Associate Technical Director
Location: Pacific or Eastern time zones preferred. Will consider candidates in the EU time zone. Must be able to attend US-based calls until 12 PST.Type: Full-timeReports to: CTOWorks closely with: Creative, Production, and Clients
About Active Theory
Active Theory is a creative studio focused on design, technology, and storytelling. We work with global brands to build digital experiences that push craft and innovation. Our team is highly collaborative, deeply creative, and distributed.
The Role
We're looking for an Associate Technical Director to own the technical delivery of cutting-edge interactive web experiences for high-profile clients.
This role blends deep technical craft with strategic leadership — you'll architect and ship complex web experiences while serving as a trusted client partner, growing a team of developers, and contributing to how we build across the studio.
You'll be responsible for leading projects from discovery to launch, maintaining technical standards across client accounts, and ensuring every build meets our bar for performance, quality, and craft.
Core Responsibilities
Project Leadership & Delivery
Lead end-to-end project delivery in close collaboration with producers and creative leads
Own technical discovery: define approach, risks, estimates, resourcing, and integration requirements
Manage and coordinate developer teams through production — planning, delegating, and unblocking
Facilitate regular dev reviews and WIP sessions; keep delivery on track
Provide technical oversight across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring quality and consistency
Client Partnership
Serve as the primary day-to-day technical partner for clients
Proactively communicate with client teams; support producers on technical and build questions
Maintain technical standards aligned to specific client accounts and infrastructure requirements
Present builds, technical direction, and progress to clients and stakeholders
Evaluate incoming projects with New Business on feasibility, scoping, and required skills
Engineering & Technical Standards
Develop and maintain web platforms using JavaScript, Vue, Node.js, and studio-standard technologies
Gain deep expertise in Hydra (Active Theory's internal framework) to extend and maintain projects
Work with GCP, AWS, APIs, and third-party integrations as needed
Ensure quality across performance, analytics, SEO, security, and accessibility (WCAG)
Produce clear technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and information architecture
Explore and apply AI tools and workflows to improve craft and efficiency without sacrificing quality
Team Development & Culture
Manage 2–3 direct reports through regular 1:1s, performance feedback, and development plans
Mentor developers through examples of smooth delivery, client partnership, and technical presentation
Cultivate a positive, productive culture; introduce and steward developer initiatives
Location: Pacific or Eastern time zones preferred. Will consider candidates in the EU time zone. Must be able to attend US-based calls until 12 PST.Type: Full-timeReports to: CTOWorks closely with: Creative, Production, and Clients
About Active Theory
Active Theory is a creative studio focused on design, technology, and storytelling. We work with global brands to build digital experiences that push craft and innovation. Our team is highly collaborative, deeply creative, and distributed.
The Role
We're looking for an Associate Technical Director to own the technical delivery of cutting-edge interactive web experiences for high-profile clients.
This role blends deep technical craft with strategic leadership — you'll architect and ship complex web experiences while serving as a trusted client partner, growing a team of developers, and contributing to how we build across the studio.
You'll be responsible for leading projects from discovery to launch, maintaining technical standards across client accounts, and ensuring every build meets our bar for performance, quality, and craft.
