CTO (m/w/d) Industrial Automation - Control & Drive Technology (Motion/Drives/Control Platforms)

Our client is an internationally successful, technology-leading company in the industrial automation sector with a strong market position in control and drive technology. The portfolio includes hardware and software solutions for machine and plant engineering – from controller/IPC systems and embedded/real-time platforms over engineering and software building blocks to servo-drive technology/servo solutions and integrated system architectures.

The company is at a strategic turning point: the transition from being a classic product supplier to becoming an integrated solution and system partner has been initiated – and will now be consistently scaled up, with technology as the central growth driver.

Aufgaben

As CTO, you will take overall responsibility for technology, development, and innovation management. You define the technological agenda, translate market trends into a scalable portfolio, and lead the organization to the next level – with a clear focus on controls, motion, and drives as well as their systemic integration.

You connect strategic foresight with operational excellence and bridge the gap between market, customer, technology, and organization.

Strategische Technologie- & Innovationsführung

Development and implementation of a clear technology and innovation strategy in line with the company's strategy.

• Early recognition of relevant trends and their translation into roadmaps and value creation (e.g. platform architectures, modularization, safety/security-by-design, energy efficiency, connectivity/IIoT as enablers)
• Prioritization of innovation initiatives based on customer value, scalability, time-to-market, and strategic differentiation

Portfolio & Produktentwicklung (System- und Plattformdenken)

Further development of the product and solution portfolio in the direction of customer-oriented total systems.

• Tight connection between hardware, embedded/real-time, engineering-software, and services
• Responsibility for roadmaps, platform strategies, architecture decisions, modularization, and lifecycle management
• Steering of make/partner/buy decisions and building strategic technology partnerships/ecosystems

Organisation, Führung & Performance

Leadership and further development of the development and technology departments (interdisciplinary: hardware, embedded, control/regulation, software, systems engineering)

• BUILDING a high-performance, modern R&D organization including governance, portfolio boards, reviews, and KPI logic
• Fostering a culture that combines engineering excellence with entrepreneurial thinking
• Talent, competence, and succession planning; targeted development of critical key competencies

Schnittstellen, Kunde & Markt

• Tight cooperation with management, sales, product management, operations, and key accounts
• Technological sparring partner for strategic customers (OEMs), partners, and alliances
• Representation of the company in technology and innovation networks

Qualifikation

• Degree in a technical field (e.g. electrical engineering, automation technology, mechatronics, computer science or equivalent)
• Long-standing leadership experience in a technological key role (CTO, VP Engineering, Head of R&D, development leadership) in the industrial automation sector
• Numerous technological responsibilities for control and/or drive technology: e.g. motion control, servo-drives/servo solutions, controller/IPC systems, embedded/real-time platforms, system architectures
• Experience in developing complex systems including architecture, roadmaps, platform logic, modularization, and industrialization
• Track record in innovation and transformation projects (from strategy to implementation to scalable success)
• Languages: German and English (both languages conversational)

Nice-to-have

• Knowledge of functional safety, industrial security, and relevant standards/certifications
• Experience in international development structures and partner ecosystems
• Deep understanding of industrial customer processes (engineering, commissioning, service capability)

Persönlichkeit

• Strategic thinker with a clear view of market, customer, and technology
• Entrepreneurial personality with high implementation strength and decision-making confidence
• Inspiring leadership figure who motivates people for change and establishes excellence
• Strong communicator, connector, and implementer – even in complex stakeholder environments

Benefits

• Gestaltungsspielraum auf Top-Level with direct influence on technology and company strategy
• Middle-level decision-making combined with international professionalism
• Long-term perspective in a structurally growing market segment
• Attractive executive package

We handle all inquiries strictly confidentially. An initial exchange serves to align mandate, context, and expectations – the disclosure of the client's name will take place in the further process.

Interest? Please send us your profile (ideally with a brief reference to relevant control/motion/drives responsibilities)

Note: For better readability, we sometimes use the generic masculine – obviously meant are all genders (m/w/d).

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