R&D Lead- AdTech & Media

ESP Engineered; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

ESP Engineered is seeking an R&D Lead in Hyderabad to drive strategic improvements in delivery quality across client accounts. The role involves scaling R&D audits, executing a long-term learning roadmap, and mentoring a high-performing team to foster continuous learning.

Applicants should have proven leadership skills and a strong background in R&D, focused on long-term capability building. This position will significantly contribute to enhancing client performance and industry competitiveness.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills in R&D or related fields.
• Ability to execute and deliver strategic improvements.
• Proficient in developing training programs and enablement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Own and scale R&D initiatives to improve client delivery quality.
• Define and execute long-term R&D learning roadmap.
• Lead the creation of high-quality knowledge assets.

Job description

At DataBeat, R&D is not a support function—it is a strategic pillar. Over the last three years, our dedicated R&D team has driven measurable impact across delivery quality, employee capability building, and external brand credibility. As the scope and ambition of our R&D initiatives continue to grow, we are looking for an R&D Lead who can take full ownership of this function and help build the team and thrive in ambiguity, enjoy solving complex industry problems, and is motivated by building long‑term capability rather than short‑term outputs.

Key Objectives of the Role

1. Improving delivery quality across client accounts

• Own and scale account‑level R&D audits to assess delivery quality, identify gaps, and recommend measurable improvements.
• Partner closely with Delivery Managers and Account Leads to help achieve client‑defined goals and KPIs.
• Act as an internal escalation point for complex delivery challenges and problem‑solving initiatives.
• Drive cross‑functional recommendations by connecting insights across Yield, AdOps, Data, Tech, and Strategy teams.
• Design and deliver structured enablement and training programs that directly improve account performance and client outcomes.

2. Employee Knowledge, Capability & Competitiveness

• Define and execute a long‑term R&D learning roadmap aligned with industry evolution and client needs.
• Own and expand internal initiatives such as HackAdTech, knowledge sessions, and competitive learning formats (e.g., quizzes, challenges, simulations).
• Identify skill gaps across teams and proactively design programs to bridge them.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning across the organization.
• Ensure DataBeat teams stay ahead of industry trends across AdTech, Media, AI, Programmatic, and Analytics.

3. Thought Leadership, Brand & Market Enablement

• Own the R&D content charter in collaboration with BD and Marketing teams.
• Lead the creation of high‑quality knowledge assets including:
  • Industry benchmarking reports
  • Case studies and success stories
  • Opinion‑led blogs and trend analysis
  • Technical and strategic whitepapers
• Support webinars, panels, and external events by shaping narratives, topics, and positioning DataBeat alongside industry leaders.
• Enable BD and Marketing teams with credible, insight‑driven content that strengthens sales conversations and market perception.
• Build, mentor, and scale a high‑performing R&D team as initiatives expand.
• Define clear ownership, prioritization frameworks, and execution rhythms across R&D initiatives.
• Balance short‑term delivery needs with long‑term strategic R&D investments.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to evolve R&D into a consulting‑led practice over time.
• Establish metrics to measure R&D impact across delivery, people, and brand outcomes.