Fractional CTOs in Dallas & Fort Worth Making Things Happen in 2025

Dallas Interim Chief Technology Officers to Know

Everything might be bigger in Texas—but not everything has to be full-time. As the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metro continues to grow as a hub for innovation, venture capital, and high-growth companies, an increasingly strategic shift is underway in the C-suite: the rise of the fractional CTO.

In Dallas, where logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, SaaS, and fintech intersect, companies are scaling fast—but not every business has the time or need to bring on a full-time Chief Technology Officer. That’s where fractional and interim CTOs come in.

These are senior technology leaders who embed directly within organizations to guide tech strategy, mentor engineering teams, modernize legacy systems, or accelerate product development—all without a full-time commitment.

At Digital Reference, we’ve curated a list of the most trusted and impactful fractional CTOs in Dallas, professionals who aren’t just advising—they’re executing.

Our Methodology: How We Select Fractional CTOs in Dallas

Each fractional CTO on this list has been hand-selected through Digital Reference’s research process. We evaluate:

✅ Active work in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington area
✅ Clear positioning as a fractional, interim, or embedded CTO or technology executive
✅ Visible track record in building or scaling tech teams, systems, or products
✅ Public-facing credibility (LinkedIn, firm, or published work)
✅ Alignment with Digital Reference’s values: trust, performance, referenceability

These professionals are chosen because of what others say about them, not just what they say about themselves.

Dallas–Fort Worth Fractional CTOs to Know

🔹 Randy Black

Fractional CTO | Enterprise Architecture Leader | Cloud Strategist
Randy brings decades of enterprise technology experience to scaling companies. He specializes in helping organizations modernize their infrastructure and implement cloud-first architectures that support growth. His work as a fractional CTO has helped mid-market firms in finance, energy, and logistics transition from legacy systems to scalable, future-proof stacks.

🔍 Specialties: Cloud strategy, enterprise architecture, systems modernization
📍 Based in: Dallas, TX

🔹 Zachary Hohertz

Fractional CTO | Product-Minded Tech Leader | Startup Advisor
Zachary works with early-stage and venture-backed startups to lead technology strategy, improve engineering operations, and accelerate product-market fit. With a background in SaaS and product leadership, he’s a favorite among founders who need both tech credibility and business fluency in one package.

🔍 Specialties: SaaS architecture, engineering org design, product strategy
📍 Based in: Fort Worth, TX

🔹 Douglas M. Taylor

Technology Advisor | CIO/CTO Consultant | Infrastructure Expert
Douglas is a fractional CTO/CIO with deep experience in IT operations, cybersecurity, and infrastructure at scale. He partners with businesses that need to bridge the gap between traditional IT and modern tech stacks—especially in regulated industries like healthcare and finance. Known for his pragmatic, no-fluff approach, Douglas is often tapped for turnaround and tech due diligence engagements.

🔍 Specialties: IT strategy, cybersecurity, infrastructure, M&A readiness
📍 Based in: Arlington, TX

🔹 Glenn Layson

Fractional CTO | Technical Cofounder | Data Platform Strategist
Glenn brings a full-stack view of technology leadership, having served as CTO, VP Engineering, and startup technical cofounder. He works with companies that need to level up their engineering maturity, especially around data platforms and scalable architecture. Glenn’s strength lies in building teams and systems that can scale alongside business goals.

🔍 Specialties: Data infrastructure, platform architecture, team scaling
📍 Based in: Dallas, TX

Why Dallas Companies Are Going Fractional at the CTO Level

Dallas is a unique market: deeply rooted in industries like oil and healthcare, but also home to a vibrant and growing startup community. The result? A huge demand for technical leadership that’s flexible, cost-effective, and stage-specific.

We’re seeing companies hire fractional CTOs when they:

• Are building their first technical team but don’t need a full-time exec yet
  
  
• Need an experienced leader to overhaul legacy infrastructure
  
  
• Want help navigating product-to-platform transitions
  
  
• Are preparing for due diligence, fundraising, or M&A
  
  
• Need an external voice to mentor internal engineering leaders
  
  

Fractional CTOs aren’t a band-aid—they’re a strategic decision that gives companies breathing room while still driving progress.

What to Expect From a Great Fractional CTO

The CTOs we feature consistently demonstrate:

✅ Strategic + technical fluency (not just one or the other)
✅ An ability to quickly assess architecture, org health, and risks
✅ Strong communication with founders, boards, and investors
✅ Execution—you’re not hiring a slide deck
✅ Referenceable outcomes from past fractional or embedded work

The four professionals featured above bring all of this—and more—to their work across North Texas.

Related Reading on 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.

How Dallas Is Leading the Way on Technical Flexibility

One of the clearest signs that Dallas is embracing the future of work? The CTO no longer has to be full-time to be effective.

More and more companies are:

• Hiring fractional CTOs to build version 1 of their product
  
  
• Embedding technical advisors during fundraising prep
  
  
• Bringing in fractional talent to stabilize engineering orgs
  
  
• Replacing traditional consulting firms with hands-on CTOs who operate like insiders
  
  

The trend is clear: leaner teams, smarter hiring, and tech leadership when and where you need it most.

Final Thought: CTOs That Fit the Moment

Not every company is ready for a full-time CTO—and that’s okay. What matters most is having the right technical leadership for your stage. The fractional CTOs featured here are already helping Dallas companies hire better, scale faster, and modernize without breaking what’s working.

If your engineering team is growing, your systems are aging, or your product is stuck—this is your sign.

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