Job Title

Head R&D / Engineering - (Special Purpose Machines & Heavy Industrial Machinery)Role Purpose:The objective of the Head – Engineering / R&D is to lead and strengthen global engineering capabilities for Special Purpose Machines and Heavy Industrial Machinery, driving technology leadership, innovation, and engineering excellence across the organization.The role will position India as a strategic global engineering and manufacturing hub for select products and platforms, while leading new product development and complex projects originating from India. The incumbent will ensure that India-based engineering teams support and collaborate with global locations across Europe, the US, and other regions, delivering standardized, cost-effective, and high-quality engineering solutions aligned with global standards.This role is responsible for building scalable platforms, accelerating new projects, enabling cross-regional collaboration, and supporting business growth by seamlessly integrating engineering, innovation, and execution across global operations.Key Roles & Responsibilities:1. Engineering & Technology StrategyDefine and implement the engineering and R&D roadmap for SPMs and heavy industrial machines.Drive platform-based designs, standardization, and modular architecture across machine families.Identify and deploy new technologies such as automation, robotics, Industry 4.0, digital twins, advanced materials, and smart diagnostics.Align engineering initiatives with long-term business, capacity, and market expansion plans.2. Product Design & DevelopmentLead conceptual design, detailed engineering, prototyping, testing, and validation of machines.Oversee integration of mechanical structures, heavy fabrication, electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, controls, PLC/SCADA, robotics, and vision systems.Ensure designs meet performance, durability, safety, reliability, and lifecycle cost targets.Approve technical specifications, layouts, GA drawings, calculations, and BOMs.3. Application Engineering & Customer InterfaceEngage with customers to understand process requirements, production challenges, and capacity needs.Lead technical feasibility studies, concept proposals, and techno-commercial inputs during RFQ and pre-sales stages.Support customers during FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, and ramp-up.Drive structured engineering change management for customer or field-driven modifications.4. Project Execution & Cross-Functional CollaborationEnsure engineering deliverables support on-time, on-cost, and right-first-time project execution.Collaborate closely with manufacturing, sourcing, quality, project management, and service teams.Promote Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Serviceability (DFS).Proactively identify and mitigate technical and execution risks.5. Quality, Compliance & SafetyEnsure adherence to international engineering and safety standards (ISO, CE, UL, IEC, customer-specific norms).Implement robust design reviews, DFMEA, PFMEA, and validation protocols.Ensure machines comply with statutory, safety, and environmental regulations.Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for field failures and reliability issues.6. Innovation, Cost Optimization & Continuous ImprovementDrive value engineering, cost reduction, and localization initiatives without compromising performance.Promote development of proprietary technologies, IP, and patents where applicable.Institutionalize lessons learned, engineering standards, and reusable design libraries.Benchmark global competitors and emerging technologies in SPM and heavy machinery domains.7. Team Leadership & Capability DevelopmentBuild and lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, controls, automation).Develop talent pipelines, training programs, and succession plans.Set KPIs for engineering productivity, quality, innovation, and delivery.Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and technical excellence.8. Budget, Governance & Management InterfaceManage engineering budgets, R&D investments, and resource planning.Support leadership with technical inputs for capital investments and new business opportunities.Present engineering strategy, risks, and progress to senior management and board-level stakeholders.Key Skills & Experience:Strong exposure to SPMs, heavy engineering machinery, industrial automation, or capital equipmentExpertise in mechanical systems, heavy structures, hydraulics, controls, PLC/SCADA, roboticsDeep understanding of industrial manufacturing processes (automotive, metals, energy, cement, steel, etc.)Strong customer-facing, leadership, and problem-solving capabilitiesExperience with global customers and multinational standards preferredCandidate Requirements:BE / BTech in Mechanical / Mechatronics / Electrical / Automation (ME/MTech preferred)18–30+ years of experience in SPM / heavy industrial machinery / capital equipment, with MNC background mandatoryProven experience leading engineering / R&D functions in multinational organizationsStrong exposure to global engineering standards and compliance (ISO, CE, UL, IEC)Hands-on engineering knowledge across heavy machine design, heavy industries / structures, hydraulics, controls, PLC/SCADA, industrial compressor, Textile MachinesDemonstrated business and engineering experience working with Europe, US, and other international marketsExperience collaborating with global customers, cross-cultural teams, and overseas manufacturing / engineering centersStrong capability in techno-commercial decision making, RFQs, and stakeholder management