Context — the Software Heritage Initiative

Embark on an extraordinary journey with Software Heritage, a visionary non-profit initiative launched by Inria in partnership with UNESCO. Since its inception in 2016, Software Heritage has been building the universal archive of source code, a modern Library of Alexandria for software. The Software Heritage archive houses 20 billion source code files and 4 billion commits from over 300 million software development projects, providing a unique platform for groundbreaking applications in Open Science, AI, and Cybersecurity.

Hosted by Fondation Inria, Software Heritage is a non-profit initiative committed to the values of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Supported by more than 20 sponsors and partners, including CEA, CNRS, Intel, Microsoft, Société Générale, prestigious universities, and public actors, Software Heritage is committed to preserving the software commons for future generations.

Position Overview

Due to organizational changes and our current Chief Technology Officer (CTO) transitioning to a research-oriented position, we are seeking an experienced and visionary CTO to drive the technological vision of Software Heritage and lead our technical staff in its mission. The CTO will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our complex infrastructure and will be instrumental in advancing our capabilities in managing and analyzing vast amounts of data.
The successful candidate will oversee all technical aspects of Software Heritage, ensuring technological and human resources are aligned with the initiative’s needs and goals. As a member of the management team, the CTO will report directly to the CEO.

Responsibilities

Lead Architect

• Vision: Ensure the technical coherence of the project through an overarching vision.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement the technical strategy of Software Heritage, ensuring it aligns with the initiative’s mission, open source and open science values, as well as fundraising targets. Work closely with management, product owners, and marketing to understand strategic challenges, provide technological insights for short and long-term planning and define roadmap priorities.
• Product Development: Oversee the technical development of Software Heritage services to ensure they meet stakeholders’ needs and leverage technological advancements. Ensure stability and scalability of the Software Heritage platform. Define product and service specifications in line with users’ needs, and stakeholders’ requirements.
• Innovation and Technological Watch: Conduct continuous research on industry trends, evaluating and introducing new technologies to improve overall efficiency and stability, drive innovation and manage technical debt.

Team Leadership and Management

• Leadership: Lead, mentor, and manage Software Heritage’s development and operations teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
• Resource Management: Manage people and resources to ensure effective project execution and a positive work environment.

Qualifications

• Educational Background: Master or PhD degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. A business management degree or equivalent experience is a plus.
• Experience: Proven experience as either CTO or in a similar leadership role within a technology-driven organization.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of technology trends and their application to drive business goals.
• Leadership Skills: Excellent leadership and organizational abilities with strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Resource Management: Experience in resource allocation and project management.
• Communication: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

Technology Stack

The following technologies are part of the daily life of our technical teams:

• Operating System: GNU/Linux
• Programming Languages: Python (primarily), Rust (growing)
• System Administration: Debian, Puppet, Kubernetes
• Data: Postgres, Ceph, Cassandra, Kafka

Experience in a relevant subset of these technologies would be a significant plus.

Work conditions

You will be hired on a permanent contract by the Fondation Inria, which hosts the Software Heritage Foundation, and will be integrated into the Software Heritage team, whose offices are located within the Inria center in Paris’ fully renovated offices in 48, Rue Barrault, in Paris.
The position may involve travel, and is open immediately, with remuneration based on skills and experience.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via email to hiring-management@softwareheritage.org. The email must contain the subject line “CTO” and include:
A resume (CV)
A cover letter describing the candidate’s motivation for this position
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.