Hire the Top 3% of Interim CTOs

Toptal is a marketplace for top interim CTOs and part-time CTOs. CEOs and management at top companies and startups work with Toptal interim Chief Technology Officers on a short-term or long-term basis to lead their development teams and develop their technology strategy and roadmap.

No-Risk Trial, Pay Only If Satisfied.

Clients rate Toptal CTOs 4.9 / 5 on average based on 2,103 reviews.
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Find and hire Top CTOs worldwide. Simply click on your preferred time zone on the map.

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Hire Freelance CTOs

Rob Brown

Freelance CTO
UTC-10:00
United States
Toptal Member Since January 31, 2018

Robert is a highly motivated professional with enterprise-level experience. With a combination of excellent communication skills and a laser-like focus, Robert is capable of moving big ideas from design stage to implementation. As a full-stack developer, Robert utilizes a wide breadth of skills and knowledge to tackle the specific problem at hand.

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Wouter Steenbergen

Freelance CTO
UTC-08:00
United States
Toptal Member Since February 10, 2014

Wouter is a highly motivated, versatile, and skilled software engineer with demonstrated software design and delivery expertise. He focuses on integrating machine learning, mobile apps, performance, and cloud services. He has the ability to identify and drive strategic programs from inception to launch and thrives in collaborative, team-oriented, and ambiguous environments. Wouter has excellent interpersonal skills and is a passionate, creative, and dedicated professional.

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David Xu

Freelance CTO
UTC-07:00
United States
Toptal Member Since October 20, 2016

David has taken several mobile apps from ideation to millions of users worldwide as the CTO of WhereTo, Chief Architect of Castle Global, Inc., and technical lead in other companies. He has been programming since he was nine and has won medals in various competitive programming competitions, from the Australian Informatics Olympiad to ACM-ICPC. David has invaluable experience in all technical areas, from architecture and design to engineering and DevOps.

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Ethan Drower

Freelance CTO
UTC-06:00
United States
Toptal Member Since April 12, 2017

Ethan has a unique blend of development and infrastructure experience. He excels in speaking with end users and customers (enterprises and startups) and translating their problems/feedback into software solutions. A specialist in both the electronic trading and healthcare industries, he's held roles on both sides of management and engineering and loves problem sets that allow him to work directly with engineers (building) and sales and executives alike.

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Bill Martschenko

Freelance CTO
UTC-05:00
United States
Toptal Member Since February 26, 2020

Bill is a veteran, hands-on CTO who presents quickly as a thought leader with executive presence. He can speak plain English to all sides of an organization, including investors and a BoD. His work includes seven startups. Add his fractional CTO and consulting roles, and his portfolio sits at 11 large enterprises and nine SMBs under $100M/year, covering digital transformation, disruptive innovation, rescuing technical debt, and explosive growth in both regulated and non-regulated industries.

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Tomas Agrimbau

Freelance CTO
UTC-03:00
Canada
Toptal Member Since May 13, 2013

Tomas founded a software development agency 10 years ago and managed an 80-person team, where he covered almost every possible role in the company, but mostly worked as the CTO. Two years ago, he started a product startup called Bleap, a no-code tool that helps entrepreneurs validate their ideas without any code or technical skills. Tomas is passionate about software development because he loves solving problems.

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Mike Davis

Freelance CTO
UTC+00:00
United Kingdom
Toptal Member Since December 16, 2022

Mike is an executive management consulting partner with vast experience delivering complex transformation programs. With over 35 years of industry expertise, he has held executive leadership, global SAP CTO, and S/4HANA program director positions. Mike is focused on advising, leading, supporting, directing, and delivering change and transformation programs.

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Eric Vergnaud

Freelance CTO
UTC+01:00
France
Toptal Member Since September 30, 2021

Eric is a highly productive developer, architect, and CTO with 30 years of experience in banking, digital media, advertisement, healthcare, and programming tools. He has experience with global companies such as DevFactory, Sage, Credit Suisse, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, and Veolia. He's also worked with governments, SMBs (Cegedim, DEKRA, 4D, Hachette), and startups (Penbase, Poster Conseil, eRoket). An OSS contributor, Eric was born Agile and likes taking on multiple roles in teams of up to 100 members.

