Head of Engineering

Objective of the Role:

To lead and strengthen the company’s engineering function across multiple product verticals by driving innovation, new product development, and technology advancement. The role aims to establish the organisation as a trusted solution provider to OEMs and Tier-1 customers through end-to-end engineering capabilities, including design, development, prototyping, print-to-build solutions, and industrialization. The role will focus on the following key outcomes

• Developing futuristic value-added components aligned with automotive technology trends - Electro-Mechanical Components (lightweighting, smart components).
• Enhancing engineering excellence, product quality, and manufacturability across plastics, electrical, and hybrid components.
• Building strong customer confidence through technical leadership, rapid problem-solving, and solution-driven engagement.
• Expanding PTB and advanced engineering capabilities to support diversification and accelerate speed-to-market.

To achieve the above objectives, the Engineering leader will be responsible for the following key areas:

Engineering Leadership Across Multiple Product Verticals

• Lead engineering strategy and execution across plastic components, electrical components, mechatronic assemblies, and hybrid value-added products .
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams handling design, development, simulation, tooling, testing, and industrialization .

Solution Provider Business – End-to-End Technical Delivery

• Oversee solution development from client problem statement to final implementation.
• Provide complete engineering solutions including design, prototyping, manufacturing feasibility, cost engineering, and system-level integration.
• Collaborate with OEMs/Tier-1s to offer concept-to-delivery solutions, improving customer value and technical capability.

Print-to-Build (PTB) / Print-to-Manufacture Engineering

• Lead PTB product development covering 3D printing, rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, low-volume production, and rapid tooling .
• Integrate PTB concepts into mainstream product development for faster validation and improved design cycles.
• Expand PTB capabilities to support new business verticals and custom engineering programs.

Product Development & Innovation

• Drive new product development (NPD) of current and futuristic components aligned with automotive trends—EV, ADAS, lightweighting, smart components, integrated electronics.
• Evaluate and adopt new materials (engineering plastics, composites, recyclable polymers, advanced electrical materials).

Lead VA/VE initiatives to enhance product functionality, cost, and manufacturability.

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Industrialization

• Manage NPI lifecycle including concept design, prototyping, tool development, validation, PPAP, and SOP.
• Ensure flawless launch of products across multiple verticals with strict adherence to timelines and customer deliverables.
• Drive manufacturability improvements and process optimization through DFM/DFA/DFS methodologies.

Technology Advancement & Automation

• Lead technology upgrades such as:
• Robotics & automated assembly
• Precision molding and insert/over-molding
• Electrical component integration
• In-line testing and quality automation
• Introduce digital engineering tools (PLM, simulation, digital twin, automated data flows).

Customer & Program Management

• Act as the technical representative for OEMs and Tier-1 customers across all verticals.
• Participate in engineering reviews, cost discussions, technical negotiations, and product roadmap meetings.
• Provide solution-oriented communication to strengthen long-term customer partnerships.

Quality, Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure adherence to automotive standards such as IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, IMDS, REACH/ROHS, DVP&R.
• Lead failure analysis, root cause investigations, and engineering improvements.
• Implement strong design governance and documentation control across verticals.

Team Building & Capability Development

• Build a strong engineering organization with expertise in plastics, electrical, tooling, simulations, PTB, digital engineering, and industrialization.
• Drive skill enhancement in advanced tools, materials, and emerging technologies.
• Promote a culture of innovation, speed, accountability, and customer focus.

Growth Strategy & Future Readiness

• Develop a long-term engineering roadmap supporting diversification across multiple product lines.
• Identify new opportunities in value-added components, EV systems, smart molded parts, and integrated electronics.
• Support business expansion through technology partnerships, capability development, and new vertical creation.

Candidate Criteria:

Educational Qualification

• B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Automobile Engineering / Mechatronics.
• M.E./M.Tech or MBA (Operations/Technology Management) preferred but not mandatory.

Total Experience

• 24–30 years of overall experience in engineering, NPD, and technology development in the automotive components industry.
• Minimum 8–10 years in a senior leadership in Engineering role managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams.

. Industry Background

Candidates must come from:

• Automotive plastic components manufacturing
• Automotive electrical / electro-mechanical components
• Tier-1/Tier-2 component manufacturers with solution provider engineering models
• Experience in companies offering custom engineering / PTB / rapid prototyping / value-added solutions will be a strong advantage.

Technical Expertise

The candidate must have strong capability in:

• Product design & development (plastics, electrical, hybrid parts)
• DFM/DFA/DFS, DFMEA, PFMEA, and validation processes
• Tooling (injection molds), prototyping, and industrialization
• Print-to-build concepts: 3D printing, rapid tooling, reverse engineering
• Electrical component design, PCB interfacing (preferred)
• Knowledge of EV components, lightweight materials, ADAS-related housings, and futuristic automotive technologies
• Strong understanding of APQP, PPAP, IATF standards
• Exposure to automation and digital engineering (PLM, simulation tools)

Leadership & Strategic Capabilities

• Must have led multi-vertical engineering teams (plastics, electrical, PTB, NPD).
• Proven ability to build engineering systems, processes, and long-term technology roadmaps.
• Experience in scaling engineering capabilities for new business verticals.
• Strong customer-facing and solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work closely with OEMs and Tier-1 clients on technical discussions, reviews, and negotiations.

Business & Solution Delivery Skills

• Experience in solution provider businesses or engineering service models.
• Should have managed concept-to-delivery engineering programs.
• Strong project management capability with cross-functional leadership.
• Experience in cost engineering, VA/VE, and product competitiveness improvement.

Personal Attributes

• Innovation-driven, hands-on, and excellence-focused.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• High ownership, accountability, and speed of execution.
• Strong communication, customer relationship, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate in a fast-growing, multi-vertical, technology-driven environment.