Vice President of Software R&D (m/f/d)

Overview

ZONTAL as a part of Bruker is a leading provider of data preservation and digital transformation solutions for the Life Sciences industry. Our platform empowers enterprises to streamline IT processes, facilitate AI/ML integration, enhance regulatory compliance, and accelerate time-to-market for life-saving products. With a global presence across the US, Europe, and Asia, ZONTAL delivers world-class support to our clients at any time, in any location, through a network of trusted partners.

Learn more about ZONTAL by visiting: www.zontal.io

The Vice President of Software R&D at ZONTAL will be a core member of the executive team, responsible for driving the development of scalable, innovative solutions that align with the company's strategic goals. This role requires a strong technical leader with a deep understanding of software development, architecture, and product delivery focusing on digital transformation in Pharma, Biotech, Specialty Chemicals, AgroSciences, CPG, and Discrete Manufacturing. The VP of Software R&D will collaborate closely with Product Management, Sales, Professional Services, and Support to ensure that ZONTAL's platform continues to evolve and address the complex challenges faced by our clients.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy:

• Develop and implement a R&D vision and strategy that aligns with the overall company objectives.
• Lead and mentor a global engineering team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of engineering efforts with Product Management, Sales, Professional Services, and Support.

Product Development And Innovation:

• Oversee the end-to-end development and maintenance of ZONTAL’s software products, ensuring timely, high-quality releases.
• Drive innovation by identifying new technologies, processes, and tools that will improve product scalability, performance, security, and sustainability and meet client needs.
• Lead Research efforts to help customers maximize value of ZONTAL-hosted data.
• Champion the adoption of modern software development practices, including Agile methodologies, DevOps, and automation.

Team Building And Development:

• Build and scale a global high-performing R&D organization, identifying top talent and fostering professional growth.
• Promote a diverse and inclusive culture, encouraging the exchange of ideas and best practices.
• Identify and address skill gaps within the team, investing in continuous learning and development programs.

Collaboration And Stakeholder Management:

• Partner with Product Management to define and execute the product roadmap, ensuring alignment between R&D, business goals and the voice of customer.
• Work closely with the Professional Services team to ensure that client implementations are supported by robust, scalable, and sustainable software solutions.
• Serve as a key technical advisor to executive leadership, providing insights on technology trends, risks, and opportunities.

Quality And Performance:

• Establish and enforce best practices for code quality, testing, and documentation to ensure the delivery of secure, reliable software.
• Monitor and improve system performance, scalability, and maintainability, ensuring the platform can support the growing demands of ZONTAL’s global clients.
• Oversee the implementation of robust security practices, ensuring full compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in software development and engineering leadership, with at least 5 years in a senior management or executive role.
• Proficiency in English (minimum C1 level) is required. Knowledge of any additional European language is considered an asset.
• Proven experience leading global engineering teams in the development of complex, enterprise-level software solutions.
• Strong understanding of modern software architecture, cloud computing (AWS), and SaaS delivery models, including multi-tenancy and security best practices.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Experience in the Life Sciences industry is a significant advantage.
• Deep familiarity with Agile methodologies, DevOps practices, CI/CD processes, and cloud-native development.
• Demonstrated success in driving innovation, managing complex cloud-based projects, and delivering scalable, high-quality SaaS solutions on time and within budget.