Senior R&D Manager Technical Leadership

Job Title: Senior R&D Manager Technical Leadership

Location: Coimbatore
Reports To: Head of R&D Department: Research & Development

Position Overview

We are seeking an accomplished and hands-on Senior R&D Manager to provide technical leadership across multiple disciplines within our R&D organization. The role is central to driving innovation, design excellence, and successful delivery of cutting-edge Smart Energy Meters, DC Fast EV Chargers, and Power Electronics.

This is a senior technical leadership position responsible for architecting solutions, guiding cross-functional teams, mentoring engineers, and ensuring that the R&D outputs are robust, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with product strategy and market needs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership & Execution

• Lead multidisciplinary R&D teams across hardware (analog/digital/power), embedded firmware/software, mechanical, testing and compliance domains.
• Drive the end-to-end product development lifecycle – from concept to production release and post-launch improvements.
• Oversee system architecture design for Smart Meters, EV Chargers, and Power Electronics Products ensuring scalability, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and standards compliance.
• Provide technical direction, decision-making support, and design reviews across projects.
• Champion engineering best practices, including structured development processes, DFx, risk analysis, verification and validation planning.

2. Product & Technology Strategy

• Collaborate with Head of R&D and product management to shape technology roadmaps and platform strategies.
• Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies, tools, and design methodologies relevant to smart grid, EV charging protocols, and power electronics.
• Align technical decisions with product strategy, cost targets, and time-to-market requirements.

3. Mentoring & Team Development

• Act as technical mentor to engineers across levels and functions, fostering a culture of engineering excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Identify skill gaps and lead competency development initiatives through technical training, reviews, and hands-on coaching.

4. Quality, Compliance & Standards

• Ensure adherence to applicable national and international standards, certifications, and protocols:
• Smart Energy Meters: DLMS/COSEM, IS16444, IS15959, IEC 62052/53, etc.
• EV Chargers: IEC 61851, IS17017, CHAdeMO, CCS, OCPP 1.6/2.0.1
• Power Electronics: BIS, IEC, EMI/EMC norms
• Drive robust design validation, EMI/EMC testing, reliability analysis, environmental compliance, and certification processes.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, After-Sales, and Product Management to ensure DFM, DFA, serviceability, and field performance requirements are met.
• Support sustenance engineering, value engineering, and resolution of field issues through structured RCA and design improvements.

Required Qualifications

• B.E./B.Tech in Electronics, Electrical, or Embedded Systems
• M.Tech/M.S. in Power Electronics, Power Systems, Embedded Systems, or related field is preferred
• 15+ years of experience in product R&D, with minimum 5 years in technical leadership roles.
• Proven track record in design and delivery of Smart Meters, EV Chargers, Power Electronics, or embedded systems.
• Strong understanding of embedded systems architecture, power electronics design, and product compliance/certification processes.
• Hands-on experience with relevant tools (Altium, OrCAD, MATLAB, Simulink, embedded IDEs, etc.)

Key Competencies Mandatory

• Strong system thinking, analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Deep understanding of product development lifecycle, and agile or hybrid development models.
• Excellent communication and technical documentation skills.
• Ability to lead by influence, resolve conflicts, and drive decision-making in cross-functional settings.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for mentoring and growing technical talent.

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Experience in development of VFDs, inverters, or solar inverters.
• Exposure to IoT protocols, cloud integration, and data analytics for smart devices.
• Understanding of cybersecurity in embedded devices and secure firmware development.
• Familiarity with PLM systems, ISO 26262, Functional Safety, SIL compliance.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to shape the next generation of energy and mobility products.
• Access to full-stack product development – from concept to certification to field support.