Role: General Manager - Design & Development

Experience: 25+ years

CTC: 50-60 LPA

Location: Mumbai

Industry: Automotive / Auto Components

Function: Design & Development / Engineering

Role Overview:

The company is looking for an experienced General Manager - Design & Development to lead end-to-end product design, engineering, development, and production launch activities within the automotive or auto-component industry.

The role requires a senior engineering leader who combines strong technical expertise with program management, customer engagement, and people leadership capabilities. The incumbent will oversee multiple product development programs, guide engineering teams, and coordinate with manufacturing, tooling, quality, and supplier teams to deliver products within agreed quality, cost, and delivery targets.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Product Design & Development:

- Lead the complete product development lifecycle, from concept creation and engineering design through validation, industrialisation, and production launch.

- Review engineering designs and guide teams in using CATIA V5 or equivalent CAD tools.

- Ensure product designs meet customer requirements and support manufacturability and production readiness.

2. Program Management & Delivery:

- Manage multiple product development programs, ensuring adherence to quality, cost, delivery, and timeline commitments.

- Define and monitor project milestones, track progress, and resolve issues affecting execution.

- Identify technical and delivery risks and drive corrective actions to ensure successful program completion.

3. Customer Engagement:

- Lead direct customer interactions, technical discussions, and product development reviews.

- Translate customer requirements into clear engineering priorities and deliverables.

- Coordinate the timely resolution of technical concerns and product development issues.

4. Engineering Team Leadership:

- Lead, mentor, and develop design and engineering teams.

- Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability for delivery.

- Strengthen technical capabilities, collaboration, and execution discipline across the team.

5. Cross-Functional Coordination & Improvement:

- Work closely with manufacturing, tooling, quality, and suppliers to support development, industrialisation, and production launch.

- Guide teams on tooling, supplier development, and manufacturing considerations throughout the development lifecycle.

- Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes and product development practices.

Required Skills & Experience:

- 25+ years of experience in automotive or auto-component engineering, design, and development.

- Proven expertise in end-to-end product development, from concept to production launch.

- Strong program management experience, including managing multiple development programs.

- Demonstrated experience in direct customer handling and technical discussions.

- Strong team leadership, people management, and execution capabilities.

- Experience with CATIA V5 or equivalent CAD tools.

- Practical understanding of tooling, supplier development, manufacturing processes, and industrialisation.

Preferred Experience:

- Experience in wiper systems or automotive component development.

- Exposure to DC or BLDC motor development.