VP Software Components

About the job

Staefa, Switzerland

VP Software Components

Location: Staefa (Switzerland)

Who we are

Sonova is a global leader in innovative hearing care solutions: from personal audio devices and wireless communication systems

to audiological care services, hearing aids and cochlear implants. Sonova operates through four businesses: Hearing Instruments, Audiological Care, Consumer Hearing and Cochlear Implants – and the core brands Phonak, Unitron, AudioNova, Sennheiser (under license) and Advanced Bionics as well as recognized regional brands. The Group’s globally diversified sales and distribution channels serve an ever-growing consumer base in more than 100 countries.

The Role

In your role as a VP SW Components, you are accountable for designing the strategy and leading end-to-end development and delivery of Sonova software components across all business segments. You are responsible for leading the design, development, and release of multiple key SW components, while partnering closely with Solution Teams to ensure seamless integration into end-to-end B2B and B2C software solutions. In this position, you ensure the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance throughout the entire product life cycle — from concept to market delivery and long-term support.

Ensure delivery of reusable software assets for fit-for-purpose software and consumer apps that can be used across solution teams. Oversee data & AI efforts in R&D to enable on-board DNN applications and data products/insights. Ensure a leading SW development and verification environment, drive continuous improvement, and maintain existing components. SW components may be developed in-house, sourced, or created in collaboration with external partners.

Key responsibilities

SW strategy, roadmap, and governance

• Define and own the comprehensive SW Components roadmap, including fit-for-purpose software, consumer app components, APIs, SDKs, and data/AI platforms.
• Establish architectural standards, API governance, and interface contracts to enable rapid reuse across solution teams.
• Align SW component strategy with HW capabilities, product roadmaps, and corporate goals; prioritize investments in AI/data capabilities that unlock future opportunities.
• Fitting software, consumer apps, and reuse
• Develop and maintain a catalog of reusable software components and consumer-app building blocks that can be composed of solution teams.
• Create patterns, templates, UI/UX guidelines, and integration interfaces to accelerate time-to-market and improve consistency across products.
• Govern API design, versioning, deprecation policies, and downstream impact management on solution teams.

External partnerships and sourcing

• Manage relationships with software vendors, middleware providers, open-source communities, and external development partners.
• Negotiate licensing, IP ownership, security/compliance requirements, and cost targets; ensure data security and IP protection in all collaborations.
• Assess make/vs.buy/vs-partner options for software assets; manage integration plans and risk.

SW development environment and verification

• Build and maintain a world-class SW development and verification environment (CI/CD, automated testing, QA, security testing, code quality, software tracing, and MVE/EME support).
• Implement modern verification methodologies (unit/integration testing, static/dynamic analysis, fuzzing, formal methods, hardware-software co-verification where applicable).
• Ensure reproducible builds, traceability, and reliable release processes for all SW components.
• Lifecycle management and sustainment
• Own software lifecycle, including versioning, maintenance, obsolescence planning, migrations, and end-of-life decisions.
• Manage field issue triage for SW components, driving corrective/preventive actions and product improvements.
• Plan capacity and resource need to sustain multiple generations of software assets.
• Packaging, deployment, and device readiness
• Define deployment strategies for on-device software and consumer apps, including OTA/update mechanisms, packaging formats, and security.
• Ensure compatibility and smooth integration with hardware, platform firmware, and cloud components where relevant.
• Establish DFx-like considerations for software (e.g., testability, debuggability, and update reliability).

Security, privacy, and regulatory compliance

• Enforce secure-by-design practices, software bill of materials (SBOM), vulnerability management, and licensing compliance.
• Ensure data handling complies with privacy regulations and internal data governance standards.
• Align with regional and industry-specific safety/regulatory requirements where applicable.
• Leadership, organization, and governance
• Build and mentor high-performing teams across software engineering, data science, and AI/UDA (on-device AI) disciplines.
• Develop budgets, headcount plans, and resource allocation; implement stage-gate reviews, performance metrics, and accountability mechanisms.
• Collaborate with Product, Hardware, IT, Legal/IP, Manufacturing, and Finance to align strategy and execution.

Strategy, investments, and M&A collaboration

• Partner with the VP Technology and SVP Corporate Strategy to identify, evaluate, and execute potential investments, partnerships, or M&A opportunities to strengthen SW components.
• Lead due diligence on target technologies, services, and integration plans; build business cases and post-close integration roadmaps.
• Present recommendations to executive leadership and ensure alignment with long-term strategic objectives.

Collaboration and stakeholder management

• Work closely with HW Components, Product Management, Data Science, Security, and Customer/Field teams to ensure seamless integration and adoption.
• Maintain clear communication with executives and cross-functional leaders; translate technical concepts into business impact.

Compliance, risk management, and quality

• Establish and monitor quality metrics, reliability targets, security benchmarks, and risk controls for software assets.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to external partnerships, licensing, data handling, and platform dependencies.

What We Are Looking For

Education

• Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related engineering/IT. MBA will be a plus.

Work experience

• 15+ years in software product development with progressive leadership roles.
• Proven history of owning delivery for large, complex systems, managing budgets, and aligning engineering work with business strategy is expected. Multi Project Management. Process Development.

Personal competencies

• Robust leadership and managerial abilities.
• Deep interest in emerging technologies and scientific advancements.
• Effective stakeholder management skills.
• Proficient in developing individuals and teams.
• Highly inquisitive, self-driven, and disciplined.
• Tenacious and adept at working under pressure.
• Capable of motivating and inspiring teams across the organization.
• Skillful in establishing and nurturing cooperative business relationships.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and negotiation abilities.

Why Join Us

Sonova is an equal opportunity employer.

We team up. We grow talent. We collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds to win with the best team in the marketplace. We guarantee every person equal treatment in regard to employment and opportunity for employment, regardless of a candidate’s ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or marital status, gender, genetic identity, age, disability or any other legally protected status.