Executive CV
Steve O'Brien
CTO AI Systems Architect Technical Founder
I've spent two decades building real-world software systems. Today, I'm focused on understanding intelligence itself, both artificial and biological, and applying those insights to create practical AI systems that solve meaningful problems.
Profile
Technology leadership grounded in building
Founder, CTO, and hands-on systems architect with more than two decades of engineering and software experience. I work at the point where technology strategy, product thinking, and delivery meet.
After building Newicon over 18 years and guiding the company through a successful acquisition, I now help founders and leadership teams shape technology strategy, de-risk difficult decisions, and create practical AI-enabled products.
I’m at my best building and prototyping things that have not been done before. In fractional CTO and technical advisory roles, I roll up my sleeves and rapidly turn ambitious, ambiguous ideas into working prototypes that can be tested today and useful products a team can ship next week. I choose architecture for the stage the business is actually at—starting with the simplest system that works, while preserving a clear path to the resilience, scale, and operational maturity it will need tomorrow.
Core capabilities
Where I create the most value
Fractional CTO leadership
Hands-on technology strategy, architecture, and rapid prototyping—especially for ideas that have not been built before—combined with delivery leadership and pragmatic decisions that keep today’s build aligned with tomorrow’s scale.
AI systems and strategy
Practical AI products, intelligent workflows, human–AI collaboration, and the infrastructure and architecture needed to move from experiments to dependable systems.
Product and platform engineering
Turning ambitious ideas into robust software products across cloud platforms, SaaS, connected systems, and complex digital services.
Founder-level perspective
Balancing product, commercial, operational, and technical priorities with the accountability of someone who has built and sold a company.
Technical depth
Grounded in fundamentals
Frameworks come and go; the fundamentals do not. I work from first principles across system design, data modelling, APIs, security, real-time communication, testing, deployment, and failure modes.
I have designed and built capable application frameworks from scratch, including systems that powered regulated financial services products such as the Hartley pension portal.
Preferred stacks today
- TypeScript
- Vue 3
- Node.js
- Fastify
- Laravel
- PHP
Frontend and real-time
- React
- Next.js
- Web Components
- WebSockets
- SSR
- Pinia
Backend and data
- PostgreSQL
- MariaDB / MySQL
- REST APIs
- Background workers
- Authentication
- Stripe
AI and engineering quality
- LLM applications
- Agent systems
- Embeddings
- Vector search
- Knowledge graphs
- Vitest
- Playwright
Experience
Selected career
Independent
Fractional CTO, AI Systems Architect & Product Builder
Helping organisations make sound technology decisions and turn AI opportunities into useful, well-engineered products.
- Designing practical AI systems, developer workflows, and collaborative product experiences.
- Advising founders and leadership teams on product direction, architecture, delivery, and AI adoption.
- Researching intelligence across artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and cognitive systems.
Newicon Ltd
Founder, CEO & CTO
Built and led a Bristol software, AI engineering, IoT, cloud, and product studio from its early-stage launch through acquisition.
- Led technology direction, product strategy, solution architecture, client partnerships, and complex project delivery.
- Grew Newicon to £1.5m turnover alongside a £0.5m digital marketing business that became Flex Digital.
- Worked across regulated and technically demanding sectors, with disclosed clients including Airbus, Thales, UWE, and Palladium.
- Guided Newicon into its 2025 acquisition by Linebreak and continued as CTO through January 2026.
Airbus UK, Filton
Systems Engineer (Modelling & Simulation)
Hired into a full-time engineering role focused on modelling and simulation for Airbus UK.
- Worked as a Systems Engineer for two years and ten months after completing the Airbus Technical Apprenticeship.
- Built an industrial systems-engineering foundation in a complex aerospace environment while developing Newicon as a side venture.
Airbus UK, Filton
Technical Apprentice
Completed Airbus’s four-year Technical Apprenticeship before progressing into a full Systems Engineer position.
- Studied Aeronautical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, CAD, and computing.
- Completed an HND in Aeronautical Engineering alongside practical engineering training.
Selected work
Evidence of impact
Framework engineering · Financial services
Application frameworks from first principles
Designed and built capable application frameworks from scratch that powered complex, regulated financial services products, including the Hartley pension portal, with full-stack architecture, real-time WebSocket communication, data systems, authentication, and operational infrastructure.
Company building
Newicon: from startup to acquisition
Founded and led a design-led technology company for 18 years, combining commercial leadership with hands-on technical direction before its acquisition in 2025.
Health technology
EarSwitch in-ear monitoring platform
Newicon led software development across two phases of an in-ear health-monitoring system that secured £1.2m in investment and was selected for the UK Innovative Devices Access Pathway.
Current research and development
Practical AI and adaptive software
Exploring AI-assisted development, real-time collaboration, adaptive documentation, and systems informed by how biological and artificial intelligence learn.
Recognition & public voice
Sharing experience
- Insider South West 42 under 42, 2022 cohort
- Bristol Technology Festival speaker, including a 2022 talk on the future of IoT
- Podcast guest on technology, leadership, innovation, and company building
Work together
Need experienced technical leadership?
I’m open to fractional CTO, technical advisory, AI strategy, and selected product-building engagements.