Fractional CTO

Hey there 👋

We’re building scalable AI systems that can provide immediate, evidence-based support at the moment young people need it most. Our approach is to reach young people where they are — online — and embed our interventions into the platforms they use every day (e.g., TikTok, Discord). 

We're seeking a technical leader who understands both the potential of AI, as well as its ethical, safety, and privacy considerations. Over the next decade, our goal is to serve 300 million interventions worldwide—equivalent to helping one young person every second of every day.

This is a highly flexible fractional role. Think ~20-30 hours a week, fully remote, with No-Meeting Fridays. You can pursue other projects, research, or consulting, so long as you can commit to Koko’s mission and dive into code when needed. If you’re looking for a way to give back, build fast, and do meaningful, innovative work — all without sacrificing your life or autonomy — this could be a fit.

Core Requirements

• Proven track record of independently building and shipping full-stack applications that solve real user needs, with a focus on product-market fit and user outcomes
• Strong foundation in data science and machine learning, with experience using data to drive product decisions, design and analyze A/B tests, and measure impact
• Deep understanding of modern AI capabilities and limitations, experience evaluating model performance, balanced with pragmatic product sense - you know when AI adds genuine value versus when simpler solutions would better serve users.
• Experience navigating complex ethical considerations in technology, particularly around safety, privacy, and responsible AI deployment.
• Demonstrated ability to move quickly and innovate while maintaining rigorous standards for safety and efficacy, especially when serving vulnerable populations
• Technical depth to evaluate and implement AI solutions when appropriate, while maintaining focus on core user needs and scalable impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and evolve our platform architecture, creating interfaces and systems that effectively combine AI capabilities with intuitive user experiences
• Design and implement robust experimentation frameworks to continuously measure and improve the effectiveness of our services
• Drive product decisions through data analysis, translating insights into features that measurably improve mental health outcomes
• Ship and iterate on production features across our platform ecosystem (TikTok, Discord, etc.), directly impacting millions of young people
• Advance the field of AI and digital mental health by contributing to peer-reviewed research and open-source initiatives, sharing insights that can help the broader community

Benefits & work at Koko

Koko is made up of an exceptional group of dedicated individuals all fueled by the same passion - ending the youth mental health crisis. Our team, advisors, and board bring a variety of experiences together to impact more young people. Together, we're creating the most accessible online mental health intervention.

Wondering what it's like to work here?

• Opportunity to shape both the technical vision and social impact of an organization reaching millions
• Fun, dynamic team that knows how to ship quickly and responsibly
• Access to a deep network of AI practitioners and leaders 
• Flexible hours, fully remote, with No-Meeting Fridays
• Salary Range: $160,000 - $220,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

At Koko, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We serve a very diverse user base and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Many of the people working with us are former Koko users themselves.

Our Values

• Make a difference: Aim for large effects. Scale and impact should astonish people.
• Be outcomes-based. Don’t just assume we are helping people. Measure it.
• Act with integrity: Be honest, ethical and genuine.
• Challenge yourself: Do hard things you’ve never tried before. Do hard things no one’s ever tried before.
• Find balance: Have your work match your lifestyle, not your lifestyle match your work.

Technology

• Ruby on Rails backend.
• Custom yaml chat scripting language.
• Integration with LLMs. 
• Rust native library for embedded keyword detection. 
• Rust discord bot. 
• Multiple next.js and react apps for user facing applications.