About Citizen

Citizen is the #1 personal safety app in the U.S. with a mission to Protect the World and make communities safer. We believe safety is a shared responsibility and we’re building a global network where people help protect one another, creating a safety net that benefits everyone.

Citizen provides free real-time public safety alerts to millions of users in 76+ North American markets and earns revenue through consumer subscriptions and enterprise solutions. Citizen’s investors include 8VC, Greycroft, Goodwater, Lux, Founders Fund, and Axon.

About the Role

As we enter our next stage of growth, we are seeking a Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO) to lead our engineering and product strategy, with a core emphasis on technical depth and execution. This role will oversee engineering, product, and design – operating as a unified PED function, and is mission-critical to advancing our technical foundation and enterprise capabilities.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a mission-driven company. You’ll drive innovation, execute with speed and quality, and scale a world-class technical organization — all while operating as both architect and operator. This is a builder’s role, designed for someone hungry, intellectually rigorous, and ready to lead at the CPTO level.

Key Responsibilities

Set Vision & Strategy

• Collaborate with executive leadership to define Citizen’s long-term technical and product roadmap.

• Translate user needs and business goals into a scalable, resilient platform strategy.

• Serve as a key external technology voice with partners, customers, and investors.
  

Drive Execution & Engineering Excellence

• Lead high-velocity, high-quality development cycles from concept through launch.

• Ensure strong technical foundations: scalable systems, robust infrastructure, and disciplined development practices.

• Integrate AI and automation to accelerate product capabilities and engineering efficiency.

• Build for performance, security, and enterprise readiness.
  

Lead a World-Class Engineering-First Team

• Build, scale, and inspire a multidisciplinary team across engineering, product, and design with engineering at the core.

• Foster a culture of technical ownership, speed, and operational rigor.

• Model and instill product craftsmanship and continuous learning.
  

Strengthen Platform Operations

• Own the full lifecycle from technical architecture and prioritization to delivery and iteration.

• Partner with product and design to deliver elegant, intuitive, and trust-driven experiences.

• Align with GTM, sales, and enterprise stakeholders to ensure technical fit and scale-readiness.

Qualifications & Skills

• 15+ years of technical and product experience in high-growth, product-driven technology companies.

• 5+ years in senior leadership roles overseeing engineering and/or product.

• Deep engineering background; able to dive into architecture, systems design, and technical decision-making.

• Demonstrated success delivering enterprise-grade products at scale.

• Track record of leading engineering-driven teams through growth and complexity.

• High cognitive horsepower, with evidence of fast trajectory, creative problem solving, and intellectual curiosity.

• Experience with AI/ML integration a plus.

• Thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with high ownership.

• NYC-based or willing to work regularly from our NYC HQ.

Salary Range

This role offers a base salary of $325,000 to $350,000 base plus variable comp potential and equity.

Compensation & Benefits
We offer competitive salary, equity, and a full benefits package, including:

• At least one fully employer-sponsored medical plan option

• Dental and vision coverage, with a small employee contribution

• Unlimited PTO

• Up to 14 weeks paid parental leave (for all parents)

• Monthly tech stipend

• Free mental health support

• Hybrid work environment + catered lunches (NYC HQ)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Citizen
Citizen is an equal opportunity employer. We’re building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve — across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, and background.

We know that diverse teams make better decisions and build more effective products. If you don’t meet every listed qualification, we still encourage you to apply. Skills, potential, and lived experience matter.