Head of engineering

Position: Head of Engineering

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)

Location: Mysore

Job Summary:

We are seeking a strategic, hands-on Engineering Head to lead the entire engineering function at a fast-growing Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) company. You will be responsible for driving technical excellence across New Product Introduction (NPI), process engineering, design for manufacturability (DFM), test engineering, and continuous improvement. The role demands deep expertise in electronics manufacturing (SMT, PCB assembly, box-build, and high-mix, low-to-medium-volume production) and the ability to translate customer requirements into scalable, cost-effective, high-quality manufacturing solutions.

You will lead a multi-disciplinary team (Process, Test, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, and Quality Engineering) while partnering closely with customers (OEMs/ODMs), Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

Own the complete engineering roadmap and technology strategy for the EMS business. Define and drive engineering KPIs: NPI cycle time, first-pass yield, process capability (Cp K), cost of poor quality, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Lead digital transformation initiatives in manufacturing (Industry 4.0, automation, MES, AI/ML for defect detection).

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Customer Engineering

Lead end-to-end NPI from customer RFQ to mass production handover. Conduct Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Testability (DFT), and Design for Cost (DFC) reviews. Provide value engineering and alternate component engineering support to customers.

Process & Manufacturing Engineering

Develop, standardize, and continuously improve SMT, PTH, selective soldering, conformal coating, potting, box-build, and system integration processes. Own process validation, PFMEA, control plans, and process capability studies. Drive automation and smart factory projects (robotic soldering, AOI, AXI, ICT, FCT, burn-in).

Quality & Reliability

Ensure compliance with IPC-A-610, IPC-7711/7721, ISO 9001, IATF 16949 (if applicable), Ro HS, REACH, and customer-specific standards. Lead root-cause analysis (8 D, Fishbone, DOE) for critical defects and field failures.

People & Team Management

Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing engineering team. Create succession plans and a technical competency matrix for the function. Foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and data-driven decision making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Sales & Marketing for technical pre-sales support and customer presentations. Work with Operations for production ramp-up, line balancing, and capacity planning. Interface with Supply Chain on component engineering and obsolescence management.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

Education

Bachelor's / Master's degree in Electronics & Communications/ Electrical / (or equivalent). Certifications: Six Sigma Black Belt / Green Belt, IPC certifications (CID/CIT preferred), PMP is a plus.

Experience

12–18 years of total experience in Electronics Manufacturing / EMS / ODM industry. Minimum 6–8 years in a senior leadership role (Engineering Manager / Sr. Engineering Manager / Head of Engineering). Proven track record of successfully launching 50+ complex electronic products (automotive, medical, industrial, consumer, telecom, or aerospace). Hands-on experience with high-volume SMT lines (minimum 5–7 lines) and box-build operations.

Technical Expertise

Deep knowledge of SMT processes (screen printing, placement, reflow, wave, selective soldering). Strong understanding of test strategy development (AOI, AXI, ICT, FCT, JTAG, Boundary Scan). Experience with CAD tools (Valor, Allegro, Solid Works), ERP (SAP/Oracle), and MES systems. Knowledge of materials, PCBA reliability, and failure analysis techniques.

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

Strong business acumen and customer-centric mindset. Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills. Proven ability to drive cost reduction and productivity improvement projects (target 8–15% Yo Y). High-energy, results-oriented, and comfortable in a fast-paced EMS environment.

Preferred Advantages

Experience in setting up greenfield EMS plants or new process lines. Exposure to global customers (US, Europe, Japan) and international quality standards. Knowledge of emerging technologies: Si P, 5 G modules, EV electronics, medical device manufacturing, or Industry 4.0 implementations.