Chief Technology Officer (Deep tech)
Are you looking to join a deep tech start-up that is changing the world for the better?
- Shape the technical roadmap
- Decarbonise the world's infrastructure
- Join an ambitious, high-trust team
Are you looking to join a deep tech start-up that is changing the world for the better? Do you want to own the technical success, taking science from the lab to industrial application? If you're a technical leader who wants to utilise existing forestry to replace petrochemicals, this could be the right opportunity for you.
The mission
Futurity is creating the platform to replace petrochemicals with sustainable wood-based alternatives, starting with LIMA, a lignin-based bitumen modifier that delivers polymer-grade performance while slashing oil dependency. With major trials underway with industry giants, they are moving from pilot stage to industrial scale.
Why join?
This is a career-defining role for a leader looking to build a first-of-its-kind technology in New Zealand and scale it globally.
Futurity is moving from pilot validation to demonstration and commercial deployment. They are looking for a CTO to be the scale-up technical leader, owning the technical success of the company as it transitions to a mill-integrated demonstration plant and beyond.
Who you are
You are a leader who can speak science to our R&D team, and engineering to industrial operators.
If this role excites you, apply now! We understand the sensitivity of senior-level transitions and will handle all inquiries with the utmost confidentiality and discretion.
The mission
Futurity is creating the platform to replace petrochemicals with sustainable wood-based alternatives, starting with LIMA, a lignin-based bitumen modifier that delivers polymer-grade performance while slashing oil dependency. With major trials underway with industry giants, they are moving from pilot stage to industrial scale.
Why join?
This is a career-defining role for a leader looking to build a first-of-its-kind technology in New Zealand and scale it globally.
- Build a global legacy: Shape the technical roadmap for a company on a rapid trajectory.
- Decarbonise the world’s infrastructure: Make a high-stakes impact on the climate by replacing petrochemical bitumen with high-performance, renewable carbon solutions.
- Join an ambitious, high-trust team: Work in a flexible, empowering environment alongside a stellar team that blends deep scientific research with sharp, strategic commercial intelligence.
Futurity is moving from pilot validation to demonstration and commercial deployment. They are looking for a CTO to be the scale-up technical leader, owning the technical success of the company as it transitions to a mill-integrated demonstration plant and beyond.
- Technical scale-up: Lead the transition of all unit operations (separation, conversion, pelletising) from lab and semi-continuous pilot to industrial readiness.
- Drive the road map: Own the technical execution as the company moves from pilot trials to consistent production of ~2 tonnes per month, and eventually to a mill-integrated demo plant.
- Demonstration plant design: Develop the process design basis (PIDs, mass balances, and flow) for plants operating between 2,000 tonnes and 15,000 tonnes.
- IP & future verticals: Protect quality around process conditions and lead R&D into future follow-on products like EV battery anodes and renewable thermosets.
- Stakeholder integration: Act as the technical authority when interfacing with pulp mill partners, VC investors, and global trading houses.
Who you are
You are a leader who can speak science to our R&D team, and engineering to industrial operators.
- Scaling from lab to industry: You have deep experience in chemical engineering, process development, reaction/separation systems, or advanced materials scale‑up, with a track record of taking technologies from lab to pilot and into industrial or demonstration design.
- Diverse industrial background: We are seeking experts from sectors such as Pulp & Paper, Dairy Processing, Oil & Gas, Bio-refining, Industrial Materials, or Food & Wastewater Engineering.
- Operational grit: You are comfortable in creative pilot environments, making rigorous, data-driven decisions under uncertainty.
- Cross-disciplinary literacy and connections: You connect chemistry, process engineering, product performance, IP strategy, and industrial deployment. You build credibility with technical teams, engineering partners, roading contractors, mills, investors and regulators.
- Academic foundation: Practical experience desired. Bonus points for a Masters or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or Materials Science.
If this role excites you, apply now! We understand the sensitivity of senior-level transitions and will handle all inquiries with the utmost confidentiality and discretion.