Senior Developer / CTO Co-Founder (80-100%)

Spatz is an ambitious, AI-driven media startup dedicated to strengthening local communities by building a digital platform for hyperlocal news. We are looking for a hands-on Chief Technology Officer (CTO) who combines strategic thinking with strong technical execution.

Your Role

As our CTO, you will shape the technological direction of Spatz and ensure our products are robust, scalable and user-friendly. You will work closely with the CEO and the product manager on strategic and architectural decisions, while also being the main contributor to the codebase. This is a role for someone who enjoys both thinking ahead and building things themselves.

Your Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the technical architecture of Spatz products
• Build and maintain our digital media platform
• Lead technical decision-making on frameworks, infrastructure, security and scalability
• Ensure high code quality, maintainability and documentation
• Collaborate with product, design, marketing and editors to deliver impactful tools for neighbourhood journalism.
• Evaluate and integrate 3rd party tools where beneficial

What You Bring

• Experience in system architecture and scaling small products into stable platforms
• Solid understanding of our current tech stack:
  • Strong SQL knowledge
  • Proficient in TypeScript or strong JavaScript skills and the ability to pick up TypeScript quickly
  • Solid experience with a modern frontend framework (React, Vue, Angular, Svelte or Solid, we use Solid.)
  • Strong HTML and CSS skills
• Fluent in German and English, French is a plus
• Ability to work in a fast-moving startup environment
• AI experience and mindset (integrating LLM where they make sense)
• Lean startup knowledge and mindset
• Interest in media or publishing products
• Willingness to work on-site in Zurich office for 2+ days per week

Why Join Us

Make an impact. Your work will directly shape the future of news. At Spatz, you have the unique opportunity to build and scale the next generation of a public-interest media. You’ll join a small, motivated team where your decisions truly matter. Spatz offers a flexible, hybrid work set up, with office space in a modern co-working space in Zurich.

Starting date

As soon as possible

Interested?

Get in touch with irene.schlatter@spatz.news