CTO Search.
Technology leadership for the AI era. CTOs who can run modern engineering operations and have a credible take on AI.
What this search actually requires.
The 2026 CTO hire requires AI-era literacy without forcing the CTO into a Head-of-AI role. The candidate has to be able to make build-vs-buy decisions, reason about inference cost, and evaluate model outputs without being dependent on a vendor's sales pitch.
Engaged search is the standard model for senior CTO engagements. The deposit funds the targeted outreach to the passive candidate pool; the balance is owed only on placement. The recruiter assigned has placed CTOs across stage and industry, including AI-native operators.
CTO comp ranges in 2026.
Typical 2026 ranges for the CTO role. Specific comp is benchmarked per engagement against peer companies and the candidate's track record.
- ✓Early-stage / smaller-revenue CTO base: $250,000–$400,000
- ✓Venture-backed Series B–D CTO base: $300,000–$550,000
- ✓PE-backed portfolio company CTO base: $400,000–$700,000
- ✓Equity is typically larger for CTOs than non-engineering executives at the same stage
Five steps, end-to-end.
From kickoff to closed offer, run by the senior specialist you meet on the first call.
Scoping with the CEO, comp philosophy alignment, and AI-era requirements definition
Market mapping across the CTO candidate pool in your stage and stack
Calibrated shortlist with technical credibility verification
Working sessions on a real current technology decision (not hypothetical)
Engineering team deep-dive, reference checks, offer construction, and close
Where the CTO search lives.
The industries where this role profile shows up most often on our desk.
CTO search,
specifically.
The questions hiring leaders ask in the first scoping call.
Tell us the role, the niche, the urgency.
We come back inside one business day with a scoping call, a fee quote, and a candidate market read.