Global Chief Technology Officer / SDV Engineering Leader

CONFIDENTIAL RETAINED SEARCH | GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE / AUTO PARTS

Search Reference: TNF-AU-CTO-2026 | SDV Technology Leadership Mandate, Global Automotive

ABOUT THIS SEARCH

Top Notch Finders has been retained on an exclusive and strictly confidential basis to identify a Global CTO / Software-Defined Vehicle Engineering Leader for a global automotive or auto parts manufacturing organization. To protect the interests of our client and of every candidate who engages with us, the identity of the company is disclosed only to qualified candidates under a confidentiality agreement. All inquiries and applications are received and managed solely by Top Notch Finders.

POSITION SNAPSHOT

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer / Board of Directors.
• Location: Global, HQ-based with regional travel across North America, Europe, and Asia; specifics disclosed to qualified candidates.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Global CTO / SDV Engineering Leader owns the enterprise technology vision and execution roadmap for the software-defined vehicle transition, leading embedded software, cloud, ADAS, and over-the-air (OTA) update architecture across the vehicle lifecycle. This executive transforms the organization from a hardware-centric manufacturer into a software-enabled mobility company, directly influencing revenue, safety, and long-term competitiveness.

MARKET CONTEXT

This is one of the scarcest executive profiles in the industry, with the demand-to-supply ratio for AI-native, safety-critical software leadership estimated at roughly 3.4x, requiring cross-industry sourcing from aerospace, defense, and consumer technology.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and execute the global SDV technology roadmap, including centralized compute architecture, OTA infrastructure, and post-sale feature monetization platforms.
• Lead engineering organizations spanning embedded systems, ADAS, infotainment, cybersecurity, and cloud-connected vehicle services.
• Partner with the CEO and board to align technology investment with capital allocation, M&A, and platform strategy.
• Oversee software safety and compliance frameworks (ISO 26262, ASPICE, AUTOSAR) across global engineering sites.
• Build and scale software engineering talent pipelines, including recruiting from outside traditional automotive (aerospace, defense, consumer tech).
• Manage supplier and technology partnership strategy with semiconductor, cloud, and AI infrastructure providers.
• Drive cybersecurity governance for connected vehicle platforms in compliance with global regulatory standards (UNECE WP.29, ISO/SAE 21434).
• Represent the technology organization to investors, regulators, and strategic partners on SDV and connected-vehicle strategy.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 15+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience, including 5+ years in a CTO, VP Engineering, or equivalent senior technology role.
• Proven track record delivering software-defined vehicle, ADAS, or large-scale embedded systems programs at OEM, Tier 1, or adjacent technology scale.
• Deep technical fluency in AUTOSAR, OTA update systems, centralized/zonal compute architecture, and AI/ML-enabled vehicle software.
• Experience leading global, multi-site engineering organizations of 500+ engineers.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and retain scarce AI-native and software engineering talent in a highly competitive market.
• Strong track record engaging boards and investors on technology strategy and capital allocation.
• Experience with automotive functional safety standards (ISO 26262) and cybersecurity frameworks (ISO/SAE 21434).

CONFIDENTIALITY AND HOW TO APPLY

This is a discreet, retained engagement. Your candidacy will never be presented to any organization without your explicit prior authorization, and no application will be visible to the hiring company at this stage. Accomplished automotive technology executives are invited to submit a resume in confidence through the Top Notch Finders website. Please reference search code TNF-AU-CTO-2026 in your submission. Do not include proprietary, export-controlled, or customer-confidential information of any kind in your application materials. Only candidates whose backgrounds align closely with the mandate will be contacted.