Head of Technology Support

Chief Technical Officer (Aerospace & Uncrewed Systems)
FireSwarm Solutions Inc (FireSwarm) is developing advanced aerial systems focused on autonomous, ultra heavy-lift drone operations for wildfire suppression and related emergency response and logistics applications. Our work spans embedded systems, robotics, autonomy, and cloud-enabled coordination, operating in safety-critical, defense-adjacent environments where reliability, security, and execution matter.
We are entering a growth phase and are seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to provide deep technical leadership across hardware, software, and systems architecture, while enabling faster, more sustainable execution across the organization.
At FireSwarm, we are committed to building and sustaining a culture where everyone feels welcomed, supported, and empowered to contribute their fullest potential. Our clients and partners span the globe, reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve. We recognize that our approach is an ongoing journey and continue to learn, listen, and act with intention as we develop transformative technologies that make a meaningful impact.
You are a builder and leader who thrives at the intersection of long-term technical vision and near-term execution. This is a deliberately hybrid role combining CTO and VP Engineering responsibilities, suited to someone who knows how to build technology from the ground up and guide it forward. You can see technology to the horizon while staying focused on what must be delivered today, operate confidently in ambiguity, and have an appetite for calculated risk in safety-critical environments. You are comfortable working within a company at its earliest stages of growth and bring at least five years of CTO-level experience spanning both hardware and software systems, with the ability to bridge executives, engineers, customers, and investors to turn vision into field-ready reality.
The CTO will be responsible for the technical vision, architecture, and execution of FireSwarm’s drone platform and supporting systems. This role is hands-on and pragmatic: defining technical direction, guiding implementation, and building a strong engineering culture that can scale.
This role will require strong communication skills and someone who can bridge executives, engineers, customers, and investors. he CTO will work in close partnership with Product, Cybersecurity, and Operations to ensure that FireSwarm delivers robust, secure, and field-ready systems aligned with customer, regulatory, and operational realities.
Technical Leadership & Architecture
Autonomy, control, and mission software
Ground control and operator tooling
Cloud and data systems (where applicable)
Make informed trade-offs between performance, safety, maintainability, and speed
Establish and evolve technical standards, patterns, and documentation
Lead and mentor hardware and software engineering teams
Drive development practices appropriate for hardware-software co-development
Ensure predictable delivery through clear technical planning, sequencing, and risk management
Participate directly in design and implementation where needed, especially in early stages Systems
Reliability, Safety, and Quality
Support safety, quality, and certification-adjacent efforts in regulated / defense-oriented environments
Collaborate closely on cybersecurity and secure-by-design principles across the stack
Support customer engagements, technical due diligence, and partner discussions as needed
Assist the executive team with technical decision-making, hiring, and scaling strategy.
Other related leadership, technical and strategic responsibilities as required to support the company’s growth and operations.
Strong background in drone technology, spanning both hardware and software
Hands-on experience with on-board / embedded software systems (real-time, safety-critical, or robotics-adjacent)
Comfort and demonstrated experience working within agile product development environments, including iterative delivery under uncertainty
Ability to lead technical architecture while remaining practically involved in execution
Must live in Canada in either Ottawa region or Vancouver
Experience with drone swarming or multi-vehicle coordination
Familiarity with ArduPilot and/or Veronte (or comparable flight-control ecosystems)
Experience designing or building cloud-based systems that integrate with edge or embedded platforms
Background in autonomy, robotics, or advanced control systems
Experience scaling engineering teams from early-stage to growth-stage organizations
Expected salary range for this role is CAD $140,000 to $170,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, and overall fit for the role. Compensation may also include stock options and other benefits, which will be discussed during the interview process. Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter to ***email_hidden*** outlining your experience leading technical teams and complex systems, your approach to scaling technology from prototype to real-world deployment, along with why the mission of FireSwarm Solutions resonates with you. Use gender-neutral, inclusive language.]