Pavlo Antonov
Fractional CTO @ Slim Engine
Based in United Kingdom
Summary
Helping startups and SMEs scale architecture, strengthen security posture, accelerate delivery, and embed AI into internal and customer-facing workflows.
About
Technology leader with 15+ years of experience building scalable systems, cloud infrastructure, and high-performing engineering teams.
As Founder & Fractional CTO at Slim Engine, I work with startups and SMEs to align technology with business outcomes. I help companies move from fragile MVPs and over-automated AI experiments to secure, scalable, and maintainable production systems.
My focus areas include:
- Scalable cloud architecture and infrastructure optimisation
- Security posture improvement - OWASP alignment, secrets management, auth flows
- Engineering system maintainability in the era of AI-assisted and vibe coding
- Internally built AI integrated directly into team workflows and delivery pipelines
- CI/CD, GitOps, and developer experience improvements
- Technical due diligence and M&A readiness
I believe modern engineering leadership is no longer just about shipping features. It is about building systems that remain understandable, secure, and adaptable even as AI accelerates development velocity.
With over 15 years leading engineering and infrastructure, I combine hands-on depth with strategic oversight. I help founders make confident technical decisions, avoid architectural debt, and scale without chaos.
My approach is pragmatic, business-driven, and execution-focused - clarity over complexity, leverage over headcount, systems over heroics.
Skills
Software Architecture, Cloud & Infrastructure, M&A / Due Diligence, Platform Modernisation, Cybersecurity, Engineering Leadership, DevOps, Governance & Risk, Data & AI
Regions covered
Industry experience
Not-for-profit, Government, Fintech, Professional Services, Retail, SaaS, Education, Healthcare
At a glance
Pavlo brings hands-on experience across Software Architecture, Cloud & Infrastructure, M&A / Due Diligence, Platform Modernisation, Cybersecurity, Engineering Leadership and 3 other areas. Available for engagements across United Kingdom, United States, Europe. Industry experience includes Not-for-profit, Government, Fintech, Professional Services, Retail and 3 more.
How fractional CTO engagements with Pavlo work
Pavlo works on a fractional basis — typically one to three days a week for an agreed engagement length — so you get senior technical leadership without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. Engagements commonly include technical due diligence, board reporting, engineering team leadership, technology strategy, architecture reviews, hiring support, and stepping in as interim CTO during a transition.