Your Engineering (CTO) Executive Search Firm Partner

If you are looking for your next Chief Technology Officer (CTO), VP Engineering, Director of Software Development, AI / Machine Learning, Chief Scientist, or Head of Analytics of Operations, we understand this profile well and bring a proven executive search track record filling this function.

Our proven methodology enables us to quickly recruit the executive talent you need to fill vital leadership roles while providing your team peace of mind about next executive team member.
 

Technology Leadership Search Experts

Helping Northwest Companies Hire Visionary CTOs and Engineering Leaders

At Herd Freed Hartz, we specialize in CTO executive recruiting for companies across the Pacific Northwest. We help you identify and hire exceptional Chief Technology Officers and VP Engineering leaders—individuals who can drive innovation, lead high-performing teams, and align technology with your business goals.In today’s environment, technology leaders aren’t just coders—they’re strategic operators and trusted C-level partners. According to Gartner’s 2024 Technology Executive Survey, 79% of CTOs influence company strategy and 67% are directly involved in customer experience. Finding the right person for this expanding role is more critical—and more complex—than ever.

Why CTO Executive Searches Require Specialized Expertise

No two CTO hires are alike. A Series A startup needs a hands-on technologist to build product foundations. A growth-stage company needs a seasoned leader to scale engineering culture, velocity, and reliability. That’s why our CTO executive search process is highly customized. We assess candidates not only for technical acumen but also for leadership maturity, business alignment, and culture fit. For example, during a national CTO search for MCG Health, the client needed a technology leader with deep AI knowledge and the ability to advise the Board on patient-centered digital strategy. We found the right blend of innovation, clinical expertise, and executive presence.

Trends Shaping Modern Technology Leadership

We stay ahead of the evolving CTO role so you don’t have to. Key trends shaping today’s executive tech landscape include:

• Remote and hybrid leadership: CTOs must manage distributed teams while maintaining velocity and culture.
  
• Talent retention pressures: McKinsey reports 45% of tech leaders cite hiring and retention as their top concern.
  
• AI and platform modernization: The best candidates lead digital transformation, not just manage code.
  
• Cross-functional impact: CTOs increasingly drive collaboration across product, sales, and customer success.
  

Our team understands how these pressures shape who you need—and how to attract them.

Our Approach to Executive CTO Recruiting

As with hiring a CEO or recruiting a COO, hiring a great CTO isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a leadership decision. Many executive hires fail not due to lack of skill, but due to poor alignment with company culture and communication style.

That’s why our process includes:

• In-depth discovery of your company’s vision, values, and growth stage
  
• Structured assessments of leadership, collaboration, and scalability
  
• Curated candidate shortlists designed to de-risk executive hiring
  

Our promise: We don’t flood you with resumes. We deliver finalists who are aligned, vetted, and ready to lead.

Why Companies Choose Herd Freed Hartz for CTO Recruiting

We’ve helped startups, growth-stage ventures, and publicly traded companies across the Northwest find technology executives who build high-performing teams, ship great products, and scale with integrity.

What sets us apart:

• Deep local market knowledge across Seattle, Portland, and beyond
  
• Fluency in technology and engineering culture
  
• A hands-on, transparent recruiting process with a proven track record
  

When you work with Herd Freed Hartz, you’re not just hiring a CTO executive recruiter—you’re gaining a partner in leadership growth.

Let’s Find Your Next CTO

Whether you’re scaling your engineering team or transforming your digital strategy, we’ll help you hire the right technology leader.
Schedule a consultation today and discover why top Northwest companies trust Herd Freed Hartz.👉  Contact Us For A No-Commitment Hiring Consultation
📞 Or call us directly: (206) 525-9700