CTO / Lead Software Engineer

Let’s start with what PLANEKS offers:

0. Fast and comfortable hiring process.

1. 100% remote work opportunity and flexitime - choose working hours between 8:00-20:00.

2. Manage your compensation $$$$ budget - Travel tickets, Work equipment, Health insurance, Software, Sport, Training.

3. Salary paid in USD + tax compensation. Revision every 1 year. We want everyone to be confident in what tomorrow brings.

4. Everything to provide a good rest. YES: Paid vacation, national holidays, sick leaves(and support in case of serious diseases). NO: overtime, work on weekends.

5. Regular feedback, mentorship, code review. Friendly and professional team that supports you. Well, we're proud of how we handle that. So you can always count on us.

6. Speaking clubs with a native speaker to constantly maintain your English level.

7. No bureaucracy - transparent processes and flat management. Working remotely means keeping things as simple as possible to work efficiently.

We propose something more significant than a job. PLANEKS means developing a new lifestyle for our colleagues and clients. So take your part in it!


About Project:

Our client is transforming the hospitality industry with innovative solutions that optimize daily operations, enhance transparency, and drive profitability. 
Our flagship product automates tip management, and we’re expanding our suite of tools to streamline every aspect of hospitality operations. 
We’re a fast-growing startup looking for a CTO / Lead Software Engineer to join our team, contribute to our mission, and help scale our platform as we grow.

About the Role:

We’re seeking an experienced Engineer who thrives in dynamic startup environments. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in Python, a proven track record in building and scaling applications with complex third-party integrations, and experience setting up secure and compliant systems (e.g., SOC 2). This role offers the opportunity to shape our technical strategy, work on challenging problems, and play a key role in managing, training and growing our engineering team.

 

Responsibilities:

 

• Design, develop, and optimize our Python-based Django backend systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Build and maintain integrations with external systems, including our Banking as a Service partner, other payment partners, POS systems, Scheduling and Payroll systems, as well as other systems used by hospitality operators.
• Implement and maintain robust security practices to protect sensitive financial data and ensure compliance with SOC 2 standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver features that align with business objectives.
• Establish and maintain CI/CD pipelines to streamline development, testing, and deployment processes.
• Mentor engineers, establish best practices for code quality and reviews, and contribute to a collaborative team culture.
• Lead efforts to refactor and modernize legacy codebases while balancing short-term needs with long-term goals.
• Drive innovation by introducing new tools, technologies, and methodologies that enhance our engineering processes.
  
  What We’re Looking For:

     Technical Expertise:

• Proficiency in Python, with a deep understanding of performance optimization, memory management, and execution speed.
• Experience working with ReactJS on the frontend.
• Solid experience working with Django/DRF, PostgreSQL, Celery, Docker and cloud providers. 
• Experience designing and building scalable systems, including implementing integrations as modular, plugin-like components in monolithic architectures.
• Proven ability to set up and maintain SOC 2-compliant systems, with a focus on fintech or similar domains.
  
  Startup Experience:
• Experience in early-stage startups, including the ability to wear multiple hats and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Demonstrated ability to grow and lead engineering teams.
   

     Problem-Solving & Leadership:

• Strong troubleshooting skills for diagnosing and resolving performance bottlenecks.
• Ability to balance quick wins with long-term architectural improvements.

• Proven track record of driving technical excellence and inspiring a team to achieve ambitious goals.
   

  Security & Compliance:
   

• Experience implementing security audits, compliance checks & deep understanding of security strategies for applications handling sensitive financial data.
  
  Soft Skills:
   
• Excellent communication skills with a collaborative and mentorship-driven mindset.
• A proactive approach to identifying and addressing challenges before they become issues.
  
  
  We are not just looking for specialists but like-minded people and people who are ready to share our values:
   
• The best or nothing - Commitment to delivering tasks with excellence, no matter the challenges.
• Work+life only - Ability to effectively manage your time and meet deadlines in a flexible schedule. Skill in working autonomously while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Happy customers - Ability to understand client business needs and find optimal technical solutions to meet them.
• Speak the truth and face the facts - Openness in communication and the ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Responsibility as a privilege - Ability to take ownership of your tasks, prioritize independently, and initiate ideas.
• Profit as a resource - Understanding how your work contributes to client business goals and helps them achieve success.
• Forward and upward - Desire to continuously improve your technical and soft skills,  openness to new experience, technologies, and approaches in your work.