Chief Technology Officer - Retail | Ecommerce

We are seeking a forward-thinking, execution-driven Chief Technology Officer to lead the technology vision and operational excellence for our fast-growing retail and e-commerce/DTC company. This executive will oversee all engineering functions, IT operations, digital platforms, and project management—while building and executing a strategic roadmap that supports aggressive growth, omnichannel expansion, and a modern, scalable tech infrastructure. The ideal candidate is both a strategic architect and a hands-on leader who understands retail complexity, e-commerce acceleration, and the demands of high-volume digital transactions. They know how to build world-class teams, modernize tech stacks, optimize system integrations, and translate business goals into technical execution. This role requires a leader who has scaled technology at a high-growth brand, managed full-stack engineering teams, and has the courage to rebuild, optimize, and innovate across an entire digital ecosystem. Key Responsibilities Technology Strategy & Roadmap Build and lead a multi-year technology roadmap that supports aggressive retail and DTC growth. Champion digital innovation across e-commerce, mobile, in-store technology, loyalty, POS, and customer experience. Identify tech gaps, vulnerabilities, and modernization opportunities—then execute. Partner with Executive Leadership to align technical initiatives with business goals and revenue targets. Engineering Leadership Lead and mentor high-performing engineering teams across front-end, back-end, platform, and QA. Implement engineering best practices, code quality standards, sprint discipline, and scalable development processes. Drive architectural decisions, automation, systems design, and software reliability. Evaluate build vs buy decisions for platforms, integrations, and new tools. IT & Infrastructure Ownership Oversee all IT operations, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and internal systems. Build a secure, reliable, high-uptime environment across retail stores and digital operations. Manage data architecture, integrations, cloud environments, and hardware/software procurement. E-Commerce & Digital Product Own the technical performance of the DTC e-commerce platform and all connected systems. Improve site speed, stability, conversion, personalization, and user experience. Drive innovation around checkout, payments, fulfillment, inventory visibility, and omni-channel experiences. Partner with Marketing and Operations to support rapid traffic growth and campaign load. Project Management & Execution Lead the PMO (Project Management Office) to ensure flawless execution of tech initiatives. Prioritize cross-functional projects with clear timelines, resource plans, and success metrics. Ensure on-time delivery of technology enhancements, integrations, and new builds. Implement agile methodologies that support continuous improvement. Vendor & Partner Management Oversee all external tech vendors, agencies, contractors, and platform partners. Negotiate contracts, evaluate vendor performance, and ensure alignment with strategy. Manage enterprise systems including ERP, CRM, POS, CMS, WMS, loyalty, and marketing tech. Qualifications 10+ years in technology leadership, including 5+ years leading engineering teams. Experience in retail, e-commerce, DTC, CPG, or scalable consumer brands required. Proven track record modernizing tech stacks and leading digital transformation. Deep understanding of: Full-stack development Cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) E-commerce platforms (Shopify Plus, Magento, custom builds, etc.) Integrations (ERP, POS, OMS, CRM, WMS) Data architecture and security Strong background in IT, cybersecurity, and enterprise systems. Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills. Ability to balance innovation with operational excellence. Experience building and scaling teams in a high-growth environment. What Success Looks Like Modern, scalable tech stack capable of supporting rapid retail and e-commerce expansion. High-performing engineering, IT, and PMO teams working in sync. Faster development cycles, cleaner releases, and consistent on-time delivery. A secure, stable, high-uptime environment across all digital and physical operations. Dramatic improvements in site performance, traffic capacity, and conversion. Clear communication, transparency, and alignment between technology and the rest of the business. A digital foundation that becomes a competitive advantage—not a bottleneck.