Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Reports to: CEO
Location: Italy (HQ), with regular travel to France as that market scales
WHAT THIS ROLE OWNS
- Architecture direction: execute the technical decision across the full stack — set and enforce the rule for what counts as acceptable versus what requires sign-off (new customization), so harvest is a real constraint, not a slide.
- Own the payments rail, not just the ticketing platform. Open payment (ET-PASS) is the company’s proven wedge and the heaviest refactor priority on the roadmap. This role owns the EMV/open-payment architecture end to end.
- Product roadmap: translate the company’s product priorities into a funded, sequenced roadmap, building on the R&D plan already in motion.
- AI strategy and delivery: industrialize the current AI product modules — and whatever new ones emerge — as priced offerings with clear guardrails on spend vs. value, not permanent R&D experiments.
- Certifications as a commercial asset, not a cost center: working with the Head of Architecture ensure security and payment certifications are resourced, sequenced and protected
- DevOps and delivery infrastructure: oversee CI/CD maturity to support multi-country, multi-tenant SaaS delivery, including a delivery model that can scale to several simultaneous multi-city deployments without a linear increase in cost.
- Technical debt discipline: keep a live view of what the platform must become versus what to stop carrying (customer-specific customization, proprietary legacy protocols).
- Continuously assess whether the function’s structure and people fit its strategy and operations — and whether that fits what the business can actually afford — flagging gaps or overcapacity rather than assuming the current shape is fixed.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
- Hands-on credibility in modern software delivery: Git/CI-CD, cloud-native architecture, and practical experience directing (not just endorsing) AI-assisted development at scale.
- Real payments-domain background: hands-on experience with EMV/open-loop payment architecture, payment-processor integrations, and transaction/data-fee monetization models. Familiarity with where account-based ticketing and payment rails are heading is a plus, not a requirement to have shipped it already.
- Experience managing a product function alongside an architecture function — comfortable being the bridge between commercial priorities (geography, licensing, key accounts) and engineering reality.
- Evidence of turning an R&D or AI initiative into a priced, ROI-accountable product line rather than a permanent cost centre.
- Proven ability to develop technical leads into real managers, not just supervise them. This role requires active coaching (goal-setting, delegation, feedback) to build a functioning middle-management layer, not just direction-setting from the top.
- Fluent Italian required; fluent English required; French is a strong plus given the France focus of the current plan.
CONTRACT & COMPENSATION
- Contract: Dirigente, under the Italian national collective agreement for metalworking/engineering executives (CCNL Dirigenti Industria).
- Salary: RAL €90,000–110,000, depending on experience.
- Variable: MBO bonus tied to company/site performance indicators (CSI).
- Benefits: company car also for private use included.
AEP is committed to building an inclusive working environment in which people of every background are treated fairly and with respect. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable law (D.Lgs. 198/2006).
Only applications that include authorization to process personal data in accordance with the applicable legislation will be considered.
In accordance with the applicable legislation, this job offer is addressed to candidates of all genders. (Italian Law 903/77)
Location: Signa (Florence), Italy — AEP head office.