About this role
About the CompanyShega is building Africa’s and Emerging Markets Leading Intelligence Platform — a product that enables decision-makers across business, finance, and development sectors to access trustworthy, contextual, and AI-powered data and insights. Think of it as a Bloomberg + Palantir, purpose-built for Africa and other emerging markets.
We operate at the intersection of data, media, and intelligence. Our platform combines:
Clean, standardized economic and business data
AI-powered tools for querying, forecasting, and interpreting trends
A real-time content engine that contextualizes market events and news
We're backed by trusted partners (e.g., Gates Foundation) and work with leading Companies, DFIs, investors, and startups. This is a chance to build core infrastructure for how the continent and beyond make decisions.
Why This Role Matters Africa is experiencing a data and decision-making revolution — but existing solutions are fragmented, outdated, or not built for the unique challenges of low-resource, complex economies. We need a CTO who can imagine, design, and build a world-class AI and data infrastructure for the continent and beyond.
This is not just a “VP of Engineering” role. As CTO, you’ll shape Shega’s technical DNA, lead the architecture and AI roadmap, and build the team and systems that power a scalable, intelligence-first platform from the ground up.
Key Responsibilities
1. Technical Leadership
Design and own the technical architecture of the platform, including ingestion, processing, and delivery of structured and unstructured data (APIs, NLP, dashboards, chat, etc.)
Lead the development of AI and ML infrastructure to power natural language querying, forecasting, and anomaly detection
Oversee real-time intelligence systems, data cleaning pipelines, and personalization engines
Ensure robust, scalable, and secure infrastructure for both enterprise and mid-market use
2. Product Collaboration
Work closely with the CEO and product team to co-create the platform’s core functionality and roadmap
Design for usability, extensibility, and low-bandwidth / low-resource environments
Champion experimentation, iteration, and smart MVP thinking
3. Team Building & Culture
Hire and mentor a top-tier engineering and data science team
Create clear processes for execution, QA, deployment, and learning
Cultivate a culture of excellence, pragmatism, and long-term thinking
4. Strategic & External Engagement
Collaborate with institutional partners and clients on technical integration or bespoke deployments
Represent Shega in technical partnerships, speaking engagements, and conferences as needed
Shape Shega’s AI and ethical data governance principles
Who You Are You don’t just write code — you think like a builder, strategist, and long-term owner. You’ve seen what great looks like and want to build systems that last, especially in underserved but high-potential contexts like Africa or similar emerging markets
Must-Have Skills 8+ years of experience in software engineering, with 3+ in a technical leadership role
Experience with AI/ML systems, particularly in NLP, time-series forecasting, or knowledge graph architecture
Deep experience in building scalable, cloud-based data infrastructure (ETL, analytics engines, APIs)
Comfortable working in ambiguous, zero-to-one environments
Strong written and verbal communication skills — you translate complexity clearly
BonusExperience in emerging markets or building for Africa
Familiarity with business decisions on low-resource language models or inclusive tech design
Prior founder, early-stage startup, or product-technical hybrid experience
Research publications, patents, open-source contributions, or community leadership in the AI/data space
What We Offer A unique opportunity to define the data infrastructure of an entire continent
High ownership, zero bureaucracy, and direct access to mission-critical decision-making
Competitive salary and founder-level equity
Backed by serious partners but moving with startup speed