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Shahen Hovhannisyan

Freelance CTO
UTC+04:00
Armenia
Toptal Member Since April 6, 2020

Shahen is a senior software engineer with over eight years of experience. He has a proven ability to get things done, whether extending and improving an existing project or developing one from scratch. He's a great team player and mentor, with the mentality of a leader. Shahen moves easily between technologies. He is equally comfortable developing iOS, Android, and web and is proficient with applications, system architecture, and solutions requiring extensive detail.

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Dmitrii Bolotov

Freelance CTO
UTC+07:00
Vietnam
Toptal Member Since May 3, 2022

Dmitrii is an AI enthusiast, cloud architect, and NET/C# expert. A tech geek and startup CTO, he is a commendable person who has journeyed through IT, evolving from a developer to a tech lead in enterprises. Dmitrii is now embracing innovative challenges in the startup world.

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Uri Levitsky

Freelance CTO
UTC+10:00
Australia
Toptal Member Since December 17, 2021

Uri has 18 years of experience in software development, including 7+ years in leadership roles, five in executive roles, and four years as the CTO of WIthYouWithMe, Deloitte Technology Fast 500 APAC winner (2019). The award recognizes the company as the fastest-growing startup with over 13,000% growth over three years.

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THE TOPTAL ADVANTAGE

98% of Toptal clients choose to hire our talent after a risk-free trial.

Toptal's screening and matching process ensures exceptional talent are matched to your precise needs.

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Toptal in the press

... allows corporations to quickly assemble teams that have the right skills for specific projects.

Despite accelerating demand for coders, Toptal prides itself on almost Ivy League-level vetting.

Our clients
Creating an app for the game
Conor Kenney
Creating an app for the game
Leading a digital transformation
Elmar Platzer
Leading a digital transformation
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Building a cross-platform app to be used worldwide
Drilling into real-time data creates an industry game changer
Drilling into real-time data creates an industry game changer
Testimonials
Tripcents wouldn't exist without Toptal. Toptal Projects enabled us to rapidly develop our foundation with a product manager, lead developer, and senior designer. In just over 60 days we went from concept to Alpha. The speed, knowledge, expertise, and flexibility is second to none. The Toptal team were as part of Tripcents as any in-house team member of Tripcents. They contributed and took ownership of the development just like everyone else. We will continue to use Toptal. As a startup, they are our secret weapon.

Brantley Pace

CEO & Co-Founder

I am more than pleased with our experience with Toptal. The professional I got to work with was on the phone with me within a couple of hours. I knew after discussing my project with him that he was the candidate I wanted. I hired him immediately and he wasted no time in getting to my project, even going the extra mile by adding some great design elements that enhanced our overall look.

Paul Fenley

Director

The developers I was paired with were incredible -- smart, driven, and responsive. It used to be hard to find quality engineers and consultants. Now it isn't.

Ryan Rockefeller

CEO

Toptal understood our project needs immediately. We were matched with an exceptional freelancer from Argentina who, from Day 1, immersed himself in our industry, blended seamlessly with our team, understood our vision, and produced top-notch results. Toptal makes connecting with superior developers and programmers very easy.

Jason Kulik

Co-founder

As a small company with limited resources we can't afford to make expensive mistakes. Toptal provided us with an experienced programmer who was able to hit the ground running and begin contributing immediately. It has been a great experience and one we'd repeat again in a heartbeat.

Stuart Pocknee

Principal

How to Hire CTOs Through Toptal

1

Talk to One of Our Client Advisors

A Toptal client advisor will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2

Work With Hand-selected Talent

Within days, we'll introduce you to the right CTO for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3

The Right Fit, Guaranteed

Work with your new CTO for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.

Capabilities of a CTO

An interim Chief Technology Officer (CTO) plays a critical role in shaping a company’s technical strategy during transitional periods. With expertise in assessing current technologies, leading development teams, and implementing scalable solutions, they align technical goals with the company’s vision to drive sustainable growth.

Assessing Technology Infrastructure

A comprehensive evaluation of existing technology infrastructure is essential for identifying gaps and opportunities that align with business goals. Toptal’s interim CTOs thoroughly assess your technology stack while pinpointing strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement to ensure the infrastructure supports current needs and future growth.

Developing a Technology Roadmap

Creating a clear, strategic technology roadmap provides direction and structure for future initiatives. In order to drive efficient implementation, Toptal interim CTOs collaborate with stakeholders to outline a path that aligns with business objectives, detailing key projects, timelines, and resource allocation.

