Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) AI\-First Learning Technology \& Product Innovation Location: Minnetonka, MN Reports To: Chief Executive Officer About Excel Education Systems Excel Education Systems is a nationally accredited education technology company developing next\-generation learning technologies for K–12, adult education, higher education, and workforce development. Our proprietary technology ecosystem includes: Learn Stage® Learning Management System (LMS) Learn Stage® Student Information System (SIS) BRYTE™ AI Learning Assistant ExcelHQ® Enterprise Management Platform Our platforms are already built and actively used by students, educators, and administrators. Our next chapter is focused on creating the future of AI\-powered learning—not building software from scratch. Position Summary Excel Education Systems is seeking a visionary Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the next generation of educational technology. This is not a traditional CTO role centered on managing large software engineering teams. Instead, the CTO will lead an AI\-first product development organization in which modern AI tools handle much of the implementation, while experienced professionals provide the product vision, architecture, validation, and quality oversight. The CTO will work directly with the CEO and our Education Technology Department to continually improve Learn Stage®, ExcelHQ®, and BRYTE™ through better user experiences, intelligent automation, and next\-generation AI capabilities. Our Development Philosophy Excel Education Systems believes AI is fundamentally changing how software is built. We expect AI\-assisted development to generate the majority of software implementation. Our people create the vision. AI builds. Our experts review, improve, validate, secure, and continuously refine the product. The CTO will champion this philosophy throughout the organization. Primary Responsibilities Technology Strategy Develop and execute the long\-term technology roadmap for: Learn Stage LMS Learn Stage SIS BRYTE AI ExcelHQ Identify emerging technologies that improve learning outcomes and operational efficiency. AI Leadership Lead our AI strategy. Evaluate and implement: Generative AI Intelligent tutoring AI grading AI agents Personalized learning Voice AI Learning analytics Workflow automation Continuously identify opportunities where AI enhances the student and educator experience. Product Innovation Work closely with our Education Technology Department to: Improve usability Simplify workflows Increase student engagement Enhance teacher productivity Modernize the learning experience The focus is continuous innovation rather than rebuilding existing systems. Software Architecture Maintain a modern, scalable, secure architecture. Responsibilities include: Technical direction Architecture reviews Security Scalability Performance Technical standards The CTO is responsible for ensuring AI\-generated code aligns with enterprise architecture and long\-term maintainability. AI\-First Development Lead the organization's AI\-assisted software development strategy. Establish standards for: AI prompting Code review Validation Automated testing Documentation Security review Continuous improvement The CTO should maximize engineering productivity through responsible use of AI rather than expanding developer headcount. Technical Leadership Provide leadership and mentoring for our existing technical professionals. Partner with: Senior Full\-Stack Engineers UI/UX Designer QA Automation Engineer Education Technology Team The CTO's role is to enable these professionals to produce exceptional products—not to manage a large engineering department. Security \& Compliance Oversee: SOC 2 Data privacy Identity management Disaster recovery Cybersecurity in connection with our CS vendor Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field 10\+ years of software engineering and technology leadership experience Experience leading SaaS product strategy Experience with enterprise cloud platforms Strong knowledge of AI\-assisted software development Excellent architectural judgment Outstanding communication skills Preferred Experience Experience with: Learning Management Systems Student Information Systems Educational Technology Artificial Intelligence Cloud Architecture React TypeScript Node.js PostgreSQL Modern AI development tools Enterprise SaaS What Success Looks Like Within the first 24 months, the CTO will: Transition all Learn Stage LMS/SIS development, maintenance, and product innovation from offshore vendor to a U.S.\-based team. Continue evolving Learn Stage into a next\-generation AI\-powered learning platform. Expand BRYTE AI capabilities across all products. Improve the overall user experience for students, educators, and administrators. Establish Excel Education Systems as an AI\-first software organization. Increase development velocity through effective use of AI\-assisted development. Maintain enterprise\-grade security, reliability, and scalability. Reduce technical debt while preserving architectural integrity. Ensure every feature aligns with our mission of transforming education through technology. Compensation \& Benefits Excel Education Systems offers a competitive executive compensation package designed to attract exceptional technology leaders who are passionate about innovation and results. Compensation Base Salary: $180,000\+ annually Performance Bonus: based on individual performance, achievement of strategic technology objectives, and the overall financial performance of Excel Education Systems. Our compensation philosophy rewards exceptional performance and aligns executive incentives with the long\-term success of the company. Benefits Eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, including: Medical insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Company\-sponsored retirement plan with employer matching contributions Paid vacation and company holidays Paid PTO Paid professional development, including conferences, certifications, and continuing education Company\-provided technology and equipment Flexible remote work environment \- three days in the office per week. Our Philosophy We believe the future of software development is not measured by how many engineers write code manually. It is measured by how effectively talented professionals leverage artificial intelligence to design, validate, improve, and deliver exceptional software. The CTO will lead that transformation. Employment Conditions The selected candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Employment with Excel Education Systems is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre\-employment screening process, which includes: Background investigation Employment verification Education and credential verification Professional reference checks Pre\-employment drug screening, where permitted by applicable law Additional screenings may be required based on the responsibilities of the position. Excel Education Systems, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and professional workplace where diversity of thought, experience, and background strengthens our mission of transforming education through innovation. Excel Education Systems seeks exceptional professionals who are passionate about transforming education through innovation, artificial intelligence, and technology. If you are excited about leading the future of AI\-powered learning and helping shape the next generation of educational technology, we encourage you to apply. Pay: $180,000\.00 \- $200,000\.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Employee assistance program Retirement plan * Tuition reimbursement Work Location: Hybrid remote in Minnetonka, MN 55305