Fractional CTO: Mobility

About MSU Research Foundation

The Michigan State University Research Foundation supports the MSU ecosystem with resources that increase the impact of research and innovation. The Foundation achieves its mission through grant programs that contribute over $10 million annually to the University, entrepreneurial programming and early-stage investments that accelerate technology transfer and startup growth throughout Michigan, and environments where startup businesses and collaborators can thrive. The Foundation's work is made possible through its stewardship of a flexible and sustainable endowment, nourished by over 50 years of licensing revenues and investment returns.

Core Responsibilities

• Conduct technical audits of portfolio companies by assessing code quality, architecture, security, and team capability
• Serve as a senior technical advisor and mentor to engineering leads and technical founders
• Help non-technical founders understand and manage their engineering teams effectively
• Flag technical risks early before they become business problems
• Support due diligence on new investments by evaluating whether a target company's technical architecture is an asset or a liability
• Identify practical opportunities for AI adoption across portfolio companies and help founders evaluate and implement the right tools for their stage

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 3-5 years in a CTO, VP Engineering, or equivalent leadership role
• Hands-on experience with AI and machine learning tools including familiarity with modern AI platforms and how they apply to real products
• Proven success working with startups or high-growth technology companies, ideally from early stage through Series C
• Experience in mobility, automotive, transportation, logistics, or hardware-enabled technology is strongly preferred
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical founders and investors
• Comfortable operating across multiple companies simultaneously

Commitment

10–15 hours/week, hybrid (East Lansing and/or Detroit offices)