Chief Technology Officer
hace 4 días
Valencia
ppWe are looking for a CTO to lead the development and industrialization of our SOEC technology, with our 2028 go-to-market in sight. Our roadmap is demanding and clearly defined: we will be scaling our technology by orders of magnitude over the coming years, going through several validation milestones, design freeze and end of development before reaching the market. The new CTO will join at a critical moment along that path: not at the very beginning, where everything is exploration, nor at the very end, where everything is execution, but at the point where scientific rigor and industrial discipline must coexist every day. /p pWe are looking for someone capable of combining two things that rarely come together: the scientific rigor to solve the technological challenges still ahead of us in MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), Stack and Balance of Plant, and the discipline of New Product Introduction to bring the technology from the lab to the industrial product. You will have three direct reports leading the MEA, Stack and BoP areas: people with judgment, autonomy and deep knowledge of their field. Your challenge will not be to build the team from scratch, but to take it to the next level: aligning them around the roadmap, professionalizing the way we develop product, and building, together with them, the technical culture with which Kerionics will reach the market. Nor is this a role for silent execution. We are looking for someone capable of bacting as the CEO's technical right hand /b: bringing top-level judgment, following the defined strategy and, when necessary, challenging it with arguments when you believe something has been wrongly decided. You will report to the CEO, but we expect from you the professional maturity to co-build with him, not just to execute. That technical honesty is part of the job. /p h3Why this role matters (and what's in it for you) /h3 ul libTechnical leadership of a European deeptech scale-up. /b You will lead the development of one of the most efficient technologies on the market for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries. Few roles allow this much technical, commercial and environmental impact at the same time. /li libA solid team and a project with real backing. /b Although we are not yet in a commercial phase, Kerionics already has financial backing from deeptech-specialized funds such as InnoEnergy, top-tier industrial and scientific partners, and participation in strategic European projects. We are in a moment of active growth, opening new conversations with private investors to support the next phase of development. You join a project with clear direction, a consolidated team and a defined path to market. /li libA real voice in strategy. /b You are not just another report: you are part of the management committee that sets the direction of the company. You take part in strategic and investment decisions, and we expect you to challenge whatever needs to be challenged. You will report to the CEO, but your technical opinion carries weight in shaping where Kerionics is heading. /li libA real transition to market. /b In just a few years, you will live the full cycle: from prototype to product, from lab to industrial plant, from first customer to deployment. /li /ul h3What you will do /h3 pYour mission is to lead Kerionics' technical development and ensure we reach 2028 with an industrializable, reliable and competitive product. /p ul liYou will lead the cross-functional technical development of our SOEC technology, integrating progress across the MEA, Stack and BoP areas into a coherent product vision. /li liYou will ensure that the development process follows a New Product Introduction (NPI) logic, with clear stage gates, defined technical pass/fail criteria and traceability of decisions. /li liYou will lead the transition from RD to industrialization, maintaining the scientific rigor that the product needs at each phase. /li /ul h3Team and technical culture /h3 ul liYou will directly lead the MEA, Stack and BoP managers, supporting their priorities and unblocking what they need to move forward. /li liYou will build a technical culture grounded in data, intellectual honesty and accountability for results. /li liYou will play an active role in technical hiring decisions and in the professional development of your team. /li /ul h3Solving critical technical problems /h3 ul liYou will provide top-level technical judgment on the open challenges of the product. /li liYou will lead decision-making on problems that affect more than one area (MEA-Stack interfaces, Stack-BoP integration, system thermal behavior). /li liYou will make technical decisions with incomplete data when context demands it. /li /ul h3Technology strategy and partnership with the CEO /h3 ul liYou will be the technical reference in the management committee, taking an active part in shaping the strategic direction of the company. /li liYou will support the CEO on technical decisions that go beyond his own field of expertise, offering honest judgment even when it contradicts what was previously defined. /li liYou will represent Kerionics before technology partners, research centers, investors and industrial customers whenever technical depth is needed. /li /ul h3Industrialization and quality /h3 ul liYou will coordinate with the Industrial Project Manager on the product aspects that affect the design of our future industrial plant. /li liYou will work closely with the Quality Testing Manager (who reports to the CEO) to ensure that validation criteria are aligned with the technical reality of the product. /li /ul h3How we work /h3 pWe work bon‑site /b at our facilities in Parque Tecnológico de Paterna (Valencia), very close to the product: lab, workshop, prototypes and test benches. In this role, that closeness matters even more: technical decisions are made with the product right in front of you. /p pWe usually start early (around 7:30), which lets us enjoy our evenings for sports, family or whatever you prefer. We deeply believe in bwork‑life balance /b, and our extended holiday policy reflects that. Our eNPS of 62.5, well above the "acceptable" range (0-30), reflects the commitment, engagement and sense of belonging of a team united by a shared mission. /p h3What we are looking for /h3 h3Must‑haves /h3 ul liAdvanced degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Materials, Energy) or Materials Science / Chemistry. A PhD will be highly valued. /li liRelevant experience in high‑temperature electrochemical systems, with at least b5 years /b of knowledge in SOEC, SOFC, fuel cells or equivalent technologies. /li liAt least b3 years /b of experience leading product development from RD toward industrialization (TRL advancement, stage gates, NPI or similar processes). /li liExperience leading multidisciplinary technical teams. /li liSolid knowledge of at least one of the three pillars of the product: MEA and high‑temperature ceramic materials, stack design and validation, or Balance of Plant in complex energy systems. We don't expect equivalent depth in all three, but we do expect the ability to hold demanding technical conversations across all of them. /li liFluent English (oral and written), professional level for technical discussions and external representation of the company. /li liAvailability to relocate to Valencia within a maximum of 2‑3 months. We value individual cases: if you need more time due to family circumstances, let's talk. /li liValid work permit for Spain. /li /ul h3We are looking for someone who… /h3 ul liHas the technical judgment to say no to a good project when it doesn't fit the strategy, and to say yes to a hard project when the evidence supports it. /li liKnows how to operate under uncertainty, making decisions with incomplete data without falling into paralysis or improvisation. /li liIs capable of challenging the CEO with arguments when needed, while always remaining loyal to the agreed strategy. /li liCombines scientific rigor with industrial sense of urgency: understands that the best technical product is worthless if it doesn't reach the market on time. /li liLeads through context and example, not through micromanagement. /li liStays hands‑on when needed: not afraid to get into the technical detail with the team, while always thinking two steps ahead and anticipating what's coming next. /li liStays current with developments in AI and integrates them critically into their professional work, both as a thinking partner and as a tool to accelerate technical and team productivity. /li liHas the professional maturity to join an already formed team and earn its trust through knowledge and respect, not through hierarchy. /li /ul h3Not required, but you'll surprise us if you also… /h3 ul liHave previous experience as a CTO, VP of RD or Head of Technology in a deeptech scale‑up. /li liHave lived through a complete industrial scale‑up process (from TRL 5‑6 to TRL 8‑9) in electrochemical, energy or advanced materials technologies. /li liHave experience in Kerionics' target industrial sectors (steel, cement, petrochemicals, ceramics, glass, paper) or have worked on industrial decarbonization projects. /li /ul h3What we offer /h3 ul lib€70‑80K /b gross per year, depending on experience and fit. /li libVariable bonus /b of up to 25% of the fixed salary, tied to company and area objectives. /li libStock option plan /b. Details to be discussed during the process. /li liRelocation support package for candidates moving to Valencia. /li li22 working days of holiday plus the Christmas period. /li liThe opportunity to lead the technical development of one of the most promising technologies for industrial decarbonization in Europe. /li liA direct voice in the management committee and in shaping the strategic direction of the company. /li liAn already‑formed technical team, with consolidated managers and a clear roadmap toward 2028. /li liCross‑learning sessions across teams: you'll learn from your team and share what you know. /li liAnnual training budget tailored to your needs. /li liEnrichment through the cultural diversity of our team: you'll work alongside people from India, the UK, France, Pakistan, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador… /li liEvery Friday, from 11:00 to 12:00, we break the routine and share a good Valencian esmorzaret. A moment to disconnect, laugh and celebrate the small wins of the week. /li liA direct contribution to industrial decarbonization through the most efficient SOEC technology on the market. /li /ul /p #J-18808-Ljbffr