Deputy lead

Planys Technologies; Chennai District; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Planys Technologies is seeking a Head of Defence Engineering to lead engineering efforts for marine robotic platforms. This role involves strategic integration of mechanical, electronic, and software systems, program management for defence projects, and team leadership.

The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in defence engineering with a strong technical foundation in robotics and autonomous systems, ensuring compliance with military standards and managing a cross-functional team.

Qualifications

• 12–18+ years of experience in robotics, unmanned systems, or marine engineering.
• Demonstrated leadership in delivering multi-disciplinary engineering programmes.
• Experience with MoD procurement cycles and design reviews.

Responsibilities

• Own architecture and design strategy for defence-focused systems.
• Manage engineering schedules and compliance with military standards.
• Oversee integration of subsystems and conduct system integration tests.
• Manage and mentor a defence engineering team.
• Ensure designs meet naval technical standards and oversee documentation.

Skills

Technical leadership

Multi-disciplinary integration

Reliability engineering

Project management

Education

B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Naval, Ocean, or related

M.E./M.Tech in related fields

Job description

Planys is a deep tech start-up revolutionizing infrastructure integrity and risk assessment. Planys specializes in smart underwater inspection solutions and sophisticated digital analytics and reporting of NDT data. Planys envisions steering a new course in the maintenance and inspection industry with its disruptive innovations in marine robotics, novel underwater NDT methods and AI-enabled post-inspection analytical digital reporting dashboard. Planys helps asset owners/operators in taking data-driven decisions for effective maintenance and repair of their critical assets. (Website: www.planystech.com)

Job Description

The Head of Defence Engineering will lead end-to-end engineering for Planys’ defence portfolio, including MCM-class ROVs, AUVs, autonomous systems, and mission‑critical marine robotic platforms. The role demands strong technical leadership across mechanical, electronics, software, hydrodynamics, and systems engineering, combined with program execution excellence for MoD, Navy, Shipyards, and DRDO-linked projects. It spans architecture leadership, program management, team capability building, multi-disciplinary integration, and customer/partner engagement, ensuring delivery of combat‑ready, field‑validated systems.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Engineering Leader – Own architecture, design strategy, and technology roadmap for defence-focused ROVs, AUVs, and autonomous surface platforms; translate naval/MoD requirements into specifications, conduct system‑level trade studies, performance modelling and design freeze reviews.
• Program Ownership (MoD / Navy / Strategic Client) – Manage engineering schedules, risk registers, deliverables, and cross‑functional dependencies; ensure documentation, certification and compliance with military and classification standards.
• Multi-Disciplinary System Integration – Oversee integration of mechanical, electrical, propulsion, communication, control, and autonomy subsystems; lead system integration tests, harbour acceptance tests, environmental tests and sea trials; ensure EMC/EMI compliance, underwater acoustic compatibility and ruggedisation for defence deployment.
• Team Leadership & Capability Building – Manage and mentor a defence engineering team across mechanical, electrical, software, controls and test, set up engineering processes, review gates, quality frameworks tailored for defence programmes, and coach leads in decision‑making, FMEA, risk identification and review discipline.
• Defence Standards, Compliance & Documentation – Ensure designs meet standards such as MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, STANAG, DNV‑GL, ABS or other naval technical requirements; oversee creation of ICDs, detailed design documents, qualification test specifications and user manuals.
• Cross‑Functional & External Collaboration – Interface with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Field Ops and Program Management for seamless execution; lead technical discussions with DRDO labs, naval officers, certification agencies and OEM partners; support customer demonstrations, trials, technical presentations and proposal reviews.
• Innovation, Reliability & Future Systems – Drive innovation in propulsion, autonomy integration, underwater communication, power systems and survivability; lead reliability programs using FMEA, RCA, HALT/HASS and long‑duration endurance testing; build roadmap for modular upgrades, payload integration and next‑generation defence platforms.

Qualifications & Certification

• B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Naval, Ocean, Mechatronics or related engineering with 12–18+ years of experience in robotics, unmanned systems, defence engineering, marine engineering or related fields.
• Demonstrated leadership in delivering multi‑disciplinary engineering programmes, especially in underwater systems, AUV/ROV development, marine autonomy or naval platforms.
• M.E./M.Tech in Ocean Engineering, Marine Engineering, Robotics, Controls, Aerospace or related fields preferred.
• Experience with MoD procurement cycles, naval user trials, and design reviews.
• Experience with certification agencies such as DNV‑GL, IRS, ABS, BV.
• Strong background in reliability, FMEA, DFMEA and mission‑critical system design.

KPIs & Success Metrics

• On‑time delivery of defence engineering programmes and trials.
• Reduction in field failures and improved reliability metrics.
• Quality and completeness of design documentation.
• Team capability growth and retention.

Base, Location, Working Model & Reporting To

Details may vary and are to be confirmed during the hiring process.