Austin, TX | PE-Backed SaaS | Executive Leadership Role

The Opportunity

We are retained by a private equity–backed, high-growth SaaS company in Austin to appoint a Chief Information Officer (CIO). This is a build-and-scale leadership role for a commercially minded technology executive who has operated at pace in mid-to-large SaaS environments and understands how to leverage AI, ML, and data platforms to drive valuation, efficiency, and product differentiation.

This role will sit at the executive table and work directly with the CEO, PE sponsors, and board to modernize platforms, professionalize enterprise systems, and accelerate growth ahead of future liquidity events.

What You’ll Own

Full accountability for enterprise technology, data, AI/ML, and internal systems across a scaling SaaS organization
Design and execute a technology roadmap aligned to PE value creation plans (margin expansion, scalability, automation, revenue acceleration)
Lead and scale software engineering, data science, machine learning, analytics, and IT teams
Drive practical adoption of AI and ML across product, operations, customer experience, and internal workflows
Partner tightly with Product and Engineering leadership to ensure platforms are secure, scalable, and revenue-ready
Oversee cloud infrastructure, architecture modernization, vendor rationalization, and cost optimization
Establish strong cybersecurity, data governance, and compliance frameworks suitable for enterprise customers
Support M&A diligence and post-acquisition integration as required
Build a high-performance leadership team capable of operating at PE speed and scrutiny

What PE & the Board Are Looking For

12+ years in senior technology leadership roles (CIO, CTO, VP Engineering, VP Technology)
Demonstrated experience scaling SaaS platforms in mid-to-large organizations
Strong software engineering foundation with credibility at architecture and execution level
Proven leadership of AI, ML, and data science initiatives delivering real business outcomes
Experience operating in PE-backed, high-growth, or transformation environments
Deep understanding of cloud-native SaaS infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Ability to operate commercially — linking technology decisions to EBITDA, growth, and valuation
Executive presence with experience presenting to boards, investors, and senior stakeholders

Why This Role Stands Out

Direct impact on value creation and exit readiness
High-visibility executive role with PE sponsors and board access
Opportunity to shape and scale a modern AI-enabled SaaS technology stack
Competitive executive compensation with performance-linked upside
Austin-based leadership role in a top-tier U.S. SaaS market

Recruiter Note

This role is not for career IT leaders focused solely on maintenance or infrastructure. We are targeting builders, scalers, and transformation leaders who have operated under PE expectations and can move quickly while maintaining enterprise-grade standards.

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Chief Information Officer (CIO)