Dieter Van Thienen

CTO | Tech Lead | AI Engineer | Product Builder | B2B SaaS, Cloud, AI, Delivery | Open to leadership and CTO opportunities

Ghent Metropolitan Area

About

I am a technology leader, CTO and product builder with experience across SaaS, product development, cloud architecture, AI-assisted workflows, cybersecurity, delivery leadership and hands-on engineering. I help companies bring structure to technology teams, improve delivery, align product and engineering, strengthen security and turn complex ideas into reliable digital products. My background combines senior leadership with technical depth, working closely with engineering teams, vendors, founders, clients and executive stakeholders. My experience includes CTO and Head of Engineering roles in B2B SaaS, leading product and engineering teams, building cloud-native platforms on Azure, supporting ISO 27001 and GDPR readiness, coordinating enterprise integrations and improving delivery processes across internal and external teams. Alongside leadership roles, I support clients through Heleus, my independent technology consultancy and advisory practice. This includes fractional CTO support, architecture reviews, cloud and security improvements, delivery structure, automation, AI workflows and practical hands-on implementation when needed. I am also the founder of Yumm, a self-serve SaaS platform for digital menus in the hospitality sector. Currently available for CTO, Head of Engineering, Head of IT, Technology Lead, Technical Lead and similar senior leadership, strategic and technical roles.

Experience

  • Fractional CTO at B2B Services Company
    Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

    Fractional CTO for a B2B services client, focused on client-facing digital initiatives, delivery structure, technical direction and operational scalability. The role combines project leadership, client-facing coordination and hands-on technical guidance across solution direction, feasibility, workflow improvement, documentation and practical implementation choices. Acting as a bridge between clients and technical teams, I help align requirements, priorities, delivery expectations and implementation decisions across the full SDLC, including AI-assisted workflows, process automation and delivery optimisation.

  • Owner & Technology Consultant at Heleus
    Apr 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 4 mos

    Heleus is my independent technology practice, supporting selected clients with CTO-level guidance, product building, architecture, automation and delivery improvement. This work includes fractional CTO support, AI-assisted workflows, architecture reviews, cloud and infrastructure advice, DevOps and delivery processes, automation, vendor coordination and technical decision support for founders and leadership teams. Selected work includes advising on SaaS, cloud, IoT and integration architecture, improving software and customer-facing digital experiences, supporting API migrations, automating workflows with Zapier and Python, strengthening web server environments, improving website performance and security and optimising WordPress-based platforms.

  • Founder at Yumm
    Jun 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 2 mos

    Founder of Yumm, a self-serve SaaS platform for digital menus in the hospitality sector. Built and operated the platform end-to-end, including product, UX, software development, cloud infrastructure, billing, onboarding, automation and integrations.

  • Chief Technology Officer at The Hazard Factory
    Mar 2024 - Sep 2025 · 1 yr 7 mos

    As Chief Technology Officer, I am tasked with shaping and executing the strategic vision for technology, particularly focusing on the advancement of VR applications. My role encompasses identifying and integrating emerging technologies to solidify our market position, leading a multidisciplinary team to develop innovative VR software solutions, and managing the full development lifecycle to ensure excellence and innovation in our products. Collaborating closely with the product development team, I aim to refine VR software specifications for safety training, ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and exceed quality standards. My commitment extends to fostering effective communication among stakeholders and driving the automation of internal processes to enhance efficiency and productivity.

  • InviteDesk (Antwerpen en omgeving · Hybrid)
    • Chief Technology Officer
      Jan 2022 - Jan 2024 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      As Chief Technology Officer, I am responsible for leading the company's technology strategy, managing a team of engineers and developers, and collaborating with product managers and designers to deliver innovative software solutions. I oversee the software development lifecycle, stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends, and ensure the security, scalability, and performance of the company's technology infrastructure. With a strong understanding of software engineering principles and experience managing software development teams and projects, I am a results-driven technology leader who is passionate about driving innovation and delivering exceptional software solutions.

    • Head of IT
      Feb 2018 - Jan 2022 · 4 yrs

      Responsible for overseeing the technology infrastructure and digital systems to ensure efficient and effective operations. This involves managing a team of software engineers, developing and implementing IT policies and procedures, and providing technical support to employees. Additionally, I worked closely with other departments to identify and address technology-related challenges and opportunities.