Head of System and Software Development
Zendra Systems S.p.A. is an Italian company headquartered in Cairo Montenotte (SV), specializing in the production of braking systems for the automotive sector.
The Cairo Montenotte plant boasts a long history: for many years it was part of the Continental Group, a global leader in vehicle technology.
In October 2025, the company was acquired by the German group, Mutares SE & Co. KGaA.
Today, Zendra Systems is a trusted partner to major European automotive manufacturers, providing reliable and innovative solutions for the mobility of the future.
Our mission is to ensure safety, performance, and sustainability, with a strong commitment to innovation and the professional growth of our employees.
Mission/Purpose of Position
The Head of System and Software Development is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the long‑term strategy for software and system development within the organization.
The role oversees the design, architecture, and delivery of complex software solutions and integrated systems, ensuring alignment with business goals, technological innovation, quality, and industry standards.
This position drives technical excellence, fosters innovation, and leads teams in delivering robust, scalable, safe, and efficient system and software platforms.
Key Responsibilities- Strategic Leadership
- Define and execute the long‑term vision and development roadmap for system and software engineering.
- Align technology strategy with market trends, customer needs, and business objectives.
- Promote innovation and adoption of new technologies to maintain competitive advantage.
- Communicate and reinforce the R&D vision within the System & Software teams.
- Team, Resource & Budget Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams (system engineers, software engineers, developers).
- Foster a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Plan and manage budgets for system and software development activities.
- Optimize resource allocation and ensure capacity to meet project demands.
- Collaborate with Product Management, Hardware Engineering, and other key stakeholders to ensure seamless hardware–software integration.
- Technical Oversight
- Ensure performance, safety, scalability, robustness, and security across system and software solutions.
- Establish and enforce coding standards, processes, and quality assurance methods.
- Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards and regulatory frameworks (functional safety, cybersecurity, automotive standards).
- Oversee risk assessment and mitigation plans.
- Evaluate and integrate new tools, platforms, and frameworks to improve productivity and quality.
- Manage the full development lifecycle: requirements, design, implementation, integration, deployment, maintenance.
- Coordinate with external partners and suppliers for technology evaluation and compliance.
- Operational Excellence
- Monitor KPIs, productivity metrics, and quality indicators to improve efficiency.
- Standardize development toolchains (requirements management, architecture/modelling, configuration management).
- Implement robust development and validation methodologies across teams.
- Product design and development in automotive.
- Strong understanding of automotive standards and processes (e.g., ASPICE (Level 3+), ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), ISO/SAE 21434 (Cybersecurity), UNECE R155/R156).
- Proficiency with requirements management, architecture/modeling tools, and configuration/change management tools.
- Experience with model‑based development methodologies and related tools (MATLAB/Simulink, SysML/UML, MBSE frameworks).
- Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to inspire and lead high-performing teams in complex environments
- Strategic thinking, innovation mindset, and decisive problem‑solving skills.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and negotiation abilities.
- Fluent English at an advanced/professional level.
- Master’s degree in IT, Robotics, Cybersecurity, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline.
- 10+ years of experience in software and system development, preferably in the automotive field.
- Proven expertise in software architecture, embedded systems, and hardware–software integration.
- At least 5 years in leadership roles with responsibility for teams, technical direction, and strategy.
- Experience working in multicultural or international environments is considered a plus.
Contact
To apply, please send your Resume to: recruiting@zendrasystems.com