Head of Engineering

Amor Management Consultants - India’s Premiere Auto Talent Hiring Specialists; Pune District; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading talent hiring specialist seeks a Head of R&D/Engineering for special purpose machines and heavy industrial machinery. The role involves leading global engineering capabilities, driving innovation, and overseeing new product development. Candidates should have extensive experience in engineering leadership within multinational firms, with a focus on mechanical systems and customer interface. Strong problem-solving abilities and knowledge of industry standards are essential. The position is based in Pune, India and offers a unique opportunity to contribute to strategic global projects.

Qualifications

• 18–30+ years of experience in SPM/heavy industrial machinery/capital equipment.
• Proven experience leading engineering/R&D functions in multinational organizations.
• Hands-on engineering knowledge across heavy machine design and structures.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen global engineering capabilities for special purpose machines.
• Oversee product design including integration of mechanical structures and heavy fabrication.
• Engage with customers to understand process requirements and production challenges.

Skills

SPMs expertise

Mechanical systems knowledge

Leadership capabilities

Problem-solving skills

Education

BE/BTech in Mechanical/Mechatronics/Electrical/Automation

Tools

PLC/SCADA

Robotics

Hydraulics

Job description

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.

1. Engineering & Technology Strategy

• Define 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 & Development

• Lead 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 Interface

• Engage 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 Collaboration

• Ensure 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 & Safety

• Ensure 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.
• Drive value engineering, cost reduction, and localization initiatives without compromising performance.
• Promote development of proprietary technologies, IP, and patents where applicable.
• Benchmark global competitors and emerging technologies in SPM and heavy machinery domains.

7. Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Build 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 Interface

• Manage 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 equipment
• Expertise in mechanical systems, heavy structures, hydraulics, controls, PLC/SCADA, robotics
• Deep understanding of industrial manufacturing processes (automotive, metals, energy, cement, steel, etc.)
• Strong customer-facing, leadership, and problem-solving capabilities
• Experience with global customers and multinational standards preferred

Candidate 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 mandatory
• Proven experience leading engineering / R&D functions in multinational organizations
• Strong 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 Machines
• Demonstrated business and engineering experience working with Europe, US, and other international markets
• Experience collaborating with global customers, cross-cultural teams, and overseas manufacturing / engineering centers
• Strong capability in techno-commercial decision making, RFQs, and stakeholder management