Design And Development Engineer

Job Title: Head – Design & Development

Department: Engineering / R&D

Industry: Manufacturing / Industrial / Automotive / Heavy Engineering

Experience Required: 10+ Years

Qualification: B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in Mechanical Engineering

Role Overview

The Head – Design & Development will lead the complete product design lifecycle from concept to commercialization. This role requires strong technical expertise in mechanical engineering, leadership capability, cross-functional coordination, and strategic vision to drive innovation, cost optimization, and product excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

Develop and execute product design and R&D strategy aligned with business objectives.

Lead innovation initiatives, new product development (NPD), and product improvement programs.

Establish long-term technology roadmap and capability development plans.

Drive standardization, modularization, and value engineering initiatives.

2. Product Design & Development

Oversee end-to-end product development lifecycle (Concept, Design, Prototyping, Testing, Validation, Production release).

Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards and quality norms.

Review and approve detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.

Ensure design for manufacturability (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), and cost optimization.

Guide selection of materials, manufacturing processes, and tooling concepts.

3. Team Leadership & Management

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of design engineers and project managers.

Allocate projects and monitor progress to meet deadlines and budgets.

Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Conduct performance evaluations and skill development planning.

4. Cross-Functional Coordination

Work closely with Production, Quality, Procurement, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.

Support customer interactions for technical clarifications and custom development.

Coordinate with external vendors, consultants, and certification bodies.

5. Project Management

Manage multiple design projects simultaneously.

Ensure timely delivery within budget.

Monitor KPIs related to design efficiency, cost savings, and time-to-market.

Conduct design reviews, risk assessments, and FMEA analysis.

6. Compliance & Quality

Ensure compliance with ISO standards and industry-specific regulations.

Implement robust validation and verification processes.

Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for design-related issues.

Required Technical Skills

Strong expertise in CAD software (SolidWorks / CATIA / Creo / AutoCAD).

Proficiency in CAE tools (ANSYS or equivalent).

Experience with GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis.

Knowledge of manufacturing processes (casting, machining, sheet metal, fabrication).

Understanding of PLM systems.

Experience in cost estimation and value engineering.

Familiarity with industry standards (ASME, ISO, DIN, etc.).

Required Competencies

Strong leadership and decision-making skills.

Strategic thinking and innovation mindset.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Budget management and commercial awareness.

Ability to work in fast-paced manufacturing environments.