CTO – PHD - Photonics / Optics / Laser Industry

CTO – Photonics / Optics / Laser Industry

An innovative deep-tech company developing advanced optical and laser-based technologies is seeking a CTO to lead the company's technology vision, research direction and technological innovation.

This is a highly technical leadership role for an industry expert who is passionate about solving complex, open-ended technological problems at the research level and turning scientific insights into breakthrough technologies and working systems.

The CTO will be deeply involved in the most challenging technical problems, working across optics, photonics, laser systems, physics, electro-optics, algorithms and optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the company's technology vision, architecture and long-term technology roadmap
• Lead research and innovation in optics, photonics and laser-based technologies
• Personally engage in solving complex and fundamental technological challenges
• Identify new physical principles, technical approaches and architectures that can address challenging system requirements
• Lead and guide experimental research, optical design, modeling, simulations, measurements and characterization
• Bridge fundamental physics, optical experiments and practical technology development
• Lead multidisciplinary technical efforts across optics, photonics, laser systems, electro-optics, physics and algorithms
• Drive the transition from research concepts to validated technological solutions and working systems
• Evaluate technical feasibility, performance, limitations and trade-offs of different approaches
• Define and maintain the company's technological differentiation and competitive advantage
• Work closely with R&D and engineering teams to resolve critical technical challenges
• Maintain a deep understanding of the Photonics / Optics / Laser ecosystem, emerging technologies and competitive landscape
• Support the definition of solutions for complex customer and application requirements

Requirements

• PhD in Experimental Physics, Applied Physics, Electro-Optics, Optics, Photonics or a closely related field from a leading university or research institution
• 7+ years of senior technology leadership experience within the Photonics / Optics / Laser industry
• Proven track record of leading technological innovation and solving complex, open-ended R&D problems
• Deep hands-on experience with optical experiments, laboratory systems, measurements and characterization
• Proven experience developing optical devices, laser systems, photonic components or complex electro-optical systems
• Strong understanding of optical physics, laser technologies and electro-optical systems
• Ability to move between theoretical analysis, experimentation, modeling and practical system development
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical/R&D teams
• Strong analytical and scientific problem-solving capabilities
• Experience with algorithms, optimization, numerical methods or computational modeling – an advantage
• Strong product and technology orientation
• Excellent communication and English skills

Ideal Profile

A deep technical expert and technology leader who has spent significant time solving difficult problems in the Photonics / Optics / Laser industry and has demonstrated the ability to turn research and scientific insight into innovative technological solutions.

The ideal candidate combines scientific depth, experimental expertise, creativity and technological leadership with the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams toward solving problems that do not have obvious solutions.