Job Title

Company DescriptionKadhaiShorts is a digital media and entertainment platform specializing in original scripted content, with a focus on short-form video series tailored for mobile-first audiences. The company empowers emerging creators by providing funding, production infrastructure, and technological support to develop their projects. In addition to original content, KadhaiShorts also offers services like dubbing, localization, content marketing, and live events. The platform is dedicated to bringing compelling storytelling to modern, digitally engaged viewers.Role DescriptionWe are seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the technological vision and operations of KadhaiShorts. This full-time, on-site role is based in Chennai and involves overseeing the development and execution of the company’s IT strategy, managing software development processes, and leading the architecture of scalable systems. The CTO will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product development and ensure that technology aligns with business goals. Daily responsibilities include reviewing and improving existing systems, heading the technology team, and spearheading innovative solutions for our platform and services.Role OverviewWe are looking for a hands-on CTO who can build, ship, and scale a video-first consumer product from the ground up. This role goes beyond architecture — you will be a co-owner of product, performance, cost, and scale.In the first 12–18 months, this is a builder role, not a people-management-only role. Key Responsibilities1. Product & Technology LeadershipOwn the end-to-end technology roadmap for the OTT platformPartner closely with Founder & Content teams to align tech with storytelling, hooks, and binge behaviourTranslate product vision into fast, scalable, and cost-efficient execution 2. Mobile-First App DevelopmentLead development of iOS & Android apps (Native / Flutter / React Native)Ensure buttery-smooth vertical video playbackOptimize for:Low-end Android devicesApp sizeFast load timesOffline downloads & caching 3. OTT & Video Streaming ArchitectureDesign and manage:Video ingestion & encoding pipelineAdaptive bitrate streaming (HLS/DASH)CDN integration & optimizationBalance video quality vs streaming costPrepare architecture for viral spikes & peak loads 4. Scalability & Cost Control (Critical)Build infrastructure that scales from 10K to 1M+ MAUActively manage and optimize:Cloud costsCDN usageStorage & bandwidthEnsure infra cost stays within defined revenue benchmarks 5. Monetization & Payments TechImplement and iterate on:Subscription plans (weekly/monthly)Episode / arc unlocksPromotional pricing & experimentsIntegrate India-first payments (UPI, wallets, cards)Support future monetization layers (ads, rewards, bundles) 6. Data, Analytics & ExperimentationDefine and track core metrics:Episode completion rateFirst-5-second drop-offRetention (D1/D7/D30)Cost per minute streamedARPU & cohort behaviorEnable A/B testing for:ThumbnailsHooksPaywallsUX flows 7. Security & Content ProtectionImplement:API securityTokenized streaming URLsWatermarkingAnti-piracy best practicesBalance content protection with user experience 8. Team Building & Engineering CultureHire and mentor a lean, high-ownership tech teamDefine coding standards, review processes & release cyclesDecide what to build in-house vs outsourceFoster a culture of speed, accountability, and learning What We’re Looking ForMust-Have8–14 years of engineering experiencePrior experience building consumer-facing mobile appsStrong understanding of video streaming / OTT fundamentalsHands-on coding ability (still active technically)Startup mindset: speed > perfectionStrong cost-vs-scale decision making Good to HaveExperience in OTT, gaming, social video, or media techExperience scaling products to hundreds of thousands or millions of usersExposure to payments, subscriptions, or ad-techPrior startup or 0→1 product experience What Will Make You Successful HereYou think like a founder, not a service providerYou obsess over user experience and retentionYou build MVPs fast and improve them weeklyYou are data-driven but decisiveYou’re comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change