Field CTO

About Shelf:

There is no AI Strategy without a Data Strategy. Getting GenAI to work is mission critical for most companies but 90% of AI projects haven't deployed. Why? Poor data quality - it is the #1 obstacle companies have in getting GenAI projects into production.

We've helped some of the best brands like Amazon, Mayo Clinic, AmFam, and Nespresso solve their data issues and deploy their AI strategy with Day 1 ROI.

Simply put, Shelf unlocks AI readiness. We provide the core infrastructure that enables GenAI to be deployed  help companies deliver more accurate GenAI answers by eliminating bad data in documents and files before they go into an LLM and create bad answers.

Shelf is partnered with Microsoft, Salesforce, Snowflake, Databricks, OpenAI, and other big tech players who are bringing GenAI to the enterprise.

Our mission is to empower humanity with better answers everywhere.

The Field CTO will serve as Shelf's primary technical authority in customer-facing engagements, combining deep technical expertise with strategic sales leadership. You'll take ownership of the critical technical sales function currently handled by our CTO, partnering with Account Executives to close deals across the entire pipeline while building and leading a team of Sales Engineers.

This role offers immediate impact and long-term growth potential. You'll engage with Enterprise Architects, CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and AI Leaders to demonstrate how Shelf solves data quality challenges preventing GenAI initiatives from reaching production. Your ability to rapidly solution during fast‑paced 3‑5 day pilots and translate complex technical concepts into business value will be crucial to driving revenue success.

Reporting to our CTO with a strong dotted line to our VP of Sales, you'll influence product direction while staying laser‑focused on sales outcomes. The ideal candidate is a former CTO or VP of Engineering who has transitioned to customer‑facing roles, with experience building technical teams in high‑growth B2B SaaS environments. Founder or early employee experience is a significant plus.

• Technical Executive Background - Former CTO, VP of Engineering, or senior technical leader who transitioned to customer‑facing roles in B2B SaaS
• Enterprise Technical Authority - Deep expertise in enterprise architecture, AI/GenAI technologies, and modern data platforms with proven ability to engage C‑level stakeholders
• Team Builder - Track record of building and scaling technical teams; ready to hire, mentor, and lead Sales Engineers
• Revenue‑Oriented - Understanding of enterprise sales cycles with demonstrated ability to influence revenue through technical leadership
• Exceptional Communicator - Explains complex concepts to diverse audiences; comfortable presenting to technical and executive stakeholders
• Entrepreneurial Drive - Founder or early employee experience preferred; thinks like an owner and thrives in high‑growth environments
• Hands‑On & Strategic - Comfortable setting up demos and running pilots while maintaining strategic perspective

Technical Sales Leadership

• Serve as primary technical authority in strategic customer engagements across the sales pipeline
• Lead technical discovery, solution design, and presentations demonstrating Shelf's value
• Drive rapid 3‑5 day pilots that prove measurable value and convert to closed deals
• Build and lead a Sales Engineering team, starting with approximately 4 team members
• Create scalable processes and best practices for technical sales excellence

Strategic Collaboration

• Collaborate with CTO and Product leadership to provide market insights and influence roadmap based on technical sales engagements
• Partner with Technical Partner Sales and other sales roles to drive technical wins across the ecosystem
• Contribute to thought leadership through select conferences, content creation, and sales enablement materials
• Maintain deep expertise in AI/GenAI trends, competitive landscape, and enterprise technology ecosystem

• 10–15+ years combining technical leadership with customer‑facing roles in enterprise B2B SaaS
• Former CTO, VP of Engineering, or…