Group Manager Outdoor Testing PCR

Apollo Tyres; Chennai; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Apollo Tyres Ltd in Chennai R&D is seeking a Group Manager Outdoor Testing PCR to lead tyre testing activities for product development, validation, benchmarking, and continuous improvement. The role requires delivering reliable subjective and objective results and generating actionable insights to support performance, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

You will act as the technical expert in tyre and vehicle performance evaluation—ride, handling, braking, noise, and dynamics—using

Qualifications

• Excellent English communication and presentation skills.
• Minimum 10 years of testing experience in automotive OE/vehicle-level tyre testing.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Automobile engineering.

Responsibilities

• Define testing strategies and priorities for tyre development and benchmarking.
• Lead end-to-end tyre testing activities including planning, setup, data acquisition, and reporting.
• Drive integration with OEMs and cross-functional teams to meet targets.
• Coach and develop the testing team and manage resources and budgets.
• Ensure safety and quality culture in testing facilities.

Skills

Communication

Analytical thinking

Lateral thinking

R&D mindset

Education

B.Tech/BE - Mechanical / Automobile

Job description

Apollo Tyres Ltd is an international tyremanufacturer and the leading tyre brand in India. The company has multiplemanufacturing units in India and a unit each in The Netherlands and Hungary.The company markets its products under its two global brands – Apollo and Vredestein,and its products are available in over 100 countries through a vast network ofbranded, exclusive and multi-product outlets.

Job Title: Group Manager Outdoor Testing PCR

Location: Chennai R&D

Reports to (Position): Division Head

Department/Function:

Number of Direct Reports (Solid Line): 1

Number of Direct Reports (Dotted Line): 0

Number of Outsourced Reports: 1

Purpose of the Job:Responsible to lead and manage tyre testing activities for product development, validation, benchmarking, and continuous improvement. Ensure reliable subjective and objective test results, generate actionable development insights, and support product performance, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.
Serve as the technical expert in tyre andvehicle performance evaluation, including ride, handling, braking, noise, andvehicle dynamics. Utilize advanced testing methodologies, instrumentation, dataacquisition systems, and analytical tools to enable data-driven tyredevelopment and effective problem solving.

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead the Tyre Testing Department by defining testing strategies, priorities, methodologies, standards, and best practices aligned with product development goals, project milestones, risk assessment, resource availability, and business objectives.
• Drive passenger car tyre development, validation, benchmarking, and homologation through subjective and objective evaluation of Ride, Handling, Steering, Braking, Noise, and tyre dynamics – Internal & Jointly with OEM.
• Lead end-to-end testing activities including test planning, resource allocation, instrumentation setup, test execution, data acquisition, post-processing, analysis, interpretation and reporting in accordance with standard procedures.
• Utilize objective test data and engineering expertise to generate actionable insights, support data-driven decision making, optimize tyre performance, identify root causes of issues, and recommend corrective actions to product development team.
• Translate test results into clear technical recommendations and design inputs to support product development.
• Ensure timely execution and delivery of multiple testing projects while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to meet business targets.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing testing team by providing technical guidance, mentoring & competency development.
• Managetesting resources, budgets, facilities, and equipment while fostering a cultureof safety, quality, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

Skills:

Communicationin English with presentation skills
Observation, Analytical & Lateral thinkingskills, Passion to work with R&D mind set up

Knowledge:

a)Good Subjective Driving skills / Vehicle level Testing
b)Knowledge of Vehicle & Tyre Dynamics
b)Safety basics, MS Office,

Relevant Experience:Minimum10 years’ experience in Testing at Automotive OE / vehicle level Tyre testing

Education Qualification(s):B.Tech/ BE - Mechanical / Automobile