Sr Manager - R&D

Eaton; Puducherry; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton is seeking a senior leader to drive research, design and development of MV switchgear components. You will define strategies, oversee VCB design, and ensure timely, compliant delivery across AIS and GIS environments.

Lead a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets, coordinate testing with accredited labs, and push for industrialization and cost efficiency across product lines.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree in Electrical or Mechanical engineering.
• 15+ years of MV product development experience in business and manufacturing environments.
• Experience with testing, certification and compliance, especially IEC standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D strategies for MV switchgear components aligned with roadmaps.
• Define and manage budgets, resources, and project timelines.
• Supervise VCB design: interrupters, linkages, insulation in AIS/GIS.
• Define test plans for mechanical endurance, dielectric, environmental tests.
• Coordinate type testing with labs (KEMA, CESI, GCC Lab) and validate prototypes.
• Lead RCA and implement corrective actions across product families.
• Ensure compliance with IEC standards and customer/utility specs.
• Maintain documentation for certifications and type testing.
• Use DFMEA and reliability methods to improve robustness.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, electrical, and quality teams to industrialize components.

Skills

MV Switchgear

IEC Standards

New Product Development

Project Management

Cross-functional

DFMEA

Reliability Engineering

SAP PLM

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Education

Electrical/Mechanical Engg

Tools

SAP PLM

Enovia

PROPM

MsProjects

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

GD&T

Job description

Lead and manage the research, design, and development of critical components for Medium Voltage (MV) Switchgear. Drive innovation, compliance, and industrialization to strengthen the competitiveness of both MV Switchgear portfolios.

• Define and execute R&D strategies for component development across MV Switchgear aligned with business objectives and product technology roadmaps.
• Manage resources, budgets, and timelines, ensuring effective prioritization and delivery of component projects across both product lines.
• Supervise VCB design activities for MV Switchgear, including interrupters, linkages, and insulation systems for AIS and GIS environments.
• Define and approve type and prototype test plans covering MV Switchgear components (mechanical endurance, TRV, dielectric, internal arc, environmental cycling, etc.).
• Coordinate type testing with accredited labs (KEMA, CESI, GCC Lab) and oversee in-house prototype validation.
• Lead root cause analysis of failures and ensure effective corrective measures across both product families.
• Guarantee compliance with IEC / 100 / 102 / 103 / 200 standards as well as customer-specific and utility requirements.
• Maintain technical documentation supporting certifications, approvals, and type testing for both MV Switchgear projects.
• Utilize DFMEA and reliability engineering methods to strengthen robustness and long-term quality of Switchgear components.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, supply chain, electrical, and quality teams to ensure industrialization of components for both MV Switchgear.
• Collaborate with suppliers and R&D institutions to localize and qualify components, reducing costs and lead times across both product lines.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team, fostering expertise in both MV Switchgear component engineering and building succession pipelines.
• Ability to recruit, recognize and cultivate high performers and expose them in order to create a robust second line of management.
• Assessment criteria of subordinates is performance that leads to planned results.
• Able to anticipate problems and make the necessary proactive steps to prevent them
• Ability to take necessary and proper timely decisions.
• Deliver the required results in timely manner with required quality and cost.
• Must make a tangible difference to his area of operation. and exceed business expectations.
• Responsible for monitoring and controlling budgets and expenses to achieve the optimum cost efficiency.
• Develop, coordinate well-defined written systems, policies, procedures, and seek automations opportunities as much as possible.

Qualifications:

• Engineering Degree degree in Electrical / Mechnical Engg.
• 15+ years experience in MV Product Development in Business & Plant Environment New Technology Research Manufacturing Processes Process Automation

Skills:

• Experience with Electrical Products Medium Voltage Switchgear
• Expertise in Global Product Standards and Certification requirements (mainly IEC)
• Experienced in successfully launching New Product Development (NPD), VAVE, Customisations and Product / Technology Transfer programs
• Hands-on experience in development, Type testing, product development procedures & concepts like Benchmarking, Reverse Engineering
• Developing to fully demonstrating in Program and Project Management methodologies, processes and tools
• Knowledge of SAP and Product Life Cycle Management Tools (SAP PLM, Enovia)
• Knowledge of Project Management tools (PROPM, MsProjects)
• Knowledge in Solid works, AutoCAD , Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing, Tolerance stack-up analysis
• Knowledge of Product Stewardship
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Highly Ethical and Strong result Orientation
• Leadership skills - capability to lead change in an Integrated Team.
• Good interpersonal skills, man management, and planning
• High degree of professional presence and customer interface skills
• Very adept at influencing to achieve results through others
• Ability to forge strong relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Must be capable of leading effectively in diverse cultural situations with global stakeholders and team members in matrix environment.
• Must be capable of initiating and providing recommendations for Division Leadership Team’s review and approval that will achieve desired customer outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good communication and presentation skills – both verbal and written with ability to make necessary status reports and technical presentations to Eaton management and customer
• Good analytical skills and business acumen
• High level of attention to detail essential