European R&D Center Technical Director

GAC Motor Europe; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonus

Global exposure

Job summary

GAC Motor Europe is seeking a European R&D Center Technical Director to lead full-vehicle R&D in Europe, reporting to senior leadership. This role oversees vehicle integration, validation, and certification across multiple teams, ensuring alignment with global platforms.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in European automotive R&D, strong knowledge of WVTA and EU processes, and a track record of delivering complex programs from definition to SOP mass production.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of full-vehicle R&D experience in Europe
• Familiar with European development processes and WVTA approvals
• Bachelor’s degree or above in Vehicle/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering; Master’s preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead vehicle positioning, target user scenarios and architecture solutions
• Serve as technical chief for new model projects in Europe
• Organize design reviews and resolve cross-disciplinary integration conflicts
• Ensure Europe alignment with global platform architecture and standards

Skills

Full-vehicle R&D

European OEM knowledge

Project leadership

Cross-functional coordination

Regulatory compliance

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Vehicle/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

WVTA / EU certification processes

Job description

About The GAC

GAC MOTOR Europe was registered in March 2024 in Amsterdam and is part of the Guangzhou Automobile Group. Our business covers all aspects of passenger car sales, marketing and aftersales services. We are dedicated to delivering quality work and exceptional customer service in all aspects of our business.

About The GAC

GAC MOTOR Europe was registered in March 2024 in Amsterdam and is part of the Guangzhou Automobile Group. Our business covers all aspects of passenger car sales, marketing and aftersales services. We are dedicated to delivering quality work and exceptional customer service in all aspects of our business. Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as GAC group, 6601238.SH，02238.HK), headquartered in Guangzhou City, is a large joint-stock automobile enterprise listed in both Hongkong and Shanghai Stock exchanges. At present, it has about 100,000 employees. Fortunate Global 500 ranked No.181. The main business covers seven major sectors: research and development, vehicle, parts, energy and ecology, internationalization, commerce and transportation, investment and finance. Sticking to independent innovation and joint venture cooperation, GAC group is now transforming itself with all its strength to a technology-based enterprise. Adhering to the enterprise concept of 'Humanity', Credibility, Creativity', GAC is committed to building a world-class company which wins customers’ trust, ensures staff's well-being, and meets social expectations.

We are currently looking for European R&D Center Technical Director, the details Job responsibilities as below:

Who You Are

Job Type: Full-time / Management-technical position

Department: European R&D Center (Global R&D System)

Work Location: Europe (specific city negotiable)

Reports To: President of International R&D (solid line); General Manager of European Region (dotted line)

Direct Reports: Product Definition and Decomposition, Vehicle Integration, Regulations and Compliance, Validation and Certification, and other professional teams

Job Mission: First responsible person for technical R&D in the European region

Travel Requirement: Global

Key Responsibilities

Product Definition and Project Initiation

• Based on European market demand, competitor benchmarking, and EU regulatory requirements, lead vehicle positioning, target user scenario definition, performance target setting (VTS), configuration strategy, and vehicle architecture solutions;


• Lead the technical feasibility assessment of new projects, deliver the project initiation technical package, and support China headquarters in completing the European adaptability definition of global models.

Full-Vehicle Integration Development (Technical Chief Responsible Person)

• Serve as the technical chief responsible person for new model projects in the European region, coordinating body, chassis, e-propulsion, thermal management, E/E, intelligent driving, NVH, and other professional areas;


• Organize Design Reviews, resolve cross-disciplinary integration conflicts, and control technical risks, cost, schedule, and design quality;


• Support the implementation of the company’s global model development system in Europe, ensuring that European technical solutions are aligned with the global platform architecture.

Validation and Mass-Production Acceptance

• Build and manage the European local DV/PV design validation and product validation system;


• Be responsible for technical acceptance of full-vehicle calibration, durability testing, and certification testing; formulate acceptance standards; control prototype vehicle status and closed-loop resolution of test issues;

What You Bring

• 15+ years of full-vehicle R&D experience at a mainstream European OEM or Tier 1 supplier;


• Familiar with European full-vehicle development processes (e.g., PEP/VFF-SOP milestone system) and the EU WVTA whole-vehicle type approval regulatory framework;


• Bachelor’s degree or above in Vehicle Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree or above preferred.


• Has led 2–3 all-new full-vehicle projects as Technical Lead / Technical Project Manager;


• Project experience must cover the full lifecycle from product definition, engineering development, prototype validation, and test acceptance through to SOP mass production;


• Practical project experience in European local whole-vehicle certification (WVTA / EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval) is preferred.


• Full-vehicle development capability: Complete full-vehicle engineering development and vehicle integration capability; familiar with European full-vehicle development processes; able to coordinate body, chassis, e-propulsion (battery, motor, electronic control), thermal management, E/E, intelligent driving, NVH, and other disciplines for vehicle-level development; able to resolve multi-system coupling and cross-disciplinary integration conflicts.


• Full-vehicle definition capability: Full-vehicle-level product definition capability; able to independently complete vehicle positioning, target user scenarios, performance targets, configuration strategy, and vehicle architecture solutions; able to independently formulate VTS (Vehicle Technical Specification).


• Full-vehicle acceptance capability: Full-vehicle mass-production acceptance capability; able to independently formulate acceptance criteria, chair final project technical reviews, and possess practical experience and decision-making authority for SOP mass-production technical release.


• Regulatory compliance capability: Proficient in the EU whole-vehicle certification process and compliance system; able to communicate directly with regulators and certification bodies.


• Fluent English; able to efficiently interface with China headquarters, the local European team, and third-party certification bodies; able to drive cross-cultural and cross-time-zone collaboration.


• Capable of technical team building, talent development, and technical decision-making influence; able to drive technical consensus within a matrix organization.

What We Offer

• An ambitious employer; we only want the best for you.


• A fast career track like only few other companies can match.


• A competitive salary and excellent bonus structure (above market); at GAC we strongly believe and live by ownership and meritocracy.

GAC Europe is based in Amsterdam, and we offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits package, along with an attractive welfare policy. Let me know if you'd like to learn more.

If you have any questions, you may always reach out via [e-mail].

Company website

INTERNATIONAL | Where Craft Meets Technology

We are committed to creating a work environment of trust and respect for our employee, which we believe will motivate them to achieve their dreams together. Our employees and partners have always been relentless in their pursuit of excellence in the face of challenges. We are very proud of what we have achieved, and we are proud of our leadership. We hope you will give full play to your talents and help make GAC a world-class company.