Core Responsibilities
Project Leadership & Delivery
Lead end-to-end project delivery in close collaboration with producers and creative leads
Own technical discovery: define approach, risks, estimates, resourcing, and integration requirements
Manage and coordinate developer teams through production — planning, delegating, and unblocking
Facilitate regular dev reviews and WIP sessions; keep delivery on track
Provide technical oversight across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring quality and consistency
Client Partnership
Serve as the primary day-to-day technical partner for clients
Proactively communicate with client teams; support producers on technical and build questions
Maintain technical standards aligned to specific client accounts and infrastructure requirements
Present builds, technical direction, and progress to clients and stakeholders
Evaluate incoming projects with New Business on feasibility, scoping, and required skills
Engineering & Technical Standards
Develop and maintain web platforms using JavaScript, Vue, Node.js, and studio-standard technologies
Gain deep expertise in Hydra (Active Theory's internal framework) to extend and maintain projects
Work with GCP, AWS, APIs, and third-party integrations as needed
Ensure quality across performance, analytics, SEO, security, and accessibility (WCAG)
Produce clear technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and information architecture
Explore and apply AI tools and workflows to improve craft and efficiency without sacrificing quality
Team Development & Culture
Manage 2–3 direct reports through regular 1:1s, performance feedback, and development plans
Mentor developers through examples of smooth delivery, client partnership, and technical presentation
Cultivate a positive, productive culture; introduce and steward developer initiatives
Location: Pacific or Eastern time zones preferred. Will consider candidates in the EU time zone. Must be able to attend US-based calls until 12 PST.Type: Full-timeReports to: CTOWorks closely with: Creative, Production, and Clients
About Active Theory
Active Theory is a creative studio focused on design, technology, and storytelling. We work with global brands to build digital experiences that push craft and innovation. Our team is highly collaborative, deeply creative, and distributed.
The Role
We're looking for an Associate Technical Director to own the technical delivery of cutting-edge interactive web experiences for high-profile clients.
This role blends deep technical craft with strategic leadership — you'll architect and ship complex web experiences while serving as a trusted client partner, growing a team of developers, and contributing to how we build across the studio.
You'll be responsible for leading projects from discovery to launch, maintaining technical standards across client accounts, and ensuring every build meets our bar for performance, quality, and craft.
Core Responsibilities
Project Leadership & Delivery
Lead end-to-end project delivery in close collaboration with producers and creative leads
Own technical discovery: define approach, risks, estimates, resourcing, and integration requirements
Manage and coordinate developer teams through production — planning, delegating, and unblocking
Facilitate regular dev reviews and WIP sessions; keep delivery on track
Provide technical oversight across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring quality and consistency
Client Partnership
Serve as the primary day-to-day technical partner for clients
Proactively communicate with client teams; support producers on technical and build questions
Maintain technical standards aligned to specific client accounts and infrastructure requirements
Present builds, technical direction, and progress to clients and stakeholders
Evaluate incoming projects with New Business on feasibility, scoping, and required skills
Engineering & Technical Standards
Develop and maintain web platforms using JavaScript, Vue, Node.js, and studio-standard technologies
Gain deep expertise in Hydra (Active Theory's internal framework) to extend and maintain projects
Work with GCP, AWS, APIs, and third-party integrations as needed
Ensure quality across performance, analytics, SEO, security, and accessibility (WCAG)
Produce clear technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and information architecture
Explore and apply AI tools and workflows to improve craft and efficiency without sacrificing quality
Team Development & Culture
Manage 2–3 direct reports through regular 1:1s, performance feedback, and development plans
Mentor developers through examples of smooth delivery, client partnership, and technical presentation
Cultivate a positive, productive culture; introduce and steward developer initiatives
What We’re Looking For
3–8 years of full-stack engineering experience
2+ years in a technical management or team lead role
Strong systems design and architecture skills for large, multi-stakeholder programs
Proven client-facing communication: requirements facilitation, workshops, roadmap and risk framing
Accurate scoping, estimation, and capacity planning
Clear communicator who can translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
Accountable, proactive, and calm under pressure especially on high-priority issue
Nice to Have
Experience in a digital agency or creative studio environment
Familiarity with Vue.js, Node.js, GCP, or AWS
Experience building or scaling developer tooling, internal frameworks, or platform infrastructure
Comfort presenting to senior client stakeholders and executive audiences
Why Active Theory?
Work alongside a highly talented, thoughtful, and creative team
High trust, autonomy, and ownership over how you work and how projects get built
Opportunity to shape technical direction and developer culture at a growing studio
Build experiences for some of the world's most recognized brands
A role with real impact on client outcomes, team health, and studio-wide craft
Apply Now