CTO - Fractional 3 Days Left

Job Title: Fractional CTO – AI Tools for Residential Design

Location: Hyderabad, India

Please READ Before Applying:

If you're looking for a safe, slow-moving "CTO" gig where you just manage Jira boards and sit in status meetings — this isn't it.

If you're the kind of technical leader who learns fast, ships faster, and wants to build + lead groundbreaking AI tools that change an entire industry, keep reading.

What is zHeight?

zHeight is a fast-growing U.S.-based startup reimagining residential design and permitting. We help American homeowners and contractors get permits faster, more affordably, and at higher quality — by combining world-class talent with technology and AI.

Our India-based delivery team includes architects and engineers from IITs, NITs, and top global schools — now we're building our core software and AI team to engineer the next generation of internal and client-facing tools that power the future of residential architecture.

We've delivered 100+ permitted projects in California and beyond — and we're just getting started.

About the Role

As our Fractional CTO, you'll own and drive the development of the tech stack that runs our business — from plan check automation to code compliance engines to AI-powered design workflows.

You'll co-develop with our junior engineers, set technical direction, and ensure we're building fast, building smart, and building for scale.

This role is fractional to start (10–20 hours/week) with a clear path to full-time CTO as we grow.

What You'll Do

- Architect and lead the development of our internal & client-facing platforms for residential design workflows
- Build AI-powered tools to automate plan checking, zoning analysis, and code compliance
- Design data-rich systems for tracking, compliance reporting, and performance analytics
- Integrate APIs from permitting databases, AI/LLM models, and 3D/spatial engines
- Establish engineering best practices, code quality standards, and dev ops pipelines
- Mentor and pair-program with junior engineers to accelerate delivery and learning
- Work closely with architects, engineers, and operations to deeply understand workflows
- Rapidly prototype and iterate based on real user feedback

Who This Role is For

- 5+ years in software engineering, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership role
- Deep experience in JavaScript/TypeScript (React + Node) or Python (FastAPI/Django)
- Strong in systems architecture, API design, and integrating third-party services
- Experience working with AI/LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, fine-tuning, embeddings)
- Ability to translate complex operational workflows into scalable software tools
- Bonus: experience in CAD/3D workflows, geospatial data, or building code automation
- You thrive in fast-moving, high-ownership environments and can work hands-on when needed
- You love solving real-world problems in the built environment — and building tools people actually use daily

This is NOT for You If:

- You need perfect specs before you start coding
- You avoid ambiguity and direct collaboration with users
- You want a slow ramp-up before making an impact
- Use the word "archdriven" in your subject line so we know you actually read this
- You're not comfortable being both architect and builder

Why Join zHeight?

- Equity in a high-growth, early-stage U.S. startup
- Clear path to full-time CTO and ownership of the entire tech roadmap
- Become an industry pioneer in AI-driven residential design & permitting
- Build software with direct, tangible real-world impact
- Collaborate with sharp, driven teammates across architecture, engineering, and tech
- Shape the tech stack, processes, and culture from the ground up

How to Apply

Send an email to aditya@zheight.com with:

1. Your CV (PDF)
2. A short note on why this role excites you
3. A link to code samples, GitHub, or projects you've built — bonus if related to AI, workflow automation, or internal tools

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