CTO - Technical Development Leadership

We are looking for a CTO to lead the development and industrialization of our SOEC technology, with our 2028 go-to-market in sight. Our roadmap is demanding and clearly defined: we will be scaling our technology by orders of magnitude over the coming years, going through several validation milestones, design freeze and end of development before reaching the market. The new CTO will join at a critical moment along that path: not at the very beginning, where everything is exploration, nor at the very end, where everything is execution, but at the point where scientific rigor and industrial discipline must coexist every day.

We are looking for someone capable of combining two things that rarely come together: the scientific rigor to solve the technological challenges still ahead of us in MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), Stack and Balance of Plant, and the discipline of New Product Introduction to bring the technology from the lab to the industrial product. You will have three direct reports leading the MEA, Stack and BoP areas: people with judgment, autonomy and deep knowledge of their field. Your challenge will not be to build the team from scratch, but to take it to the next level: aligning them around the roadmap, professionalizing the way we develop product, and building, together with them, the technical culture with which Kerionics will reach the market. Nor is this a role for silent execution. We are looking for someone capable of acting as the CEO's technical right hand: bringing top-level judgment, following the defined strategy and, when necessary, challenging it with arguments when you believe something has been wrongly decided. You will report to the CEO, but we expect from you the professional maturity to co-build with him, not just to execute. That technical honesty is part of the job.

Why this role matters (and what's in it for you)

• Technical leadership of a European deeptech scale-up. You will lead the development of one of the most efficient technologies on the market for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries. Few roles allow this much technical, commercial and environmental impact at the same time.
• A solid team and a project with real backing. Although we are not yet in a commercial phase, Kerionics already has financial backing from deeptech-specialized funds such as InnoEnergy, top-tier industrial and scientific partners, and participation in strategic European projects. We are in a moment of active growth, opening new conversations with private investors to support the next phase of development. You join a project with clear direction, a consolidated team and a defined path to market.
• A real voice in strategy. You are not just another report: you are part of the management committee that sets the direction of the company. You take part in strategic and investment decisions, and we expect you to challenge whatever needs to be challenged. You will report to the CEO, but your technical opinion carries weight in shaping where Kerionics is heading.
• A real transition to market. In just a few years, you will live the full cycle: from prototype to product, from lab to industrial plant, from first customer to deployment.

What you will do

Your mission is to lead Kerionics' technical development and ensure we reach 2028 with an industrializable, reliable and competitive product.

Product development leadership

• You will lead the cross-functional technical development of our SOEC technology, integrating progress across the MEA, Stack and BoP areas into a coherent product vision.
• You will ensure that the development process follows a New Product Introduction (NPI) logic, with clear stage gates, defined technical pass/fail criteria and traceability of decisions.
• You will lead the transition from R&D to industrialization, maintaining the scientific rigor that the product needs at each phase.

Team and technical culture

• You will directly lead the MEA, Stack and BoP managers, supporting their priorities and unblocking what they need to move forward.
• You will build a technical culture grounded in data, intellectual honesty and accountability for results.
• You will play an active role in technical hiring decisions and in the professional development of your team.

Solving critical technical problems

• You will provide top-level technical judgment on the open challenges of the product.
• You will lead decision-making on problems that affect more than one area (MEA-Stack interfaces, Stack-BoP integration, system thermal behavior).
• You will make technical decisions with incomplete data when context demands it.

Technology strategy and partnership with the CEO

• You will be the technical reference in the management committee, taking an active part in shaping the strategic direction of the company.
• You will support the CEO on technical decisions that go beyond his own field of expertise, offering honest judgment even when it contradicts what was previously defined.
• You will represent Kerionics before technology partners, research centers, investors and industrial customers whenever technical depth is needed.

Industrialization and quality

• You will coordinate with the Industrial Project Manager on the product aspects that affect the design of our future industrial plant.
• You will work closely with the Quality & Testing Manager (who reports to the CEO) to ensure that validation criteria are aligned with the technical reality of the product.

How we work

We work on-site at our facilities in Parque Tecnológico de Paterna (Valencia), very close to the product: lab, workshop, prototypes and test benches. In this role, that closeness matters even more: technical decisions are made with the product right in front of you.

We usually start early (around 7:30), which lets us enjoy our evenings for sports, family or whatever you prefer. We deeply believe in work-life balance, and our extended holiday policy reflects that. Our eNPS of 62.5, well above the "acceptable" range (0-30), reflects the commitment, engagement and sense of belonging of a team united by a shared mission.

What we are looking for

Must-haves

• Advanced degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Materials, Energy) or Materials Science / Chemistry. A PhD will be highly valued.
• Relevant experience in high-temperature electrochemical systems, with at least 5 years of knowledge in SOEC, SOFC, fuel cells or equivalent technologies.
• At least 3 years of experience leading product development from R&D toward industrialization (TRL advancement, stage gates, NPI or similar processes).
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Solid knowledge of at least one of the three pillars of the product: MEA and high-temperature ceramic materials, stack design and validation, or Balance of Plant in complex energy systems. We don't expect equivalent depth in all three, but we do expect the ability to hold demanding technical conversations across all of them.
• Fluent English (oral and written), professional level for technical discussions and external representation of the company.
• Availability to relocate to Valencia within a maximum of 2-3 months. We value individual cases: if you need more time due to family circumstances, let's talk.
• Valid work permit for Spain.

We are looking for someone who…

• Has the technical judgment to say no to a good project when it doesn't fit the strategy, and to say yes to a hard project when the evidence supports it.
• Knows how to operate under uncertainty, making decisions with incomplete data without falling into paralysis or improvisation.

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• Is capable of challenging the CEO with arguments when needed, while always remaining loyal to the agreed strategy.
• Combines scientific rigor with industrial sense of urgency: understands that the best technical product is worthless if it doesn't reach the market on time.
• Leads through context and example, not through micromanagement.
• Stays hands-on when needed: not afraid to get into the technical detail with the team, while always thinking two steps ahead and anticipating what's coming next.
• Stays current with developments in AI and integrates them critically into their professional work, both as a thinking partner and as a tool to accelerate technical and team productivity.
• Has the professional maturity to join an already formed team and earn its trust through knowledge and respect, not through hierarchy.

Not required, but you'll surprise us if you also…

• Have previous experience as a CTO, VP of R&D or Head of Technology in a deeptech scale-up.
• Have lived through a complete industrial scale-up process (from TRL 5-6 to TRL 8-9) in electrochemical, energy or advanced materials technologies.
• Have experience in Kerionics' target industrial sectors (steel, cement, petrochemicals, ceramics, glass, paper) or have worked on industrial decarbonization projects.

What we offer

• €70-80K gross per year, depending on experience and fit.
• Variable bonus of up to 25% of the fixed salary, tied to company and area objectives.
• Stock option plan. Details to be discussed during the process.
• Relocation support package for candidates moving to Valencia.
• 22 working days of holiday plus the Christmas period.
• The opportunity to lead the technical development of one of the most promising technologies for industrial decarbonization in Europe.
• A direct voice in the management committee and in shaping the strategic direction of the company.
• An already-formed technical team, with consolidated managers and a clear roadmap toward 2028.
• Cross-learning sessions across teams: you'll learn from your team and share what you know.
• Annual training budget tailored to your needs.
• Enrichment through the cultural diversity of our team: you'll work alongside people from India, the UK, France, Pakistan, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador…
• Every Friday, from 11:00 to 12:00, we break the routine and share a good Valencian esmorzaret. A moment to disconnect, laugh and celebrate the small wins of the week.
• A direct contribution to industrial decarbonization through the most efficient SOEC technology on the market.