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Bluecoders

Tech executive search

The best tech executives don't apply.

CTO, VP of Engineering, Chief Engineer, technical leadership, rare experts: we headhunt the tech leaders and experts who shape what comes next, from software to the defence industry.

Your contact

Cécilia Fille

Cécilia Fille

COO & Partner

Joined Bluecoders as a recruiter in 2020, now partner and COO. She leads our executive search.

Confidential conversation, under NDA if you wish.

The problem

An executive hire doesn't come from a job ad.

Invisible

The right people are already in a job, recognised and in demand. They don't answer job ads: you have to identify them, then go and get them.

Decisive

A CTO, a VP of Engineering or a first Chief Engineer commits the team, the product and the roadmap for years. A wrong hire costs far more than a delay.

Confidential

Replacing a leader, building a new engineering leadership, an unannounced project: the search is often run quietly, on the company's side as well as the candidate's.

The roles

Four families of executive roles

01

Technical leadership

The leaders who represent tech on the executive team and structure the engineering organisation.

  • CTO
  • VP of Engineering
  • Head of Engineering
  • Technical Director

02

First team leaders

The first hire in a function: the person who lays the foundations and hires the rest.

  • Founding Engineer
  • First Chief Engineer
  • First Head of Data
  • Engineering Manager

03

Industrial engineering leadership

The technical leads of physical products, embedded systems and safety-critical software.

  • Chief Engineer
  • Design Office Manager
  • Industrialisation Lead
  • Systems Architect

04

Rare experts

The specialists whose expertise makes the difference, and who can only be reached through a network.

  • Staff AI Engineer
  • AI R&D Lead
  • PhD in applied mathematics
  • CISO

In figures

tech leaders and experts hired
+30
in defence, aerospace and industry
9
of network building
10 years

Source: placements recorded in our recruitment tracking tool, September 2026.

References

Executives and experts hired

A selection of recent hires, across our two worlds.

Defence, aerospace and industry

  • First Chief EngineerHynaero
  • Mechatronics Design Office ManagerCegelec Défense
  • Algo Product ManagerSafran.AI (ex-Preligens)
  • Head of EngineeringDefence manufacturer
  • Tech Lead, certified softwareSafety-critical software
  • Lead Industrialisation Engineer (RF)Rubicon
  • Embedded Linux Project LeadNW Groupe
  • Embedded Systems ArchitectSmartware
  • 3D Team LeadAgenium

Software, AI and deeptech

  • Staff AI EngineerAI scale-up
  • AI R&D LeadHealth deeptech
  • First Head of DataTheraPanacea
  • Senior Engineering ManagerMedtech scale-up
  • PhD in applied mathematicsWheere
  • VP of EngineeringSaaS vendor
  • CISOLegaltech SaaS vendor
  • Head of EngineeringMedia group
  • Technical DirectorHR services group
  • Founding Fullstack EngineerTech start-up

Method

An executive search in five steps

  1. 01

    Framing

    We define the role with you: what the person will need to achieve, the level of leadership expected, the scope and a salary that is realistic for the market.

  2. 02

    Mapping

    We identify the companies and teams where the right profiles are, then the people, drawing on our network and targeted research.

  3. 03

    Confidential approach

    We contact candidates directly, with no public job ad. Your company's name is only disclosed to qualified profiles, under NDA if needed.

  4. 04

    Assessment

    A recruiter specialised in your sector assesses technical expertise as much as leadership. You receive a reasoned shortlist.

  5. 05

    Follow-up

    We support the negotiation, the candidate's resignation and onboarding, then check in with you during the probation period.

FAQ

Tech executive search with Bluecoders

What is tech executive search?

It is the direct, confidential headhunting of tech leaders and experts who are already in a job: CTOs, VPs or Heads of Engineering, Chief Engineers, technical directors, rare experts. These people don't answer job ads: you have to identify them, approach them with a specific project and assess their expertise as much as their leadership.

Do you recruit CTOs?

Yes. The title covers very different roles: a co-founder building a start-up's tech, or the leader of an engineering team already in place. We start by clarifying which one you need, because the profile, the pay and the way to approach candidates all change.

Should you hire a CTO or a VP of Engineering?

The CTO owns the technical vision and architecture choices; the VP of Engineering makes the team work: organisation, hiring, delivery. A start-up often looks for both in one person at first, then splits the roles as it grows. We help you define which one fits your stage.

Do you also recruit founding engineers?

Yes. A founding engineer writes code while laying the foundations of the architecture and the team: often the future CTO or VP of Engineering. We look for engineers who have already lived through a start-up's early days and help you build a credible offer, often with equity.

Do you recruit in defence and industry?

Yes. A dedicated unit recruits Chief Engineers, design office managers, industrialisation leads and systems architects, including for security-cleared environments, for defence, aerospace and industrial companies.

Can the search stay confidential?

Yes. We approach candidates with no public job ad and only disclose your company's name to qualified profiles. We can sign a non-disclosure agreement before the first call.

What happens on the first call?

A 30-minute call with Cécilia to understand the role, the context and the urgency. You come away with a view on how feasible the hire is, whether or not you then work with us.

Contact

Let's talk about your executive hire

Describe the role in a few words: Cécilia will get back to you to set up a 30-minute call.

Cécilia Fille

Cécilia Fille

COO & Partner

Confidential conversation, under NDA if you wish.

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