Fractional CTOs in Seattle Making Things Happen in 2025

Seattle Interim Chief Technology Officers to Know

Seattle has long been a global tech heavyweight. It’s home to the cloud (literally), the birthplace of two of the world’s most valuable companies, and a launching pad for generations of engineering leaders. But in a post-remote, post-scale era, even Seattle’s fastest-moving companies are starting to think differently about how—and when—they bring tech leadership into the room.

Enter the fractional CTO.

Across the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue region, startups, mid-market orgs, and investor-backed scale-ups are hiring fractional or interim Chief Technology Officers to lead product architecture, stabilize dev teams, or guide technical strategy—without committing to full-time headcount or executive search timelines.

At Digital Reference, we’ve curated a list of trusted, embedded, and referenceable fractional CTOs in Seattle who are helping companies move fast and build well.

Our Methodology: Fractional CTO Services in Seattle

Every professional featured in this article was selected through Digital Reference’s research-driven process:

✅ Active as a fractional, interim, or embedded CTO
✅ Based in or serving the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro
✅ Demonstrated success in early- or growth-stage environments
✅ Public-facing credibility (LinkedIn, firm, or published work)
✅ Aligned with our core values: operational impact, reputation, and transparency

These are not “maybe CTOs.” These are hired, embedded, trusted leaders.

Meet the Seattle Fractional CTOs to Know

David Smith

Fractional CTO | Healthcare & AI | Enterprise Systems Architecture

David supports companies moving from traditional IT to modern, scalable, cloud-first architecture. With deep experience in compliance-heavy and regulated environments, he’s often tapped to lead technical transitions, assess existing infrastructure, or mentor CTOs through growth and scale. His engagements are often post-funding or post-acquisition.

🔍 Specialties: Cloud infrastructure, security audits, B2B platforms

📍 Based in: Tacoma, WA

Bradley P. James

Fractional CTO | Platform Builder | SaaS Architect

Founder, Inflection Spark Solutions‍

Bradley helps early-stage SaaS companies create scalable, modern, and secure platforms from the ground up. With a background in enterprise architecture and cloud services, he specializes in reducing technical debt, leveling up junior teams, and aligning engineering with business goals. Founders rely on Bradley to be the strategic tech partner they wish they’d hired six months ago.

🔍 Specialties: B2B SaaS, platform architecture, cloud-native systems

📍 Based in: Seattle, WA

Learn more about Inflection Spark Solutions in our coverage of US-based Fractional CAIO Services

Mitra Raman

Fractional CTO | Technical Advisor | Product Strategy Coach‍

Mitra is known for her ability to sit at the intersection of product, engineering, and business strategy. She works with both non-technical founders and scaling tech teams to bridge vision with velocity. Whether it’s mapping a new architecture, mentoring an engineering manager, or aligning tech KPIs with investor goals, Mitra brings calm clarity to complex builds.

🔍 Specialties: Product/engineering alignment, org design, roadmap restructuring

📍 Based in: Seattle, WA

Bradley Bargen

Fractional CTO | AI-Enabled Platform Expert | Startup Technologist‍

Bradley has spent over 20 years building, scaling, and advising technology companies across healthtech, AI, and data platforms. As a fractional CTO, he partners with startups and founder-led teams who need strategic clarity and execution. He’s especially effective in AI or ML settings, helping companies align data strategy with product performance.

🔍 Specialties: AI platforms, technical due diligence, multi-cloud architecture

📍 Based in: Bellevue, WA

Why Seattle Is Built for Fractional CTO Engagements

Seattle’s tech scene is full of paradoxes. It has massive enterprise experience and scrappy startup energy. World-class engineers… and talent shortages. Funded companies… and lean teams. This is what makes fractional leadership work so well here.

When are Seattle companies hiring fractional CTOs?

• 🚀 Early growth stage (10–50 employees) but no in-house senior tech leader
  
  
• 📊 Preparing for Series A or B with technical debt to clean up
  
  
• 🧱 Building out v2 of a product post-MVP
  
  
• 💼 Navigating product/engineering friction
  
  
• 🔁 Recovering from failed dev agency engagements or internal churn
  
  

Fractional CTOs are the scaling partners who know how to assess, align, build, and mentor—fast.

What Makes These Seattle Fractional CTOs Stand Out

We look for CTOs who blend technical expertise with:

✅ Strategic advisory experience
✅ Founder fluency—understanding urgency, ambiguity, and iteration
✅ Operational credibility—they’ve built and shipped
✅ Talent development—they mentor as much as they manage
✅ Trust—they’re re-hired, referenced, and respected

Bradley, Mitra, Bradley B., and David represent that leadership model well—they're not interim managers, they're momentum builders.

More from Digital Reference

📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive
A practical guide for founders and operators navigating interim leadership.

📍 The Importance of Professional References
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.

📍 Find Local Fractional CTOs & Chief Technology Officers Near Me
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.

📘 Collecting Professional References: The Dos and Don’ts
References are often the make-or-break element of your next opportunity. Yet many professionals still treat the reference process as an afterthought or, worse, scramble to collect them last minute.

📗 The Talent Ecosystem: Why Fractional Operators Are Reshaping the C-Suite
Explore the structural shifts behind the rise of fractional leadership and what it means for your next hire.

Final Word: Fractional CTOs Are Fueling the Next Wave of Seattle Innovation

Seattle tech has always been bold—but now it’s getting smarter about how it scales. With product complexity rising and technical leadership in high demand, fractional CTOs are filling the gap between idea and execution, between Series A and system stability.

Bradley James, Mitra Raman, Bradley Bargen, and David Smith are already leading these transitions—quietly, effectively, and with the reputation that matters most: teams that ask them to come back.

City Spotlights of of Part-time & Fractional CTOs in the USA

Ann Arbor - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Ann Arbor Making Things Happen

Atlanta - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Atlanta Making Things Happen

Austin - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Austin Making Things Happen

Boston - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Boston Making Things Happen

Charlotte - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Charlotte Making Things Happen

Chicago - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Chicago Making Things Happen

Dallas–Fort Worth - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Dallas–Fort Worth Making Things Happen

Denver - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Denver Making Things Happen

Detroit - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Detroit Making Things Happen

Houston - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Houston Making Things Happen

Jacksonville - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Jacksonville Making Things Happen

Las Vegas - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Las Vegas Making Things Happen

Los Angeles - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Los Angeles Making Things Happen

Miami - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Miami Making Things Happen

Minneapolis - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Minneapolis Making Things Happen

Nashville - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Nashville Making Things Happen

Naples - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Naples Making Things Happen

New York City- Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in New York City Making Things Happen

Orlando - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Orlando Making Things Happen

Phoenix - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Phoenix Making Things Happen

Pittsburgh - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Pittsburgh Making Things Happen

Portland - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Portland Making Things Happen

Raleigh–Durham - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Raleigh–Durham Making Things Happen

Sacramento - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Sacramento Making Things Happen

Salt Lake City - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Salt Lake City Making Things Happen

San Antonio - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in San Antonio Making Things Happen

San Diego - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in San Diego Making Things Happen

San Francisco- Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in San Francisco Making Things Happen

St. Louis - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in St. Louis Making Things Happen

Tampa - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Tampa Making Things Happen

Washington DC - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Washington DC Making Things Happen

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If you're navigating a tech inflection point, don’t just hire a “dev agency.”
Hire a CTO who will build with you.

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