Overseeing Product Development

Effective leadership is pivotal in product development, ensuring timely, cost-effective, and high-quality project delivery. Our interim CTOs lead development teams and employ agile methodologies and best practices to meet project milestones, stay within budget, and maintain rigorous quality standards.

Hiring and Mentoring Tech Teams

Building a skilled, cohesive tech team is fundamental to sustainable growth. Toptal interim CTOs assist with recruiting top talent, overseeing onboarding and providing mentorship to develop a robust and capable team to meet your company’s evolving technical demands.

Implementing Scalable Solutions

A company’s technology must be adaptable and scalable to support business growth. Our interim CTOs identify and implement scalable solutions, such as cloud migrations or microservices architecture, enabling the business to expand efficiently without compromising system performance or stability.

Ensuring Cybersecurity and Data Protection

Robust cybersecurity measures are essential to protecting sensitive data and maintaining regulatory compliance. To secure your business against cyber threats, Toptal interim CTOs establish comprehensive cybersecurity protocols and implement protections like encryption and access controls, in addition to ensuring compliance with standards like GDPR and HIPAA.

Facilitating Cross-department Collaboration

Effective collaboration between departments ensures that technology initiatives align with broader business objectives and create a cohesive strategy. Our interim CTOs foster strong relationships across departments and ensure that technology projects support marketing, operations, and overall company objectives.

Managing Budget and Tech Investments

Effective budgeting goes beyond allocating funds; it requires identifying high-impact projects, assessing potential risks, and ensuring every expenditure aligns with business priorities. Toptal interim CTOs carefully manage the technology budget and ensure every dollar spent contributes to long-term value.

Evaluating and Selecting Vendors

Choosing the right vendors directly affects a project’s success, scalability, and long-term sustainability. Because the right partnerships are pivotal, our interim CTOs evaluate potential vendors rigorously, making sure that they meet your company’s needs, support future goals, and provide long-term value.

Preparing for a Permanent CTO Transition

Laying the groundwork for a smooth CTO handover is critical to continuity. Toptal interim CTOs document strategies, ongoing projects, and key insights, providing clear guidance for the incoming permanent CTO to take over seamlessly and continue executing the company’s technology vision.

Find Experts With Related Skills

Access a vast pool of skilled developers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.

FAQs

  • How much does it cost to hire a CTO?

    The cost associated with hiring a CTO depends on various factors, including preferred talent location, complexity and size of the project you’re hiring for, seniority, engagement commitment (hourly, part-time, or full-time), and more. In the US, for example, Glassdoor’s reported average total annual pay for CTOs is $320,000 as of November 2024. With Toptal, you can speak with an expert talent matcher who will help you understand the cost of talent with the right skills and seniority level for your needs. To get started, schedule a call with us — it’s free, and there’s no obligation to hire with Toptal.

  • Typically, you can hire a CTO with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or Managed Delivery, timelines may vary. Our talent matchers are highly skilled in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.

    Once you select your CTO, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.

  • To hire the right CTO, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect CTOs for your project.

  • At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our CTOs to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.

    In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.

    When you hire with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched CTOs ready to help you achieve your goals.

  • You can hire CTOs on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our CTOs can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.

  • We make sure that each engagement between you and your CTO begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.

Tap Into World-Class Talent

  • Trusted Experts Only

    Trusted Experts Only

    All of our talent are seasoned experts who ramp up quickly, readily contribute as core team members, and work with you to minimize onboarding time.

  • The Right Fit

    The Right Fit

    We have a knack for matching you with the right fit. Start working with your new hire on a no-risk trial period, paying only if satisfied.

  • Scale as Needed

    Scale as Needed

    Hire talent within 48 hours and scale your team up or down as needed, no strings attached.

  • Seamless Hiring

    Seamless Hiring

    We handle all aspects of billing, payments, and NDA’s. Let us take care of the overhead while you focus on building great products.

  • Flexible Engagements

    Flexible Engagements

    Choose the engagement type that suits your needs — hourly, part-time, or full-time — with the ability to change anytime.

  • Expert Talent Matching

    Expert Talent Matching

    Focus on your project and enjoy support from your dedicated account executive and expert talent matcher.

Top CTOs Are in High Demand.

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