Head of engineering

Objective of the Role - Head – Vehicle Safety Engineering: To lead the global vehicle safety function by defining and executing the organization's safety strategy across Active Safety, Passive Safety, CAE Crashworthiness, Functional Safety, and Vehicle Validation. The role will ensure world-class safety performance, global regulatory compliance, and achievement of targeted safety ratings while driving innovation, standardization, and engineering excellence across all global vehicle programs.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
1. Vehicle Safety Strategy
Define and implement the overall vehicle safety strategy for current and future vehicle platforms.
Establish safety targets aligned with global regulatory and customer requirements.
Drive the organization's roadmap for vehicle safety technologies.
2. Active Safety & ADAS
Lead the development and integration of Active Safety and ADAS systems.
Oversee features such as:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Traction Control (TCS)
Collision Avoidance Systems
Ensure ADAS performance meets Euro NCAP, IIHS, ASEAN NCAP, and other applicable standards.
3. Passive Safety
Lead the design and development of occupant protection systems.
Oversee:
Airbag systems
Seat belt and pretensioner systems
Child restraint (ISOFIX)
Steering column safety
Occupant restraint systems
Pedestrian protection
Body structure and crash energy management
Optimize vehicle crash performance across all impact scenarios.
4. CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering)
Lead CAE teams responsible for virtual vehicle safety development.
Manage:
Crash simulations
Occupant injury analysis
Pedestrian impact simulation
Roof crush analysis
Side impact analysis
Frontal and rear crash simulation
Battery crashworthiness (EVs)
Correlate CAE models with physical crash test results.
5. Functional Safety
Ensure compliance with ISO 26262.
Lead development of:
Hazard Analysis & Risk Assessment (HARA)
Functional Safety Concepts
Technical Safety Concepts
ASIL allocation
Safety Cases
Collaborate with software, electrical, and systems engineering teams.
6. Safety Validation & Testing
Lead vehicle safety testing programs, including:
Full vehicle crash tests
Sled tests
Component validation
ADAS validation
Durability and abuse testing
Pedestrian protection testing
Manage proving ground and laboratory validation activities.
7. Regulatory Compliance & Homologation
Ensure compliance with:
FMVSS
ECE Regulations
AIS Standards
Euro NCAP
Bharat NCAP
IIHS
Global NCAP
Support homologation and certification activities for global markets.
8. Cross-Functional Leadership
Work closely with:
Product Engineering
Vehicle Integration
Body Engineering
Electrical & Electronics
Powertrain
Quality
Manufacturing
Program Management
Supplier Quality
Drive issue resolution through cross-functional teams.
9. Supplier & Technology Management
Lead technical discussions with suppliers for:
Airbags
Seat belts
ADAS sensors
Radar
Cameras
Li DAR
ECUs
Crash sensors
Evaluate new safety technologies and supplier capabilities.
10. Team Leadership
Build and mentor multidisciplinary teams covering:
Active Safety
Passive Safety
CAE
Crashworthiness
Functional Safety
Validation & Testing
Define competency development and succession plans.
11. Program & Budget Management
Manage safety engineering budgets, timelines, and resource planning.
Ensure on-time delivery of safety milestones within cost and quality targets
Candidate Requirements
Education: Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering.
Experience: 20+ years in automotive product development, with 10+ years in leadership roles within a global OEM or Tier-1 supplier.
Core Expertise: Active Safety, Passive Safety, CAE Crashworthiness, Functional Safety (ISO 26262), ADAS, Vehicle Validation & Testing.
Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of FMVSS, UNECE/ECE, Euro NCAP, Global/Bharat NCAP, and global homologation requirements.
Leadership: Proven experience leading global, cross-functional engineering teams and delivering multiple vehicle programs across international markets.
Preferred Background: Experience in global automotive OEMs or leading Engineering companies, with a track record of delivering world-class vehicle safety solutions and 5-Star NCAP programs.