AGM – Test Lab Operation and Management (ITEC)

Kone México; Chennai District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

KONE Technology and Innovation Unit in Chennai, India, seeks a Deputy General Manager to lead and optimize testing labs, build robust simulators for software testing, and ensure alignment with global practices. The role focuses on creating efficient test environments, safe operations, and seamless product development integration.

Leading a multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional engineers to drive R&D testing capabilities and continuous improvement in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automation engineering or related field.
• Minimum 15 years’ experience in R&D or test engineering.
• Strong understanding of electrical and elevator systems.
• Experience in managing labs, budgets, and supplier relations.
• Excellent English communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Full ownership and management of ITEC Laboratories.
• Align simulator development with global practices and optimize test environments.
• Ensure safety compliance for lab operations and elevator components.
• Develop and enhance platforms in collaboration with teams and suppliers.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary lab team and manage budgets.

Skills

Lab leadership

Test engineering

Team management

English proficiency

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Automation Engineering

Tools

Beckhoff I/O systems

Job description

KONE Technology and Innovation Unit (KTI): Driving Innovation in People Flow

KONE Technology and Innovation Unit (KTI) is at the forefront of integrating advanced digital systems with physical infrastructure, such as escalators and elevators.

Our mission is to revolutionize the way billions of people move within buildings every day by developing and expanding innovative digital solutions based on emerging technologies.

Our Research & Development (R&D) organization unites top talent from diverse disciplines, forming an industry-leading product and technology team.

We excel at addressing complex customer challenges by bridging legacy systems with the latest advancements in hardware and software engineering.

Notably, approximately half of our R&D positions are dedicated to software development.

By embracing agile methodologies, we are able to respond swiftly and effectively to our customers’ evolving needs for speed and innovation in a global context.

Position: Deputy General Manager – Test Lab Operation and Management (ITEC)

We are seeking an accomplished professional to lead the development and optimization of testing simulators for software testing within our R&D department.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing and building test environments tailored to the requirements of our test engineers/specialists, ensuring optimal utilization of laboratory equipment and resources.

This technical leadership role requires expertise in creating effective testing solutions for R&D testing and collaborating with cross-functional teams and suppliers to seamlessly integrate these solutions into the product development lifecycle.

Team leadership is a key component of this position.

As part of the ITEC Embedded Systems and Testing Team within KONE Technology & Innovation in Chennai, India, your primary focus will be on constructing R&D test environments.

This position reports directly to the Head of Shared R&D Services India.

Testing team includes unit testing, integration testing, system testing considering manual and automation testing infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Full ownership and management of ITEC Laboratories.
• Aligning with Global Practices for Simulator Development Design, construction, and optimal utilization of test environments and test equipment.
• Ensuring safety in laboratories and that simulators are built in compliance with safety regulations
• Ensure safety compliance, particularly when working with elevator components and systems.
• Develop new and enhance existing platforms in collaboration with project teams and suppliers.
• Oversee budget control, planning, and roadmap development.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of lab technicians, sourcing, lab in charges.
• Collaborate with testing professionals on building the capability of R&D test environment.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in R&D or Test Engineering.
• Demonstrated financial acumen.
• Strong understanding of electrical and elevator systems.
• Expertise in Beckhoff I/O systems
• Experience in production or commissioning is preferred.
• Proven experience in people management is an asset.
• In-depth knowledge of testing methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Disciplined work ethic with the ability to collaborate effectively in an international team environment.
• Commitment to continuous improvement of working methods and processes.
• Programming and AI skills are considered advantageous.
• Excellent proficiency in English language.

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.

Read more on www.kone.com/careers

At KONE, our purpose is to shape the future of cities. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, we move two billion people every day, making their journeys safe, convenient, and reliable with smart and sustainable People Flow®. In 2025, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.2 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.