Regional product development director F/M/X

Socomec; Benfeld; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Socomec in France seeks a Senior R&D Manager to lead the operational rollout of our development strategy for power switching and monitoring products across the EMEA region, from design to market launch.

You will manage a 70-strong internal team plus around 50 subcontractors, drive QCD milestones, uphold IEC/UL/ATEX/SIL standards, and steward a €10 million R&D budget while collaborating with international partners and executives.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (Bac+5) in electrical engineering or related field
• 10+ years in Senior R&D Manager role leading 30+ people in electromechanical/electronic industry
• Experience with product development from specification to launch and collaboration with international partners
• English at C1 level

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development of operational product roadmap with Marketing, PM and manufacturing
• Lead a team of ~70 internal employees across engineering, electronics, and embedded software
• Oversee ~50 FTE subcontractors via external engineering firms
• Ensure achievement of QCD milestones and compliance with IEC/UL/GB/ATEX/SIL standards
• Integrate IoT, cybersecurity, and eco-design into processes
• Participate in portfolio management and adoption of PLM, Data Management, ERP processes
• Manage an R&D budget of ~€10 million and advocate for projects to the Business Line Executive Committee

Skills

Team leadership

R&D management

Electrical engineering

English (C1)

Education

Master’s degree in electrical engineering / related field

Tools

PLM

Data Management

ERP

Job description

Reporting to the Development Department of the Power Switching & Monitoring Business Line, you will lead the operational rollout of the development strategy for our product lines, from the design phase through to market launch for the EMEA region.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of the operational product roadmap in close collaboration with Marketing, Project Management, and the manufacturing teams;
• Manage a team of approximately 70 internal employees covering electrical engineering, electromechanics, electronics, and embedded software;
• Also oversee nearly 50 FTE subcontractors through external engineering firms;
• Ensure the achievement of QCD milestones, compliance with IEC/UL/GB/ATEX/SIL standards, and time-to-market objectives;
• Integrate technological advancements and cross-functional processes such as IoT, cybersecurity, and eco-design;
• Participate in the creation of new offerings and the management of the current portfolio by applying processes within a context of continuous improvement (PLM, Data Management, ERP);
• Manage an R&D budget of approximately €10 million and advocate for projects before the Business Line Executive Committee.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an engineering school with a master’s degree (Bac+5) in electrical engineering, power electronics, mechatronics, or equivalent;
• You have at least 10 years of experience in a Senior R&D Manager role (or ideally executive-level experience), leading a team of more than 30 people in a standardized electromechanical or electronic industrial environment;
• You have a thorough understanding of the product development process from the specification phase through to commercial launch, with strong ties to international industrial partners;
• C1-level English is essential.

Additional qualities that could make you even more unique:

• A strong product vision and a good understanding of market dynamics.

Because your profile is not limited to technical skills:

• Recognized leadership, with the ability to unite and develop multidisciplinary teams in a demanding environment.
• A strong customer focus and a solid understanding of project profitability challenges