About RUA
RUA is a social impact company focused on bridging the gap between information and action. We've developed an MVP that helps transform how people interact with location-based information through our innovative geospatial platform. Currently, we're operating with a WordPress plugin implementation but are ready to evolve into a more scalable, CMS-agnostic solution. As a pre-revenue organization with a clear monetization strategy, we're at an exciting inflection point ready to scale our impact.
We are proudly incubated at Startup Lisboa, are part of the Testbed Media Open Call (1a edition) program, and are currently participating in the Boutique Impact accelerator, providing us with valuable resources and networks to support our growth.
RUA is already making measurable strides in bridging the information-action gap through our innovative geospatial platform:
Successfully launched our RUA News plugin with A Mensagem, implementing interactive mapping features that have transformed how readers discover local news content in Lisbon's neighborhoods
Completed a groundbreaking pilot with LUSA (Portugal's national news agency) to map their agenda, processing over 850 items and validating our concept of hyperlocalized information discovery
Our early metrics show significant improvements in content engagement when information is presented with geographic context, creating new pathways for community participation
We're strengthening local information ecosystems by making critical community knowledge discoverable, relevant, and actionable
Position Overview
We're seeking a technically skilled and mission-driven CTO to join us in this ground-floor opportunity to shape a technology platform with significant growth potential. This full-time role offers substantial autonomy in technical decisions and the chance to be part of something meaningful from the start. For the right candidate, this position offers the opportunity to join as a co-founder, helping shape the future of our organization from the ground up.
Historically, we've been working with a development firm, but we're now ready to bring that work in-house for additional control and flexibility to respond to evolving markets. You'll be responsible for strategic technical decisions while also handling hands-on development of our products. We plan to expand our engineering team towards the end of 2026, giving you the opportunity to build and lead your own development team as we grow.
Transformative Potential
This CTO will be instrumental in scaling our technology to achieve broader impacts:
Empower individuals with the knowledge they need to actively participate in their neighborhoods, creating more resilient communities
Create a more transparent, democratic ecosystem where information providers can effectively reach and serve their audiences
Help transform isolated knowledge into waves of collective action through innovative geospatial solutions
Build technology that strengthens social cohesion and enables participative democracies
Key Responsibilities
Lead the technical evolution of our existing MVP, addressing technical debt and creating a CMS-agnostic application
Develop new products in our pipeline and conceptualize innovative solutions in response to evolving market needs
Make strategic technology decisions that align with our mission and growth goals
Manage our PostgreSQL database with PostGIS extension
Develop and maintain full-stack applications using Python, PHP, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
Ensure compliance with GDPR and implement robust security measures
Maintain and improve metrics and analytics systems to track impact and performance
Transform geospatial data into meaningful user experiences
Collaborate with stakeholders to define product requirements and roadmaps
Collaborate with our mission-aligned design and user interface partners to create cohesive user experiences
Mentor and guide technical interns who are supporting various aspects of our project
Build and lead a development team starting in late 2026
Required Skills & Experience
Proven experience as a full-stack developer with products successfully launched to market
Strong proficiency in our tech stack: PostgreSQL (with PostGIS), Python, PHP, and JavaScript
Experience with WordPress plugin development
Knowledge of geospatial data handling and implementation
Understanding of GDPR compliance and security best practices
Ability to refactor existing codebases and manage technical debt
Experience implementing metrics and analytics systems
Familiarity with API development and integration
Problem-solving mindset and ability to work independently
Passion for social impact and alignment with our mission
Nice to Have
Portuguese language skills
Previous experience in a startup or social enterprise
Experience with CMS migration or building CMS-agnostic applications
Background in GIS systems and geospatial applications
Understanding of social impact measurement
Experience with news or content archives extraction and processing
Experience mentoring junior developers or interns
Compensation & Benefits
One-year initial contract, with possibility to transition to a permanent contract at renewal
Annual compensation of €30,000 to €40,000 (gross)
Compensation growth aligned with company success
Flexible working arrangements with emphasis on work-life balance
Professional development opportunities, including conference attendance and learning new technologies
Opportunity to make significant social impact through innovative technology
Access to resources and networks through our incubator and accelerator programs
Technology Innovation Focus
At RUA, you'll tackle interesting technical challenges including:
Creating a scalable, CMS-agnostic geospatial platform
Developing innovative ways to visualize and interact with location-based information
Building systems that transform data into actionable insights for users
Designing architecture that can grow with our ambitious expansion plans
Team Culture
We operate in a collaborative environment with several mission-aligned partners who specialize in design and user interface. As CTO, you'll work closely with these partners to ensure technical implementation aligns with design vision. Additionally, you'll mentor and guide our technical interns who are eager to learn and contribute to our mission.
Being part of the Rede Rua project and having the chance to work with Callie has been truly inspiring. She brings so much more than just skills, her collaborative spirit, openness, and creativity make every interaction meaningful and impactful. Callie has a rare gift for turning vision into action while making space for everyone's voice to be heard. She fosters trust and a sense of co-ownership that makes working together not only effective, but also deeply fulfilling.- Lida Correia (Phi Creative Agency & long time collaborator)Location & Work Arrangement
This position can be remote, with occasional meetings in Portugal preferred but not required. We believe in results rather than hours tracked, offering flexibility to manage your own schedule while meeting project milestones.
How to Apply
Please send your resume, portfolio or examples of previous work, and a brief statement explaining your interest in RUA's mission to ******. Include "CTO Application" in the subject line.
We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage applications from underrepresented groups.
Expected start date: October 2025
Join us in creating technology that doesn't just inform but transforms how people engage with their communities—because cities are about humans, and we want to empower them with the tools to act.