Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Aviation Technology Scale-Up | Europe (Spain preferred)

A high-growth aviation technology scale-up is appointing a hands-on Chief Technology Officer to lead the business through a critical phase of rapid expansion and technology transformation across global airline and airport programmes.

This is a doer–leader role for a CTO who combines deep technical credibility with enterprise-grade delivery and a consultative commercial mindset.

Europe-based, with Spain strongly preferred. Relocation support available.

The opportunity

The business is scaling quickly and competing in a demanding aviation technology market. The CTO will play a central role in re-engineering both technology and delivery, while supporting new business growth alongside BAU commitments.

You will remain close to the detail — able to understand all areas of the technology, challenge architectural decisions, and step in when required — while setting the direction and raising standards across the organisation.

What you’ll own

• End-to-end technology leadership across software engineering, architecture, DevOps, SRE, QA, infrastructure, and release management, with an enterprise delivery mindset
• Driving process and technology re-engineering, formalising structure, delivery governance, and enterprise interfaces as the company scales
• Supporting new business growth alongside BAU delivery, operating in a consultative and commercially aware way
• Leading a next-generation platform build as part of a wider technology transformation
• Restructuring teams and layers to remove overload, improve ways of working, and lift energy — without micromanagement
• Rebalancing a Globally unbalanced team footprint.
• Strong people leadership, including managing developers in an AI-enabled engineering environment, maximising productivity and quality through effective use of AI

What we’re looking for

• Proven CTO or senior technology leadership experience within a rapidly scaling product or platform business (Airline experience Essential).
• Or a Senior Product Leader, Head of Architecture, Head of Release, or Head of Software Delivery ready to step into a CTO role
• Deep understanding of modern software engineering and delivery at enterprise scale
• Aviation technology experience is essential — airline, airport, or vendor-side environments. Offer/ Order or NDC very much appreciated.
• Experience competing in a tough, high-stakes aviation technology market
• Background in organisations that have undergone rapid scale and platform transformation strongly preferred
• Confident, resilient leader who can balance urgency, quality, and commercial outcomes

This is a rare opportunity to shape the technology strategy and delivery engine of a growing aviation tech business at a pivotal moment in its journey.

For a confidential conversation:

Thornton Gregory

📧 [email protected]

📞 +44 (0) 7916 175 390

🌐 www.thorntongregory.com