Senior Director, Solutions Technology Lead

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

Reporting to the VP Technology, the Senior Director, Solutions Technology Lead defines and drives the technology and architecture strategy for Sonova’s customer- and consumer-facing solutions. The role ensures that all solutions are architecturally cohesive, secure, high-performing, and fully aligned with enterprise-wide technology principles and long-term strategic direction.

Operating within a federated architecture model, this leader orchestrates the integration of platforms and components into scalable, end-to-end solutions. The role provides architectural leadership across solution domains, guiding Technology Leaders and architects, and shaping cross-functional decisions to safeguard architectural integrity while delivering measurable business and customer impact.

Key responsibilities

Solution Architecture & Strategy

• Define and execute the solution architecture and technology strategy aligned with group wide technology and architectural direction.
• Own solution level architectural decisions, ensuring end to end coherence, feasibility, and long-term sustainability.
• Translate product requirements into robust solution architectures considering performance, security, reliability, and privacy.

Cross-Domain Alignment

• Ensure seamless integration of reusable components into solutions, maximizing reuse and minimizing friction.
• Collaborate with Component, Product, Technology, and Functional Leaders to ensure architectural alignment and trade off clarity.
• Manage solution level system dependencies and cross domain architectural alignment.

Technical Governance & Decision-Making

• Lead solution level feasibility and cost of change assessments to support transparent and data driven decision making.
• Enforce adherence to architectural guardrails, non-negotiable standards, and enterprise level design constraints.
• Own solution level technical debt and modernization roadmaps.

Leadership & Capability Building

• Provide guidance, coaching, and architectural oversight to Solution architects and Technology Leaders.
• Promote innovation in solution design while preserving architectural integrity and long-term viability.

What We Are Looking For

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• Continuous professional development through hands-on experience and industry engagement.

Work Experience

• Minimum five years of leadership experience in a research and development environment.
• Proven technical expertise and direct experience in domains central to technology and architecture leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including the ability to foster collaboration in complex organizational structures and guide technical decision-making.

Personal Competencies

• Strong leadership and managerial skills with a proactive approach.
• Effective stakeholder management and engagement abilities.
• Highly self-motivated, disciplined, and methodical in execution.
• Strong problem-solving mindset with the ability to navigate complex systems efficiently.

Social Competencies

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Strong presentation and articulation abilities tailored to diverse audiences.
• Team-oriented mindset with a commitment to collaboration and shared success.

Core Leadership Competencies and Capabilities

• Demonstrates proactive, decisive leadership with strong ownership and accountability.
• Exercises sound judgment and perseverance in complex decision-making environments.
• Shows intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning and self-development.
• Effectively leads and aligns cross-functional and cross-cultural teams.
• Influences senior stakeholders, navigates complexity, and drives timely, high-quality decisions.
• Inspires and motivates teams, fostering engagement and high performance.
• Leads and develops technical and functional leaders, building strong leadership bench strength.
• Applies strong planning and organizational capabilities to deliver against strategic priorities.
• Drives strategic initiatives and continuous improvement with a focus on measurable outcomes.
• Has a strong expertise in domains central to technology and architecture leadership, with deep understanding of both technological and functional dimensions.
• Familiarity with product development regulations, preferably with specialized knowledge in the medical field will be a plus.

IT Skills

• Experience with collaboration and workflow platforms, such as Confluence and Jira.
• Proficiency in project planning and management tools, including standard office software, will be an advantage.

Languages

• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• Proficiency in additional languages, such as German, is an advantage.

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.