Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Location: Pittsburgh, PA (in-person) Company: Shelfmark, Inc. About Shelfmark Shelfmark is building the next generation of industrial intelligence systems—combining computer vision, machine learning, and productized hardware to detect defects in real time across high-speed manufacturing environments. Our systems operate in some of the most demanding production settings in the world, where milliseconds and microns matter. We imagine a future where continuously flow manufacturing – which accounts for 30% of all global manufacturing – is automated end-to-end, with Shelfmark at the center. The Role We are hiring our first Chief Technology Officer to lead Shelfmark’s technical organization through its next phase of growth. This is a hands-on executive role responsible for architecting, building, and scaling a deeply integrated system and team spanning hardware, firmware, software, and machine learning. You will own the technical vision and execution of the company, ensuring that Shelfmark’s platform evolves into a robust, scalable, and category-defining product. This role requires a rare combination: systems-level thinking, comfort with real-world industrial constraints, and experience scaling teams and products from early-stage to production at meaningful revenue. The appropriate candidate will also be comfortable in steel toed boots, working side by side with our customers on the factory floor. What You’ll Do Technical Leadership & Architecture - Define and own Shelfmark’s end-to-end technical architecture across: - Vision systems (cameras, optics, encoders, lighting) - Edge compute and firmware - Real-time data pipelines and software platform - Machine learning models and deployment infrastructure - Make critical productization and scalability decisions on hardware and software components and implementation - Ensure system reliability at industrial speeds (e.g., high line speeds, high-resolution inspection) Team Building & Scaling - Build and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary engineering team across: - Computer vision / ML - Embedded systems / firmware - Full-stack / backend software - Hardware / systems engineering - Recruit top-tier talent and establish a strong engineering culture - Implement processes that enable speed without sacrificing quality, including a robust AI-driven development strategy built for scale Operational Excellence - Own system performance in real-world deployments (uptime, accuracy, latency) - Build infrastructure for remote monitoring, diagnostics, and continuous improvement - Develop scalable deployment and implementation frameworks across customer sites Strategic Leadership - Serve as a key member of the executive team - Contribute to fundraising, investor discussions, and technical diligence - Help define the long-term vision of Shelfmark as a category leader in industrial AI What We’re Looking For Experience - 10+ years in engineering, with significant leadership experience - Prior experience as a senior technical leader (VP Eng, CTO, or equivalent) at a startup or high-growth company - Proven track record of taking a complex technical product from early stage to scaled deployment - Experience in at least two of the following domains, and strong familiarity with the others: - Computer vision / machine learning - Embedded systems / firmware - Industrial hardware systems (cameras, sensors, automation) - Scalable software platforms Technical Depth - Strong systems thinker who can operate across the full stack—from photons to cloud - Experience with real-time systems and high-throughput data environments - Familiarity with off-the-shelf vision hardware (e.g., industrial cameras, lenses, lighting) - Experience deploying ML models in production, especially at the edge Leadership & Mindset - Builder mentality: willing to go from whiteboard → prototype → production - High ownership and accountability - Ability to operate in ambiguity and move quickly - Strong communicator who can bridge technical and non-technical stakeholders Bonus Points - Experience in manufacturing, industrial automation, or inspection systems - Experience with line-scan or high-speed imaging systems - Background working with PLCs or industrial control systems - Prior experience scaling a company from $1M to $10M+ in revenue Compensation - Competitive salary - Meaningful equity ownership - Opportunity to define and lead the technical foundation of the company