germany-for-americans)