Chief Technology Officer Faro

Chief Technology Officer
Faro
Faro, Faro District, Portugal

About RUA

RUA is a social impact company focused on bridging the gap between information and action. We've developed an MVP that helps transform how people interact with
- based information through our innovative geospatial platform. Currently, we're operating with a Word
Press plugin implementation but are ready to evolve into a more scalable, CMS-agnostic solution. As a
- revenue organization with a clear monetization strategy, we're at an exciting inflection point ready to scale our impact.

We are proudly incubated at Startup Lisboa, are part of the Testbed Media Open Call (1ª edition) program, and are currently participating in the Boutique Impact accelerator, providing us with valuable resources and networks to support our growth.

RUA is already making measurable strides in bridging the
- action gap through our innovative geospatial platform:

• Successfully launched our RUA News plugin with A Mensagem, implementing interactive mapping features that have transformed how readers discover local news content in Lisbon's neighborhoods
• Completed a groundbreaking pilot with LUSA (Portugal's national news agency) to map their agenda, processing over 850 items and validating our concept of hyperlocalized information discovery
• Our early metrics show significant improvements in content engagement when information is presented with geographic context, creating new pathways for community participation
• We're strengthening local information ecosystems by making critical community knowledge discoverable, relevant, and actionable

Position Overview

We're seeking a technically skilled and
- driven CTO to join us in this
- floor opportunity to shape a technology platform with significant growth potential. This
- time role offers substantial autonomy in technical decisions and the chance to be part of something meaningful from the start. For the right candidate, this position offers the opportunity to join as a
- founder, helping shape the future of our organization from the ground up.

Historically, we've been working with a development firm, but we're now ready to bring that work
- house for additional control and flexibility to respond to evolving markets. You'll be responsible for strategic technical decisions while also handling
- on development of our products. We plan to expand our engineering team towards the end of 2026, giving you the opportunity to build and lead your own development team as we grow.

Transformative Potential

This CTO will be instrumental in scaling our technology to achieve broader impacts:

• Empower individuals with the knowledge they need to actively participate in their neighborhoods, creating more resilient communities
• Create a more transparent, democratic ecosystem where information providers can effectively reach and serve their audiences
• Help transform isolated knowledge into waves of collective action through innovative geospatial solutions
• Build technology that strengthens social cohesion and enables participative democracies

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical evolution of our existing MVP, addressing technical debt and creating a CMS-agnostic application
• Develop new products in our pipeline and conceptualize innovative solutions in response to evolving market needs
• Make strategic technology decisions that align with our mission and growth goals
• Manage our Postgre
  SQL database with Post
  GIS extension
• Develop and maintain
  - stack applications using Python, PHP, Java
  Script, HTML, and CSS
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and implement robust security measures
• Maintain and improve metrics and analytics systems to track impact and performance
• Transform geospatial data into meaningful user experiences
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define product requirements and roadmaps
• Collaborate with our
  - aligned design and user interface partners to create cohesive user experiences
• Mentor and guide technical interns who are supporting various aspects of our project
• Build and lead a development team starting in late 2026

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a
  - stack developer with products successfully launched to market
• Strong proficiency in our tech stack: Postgre
  SQL (with Post
  GIS), Python, PHP, and Java
  Script
• Experience with Word
  Press plugin development
• Knowledge of geospatial data handling and implementation
• Understanding of GDPR compliance and security best practices
• Ability to refactor existing codebases and manage technical debt
• Experience implementing metrics and analytics systems
• Familiarity with API development and integration
• Problem-solving mindset and ability to work independently
• Passion for social impact and alignment with our mission

Nice to Have

• Portuguese language skills
• Previous experience in a startup or social enterprise
• Experience with CMS migration or building CMS-agnostic applications
• Background in GIS systems and geospatial applications
• Understanding of social impact measurement
• Experience with news or content archives extraction and processing
• Experience mentoring junior developers or interns

Compensation & Benefits

• One-year initial contract, with possibility to transition to a permanent contract at renewal
• Annual compensation of €30, 000 to €40, 000 (gross)
• Compensation growth aligned with company success
• Flexible working arrangements with emphasis on
  - life balance
• Professional development opportunities, including conference attendance and learning new technologies
• Opportunity to make significant social impact through innovative technology
• Access to resources and networks through our incubator and accelerator programs

Technology Innovation Focus

At RUA, you'll tackle interesting technical challenges including:

• Creating a scalable, CMS-agnostic geospatial platform
• Developing innovative ways to visualize and interact with
  - based information
• Building systems that transform data into actionable insights for users
• Designing architecture that can grow with our ambitious expansion plans

Team Culture

We operate in a collaborative environment with several
- aligned partners who specialize in design and user interface. As CTO, you'll work closely with these partners to ensure technical implementation aligns with design vision. Additionally, you'll mentor and guide our technical interns who are eager to learn and contribute to our mission.

Being part of the Rede Rua project and having the chance to work with Callie has been truly inspiring. She brings so much more than just skills,  her collaborative spirit, openness, and creativity make every interaction meaningful and impactful. Callie has a rare gift for turning vision into action while making space for everyone’s voice to be heard. She fosters trust and a sense of
- ownership that makes working together not only effective, but also deeply fulfilling. - Lida Correia (Phi Creative Agency & long time collaborator)Location & Work Arrangement

This position can be remote, with occasional meetings in Portugal preferred but not required. We believe in results rather than hours tracked, offering flexibility to manage your own schedule while meeting project milestones.

How to Apply

Please send your resume, portfolio or examples of previous work, and a brief statement explaining your interest in RUA's mission to Include "CTO Application" in the subject line.

We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

Expected start date: October 2025

Join us in creating technology that doesn't just inform but transforms how people engage with their communities—because cities are about humans, and we want to empower them with the tools to act.