Head of Software

Role Purpose

The Head of Software China will be responsible for shaping and executing the local software strategy aligned with the global software and AI vision. This role acts as the primary liaison between global and local software teams, ensuring China-specific requirements are understood, prioritized, and integrated into global initiatives. The position also drives localization, customization, and best practices across software development, while supporting commercial success in the Chinese market.

Strategy development and alignment:

• Derive and implement the local software strategy from the global software and AI strategy.
• Serve as the go-to person for global software teams and local software stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and alignment.

Market & Requirements Management:

• Understand and prioritize China-specific requirements for global software solutions.
• Advocate for local needs within global product roadmaps and development cycles.

Leadership:

• Represent the China Software development in the global BU MSW management team
• Support and lead development projects with local focus (e.g., VMM) ensuring timely delivery and quality standards.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration for projects requiring local customization.

Localization & Customization:

• Ensure the right level of localization of software (e.g., cloud infrastructure) and customization where “local-for-local” is required.
  
  Maintain compliance with local regulations and technology standards.

Quality & Best Practices:

• Promote IQS software development principles and facilitate best practice sharing across software development functions locally.
• Implement robust governance for software development processes.

Commercial Support:

• Collaborate with sales teams to support software sales in China
  , providing technical expertise and strategic input.
• Contribute to go-to-market strategies for software offerings tailored to the Chinese market.

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• Proven experience in software strategy and development leadership roles, ideally in multinational organizations
• Strong understanding of global software architectures and local market requirements in China
• Experience with C++, Python microservice software architectures, CI/CD processes, and test automation beneficial
• Expertise in cloud infrastructure, localization, and regulatory compliance
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across global and local teams
• Fluent in English and Mandarin (preferred)

• Strategic thinking and execution
• Cross-cultural collaboration
• Technical leadership in software development
• Business acumen and commercial orientation
• Change management and adaptability

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team