Director – R&D

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions

Director & Head of R&D managing product development for Wireless Locks at Uhlmann & Zacher. Leading innovation and strategic direction at Würzburg Centre of Excellence.

Posted 5/25/2026full-timeWürzburg • 🇩🇪 GermanyLeadWebsite

ATS Keywords

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Hard Skills

firmware developmentsoftware developmentdigital locking systemsIoT systemsAgile methodologyWaterfall methodologycloud conceptsbackend conceptssystems architectureproduct development

Soft Skills

leadershipchange managementcultural awarenessanalytical problem solvingstakeholder managementsystems thinkingquality mindsetcross-functional team leadershipcommunicationstrategic alignment

Certifications & Qualifications

Master’s degree in EngineeringMaster’s degree in Computer Science

Industry Keywords

Wireless Locksphysical securitycybersecurityhigh-volume environmentssafety-critical productsR&D capabilitiesproduct category P&Lperformance KPIsproduct unit managementtechnical assessments

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudCyber SecurityIoT

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build better products to drive better growth
Shape the future of Wireless Locks by delivering industry‑leading solutions that set new standards in usability, physical security, cybersecurity and durability
Lead Product Development at the Würzburg Centre of Excellence
Deliver industry‑leading products that set benchmarks for usability, physical security, cybersecurity and long‑term durability
Serve as Director (Geschäftsführer) of Uhlmann & Zacher
Own software and firmware development across the Wireless Locks Product Unit
Drive cross‑product‑line collaboration within Wireless Locks
Develop and share technical assessments of existing and new competitor solutions
Shape and align the Product Unit development strategy in close partnership with Wireless Locks Management and DAS Management
Act as a core member of the Wireless Locks Product Unit Management Team
Develop and grow R&D capabilities of R&D team members
Drive measurable impact on the product category P&L, with success evaluated through financial performance and clearly defined additional performance KPIs

Requirements

What you’ll need

Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent expert‑level experience in digital locking / IoT systems
Proven leadership experience across hardware, firmware and software product development, with strong delivery track record in complex, safety/security‑critical products.
Strong delivery record in complex, high‑volume, security‑critical products
Hands‑on understanding of firmware and software engineering, architecture, integration and cloud/backend concepts
Experience leading international, cross‑functional teams with strong change‑management capability and cultural awareness
Deep understanding of product development methods (Agile and Waterfall) and of industrialization/ramp‑up in high‑volume environments
Excellent technical management skills: systems thinking, analytical problem solving, quality mindset and stakeholder management in a matrix organisation
Fluent in English and German
A willingness to travel across the EMEIA region.

Benefits

Comp & perks

A high‑impact leadership role with a broad mandate
Entrepreneurial speed and strong engineering heritage at Uhlmann & Zacher combined with the scale, portfolio and global reach of ASSA ABLOY
Opportunity to build world‑class teams, modernize development practices and apply AI to accelerate innovation and delivery