Deputy Manager

 Product Development – R&D

Key Responsibilities

1. Product and Component Design

• Prepare battery layouts, assembly drawings, component drawings and detailed manufacturing drawings.
• Support Design and develop flooded tubular lead-acid batteries for inverter, solar, industrial and other deep-cycle applications.
• Design and optimize components such as containers, lids, terminal arrangements, handles, vent plugs, gauntlets, grids, spines, straps and associated parts.
• Develop accurate 2D drawings and 3D models using AutoCAD and Creo.
• Define critical dimensions, tolerances, materials and technical specifications.
• Maintain drawing accuracy, revision control and standardization across product families.

2. New Product Development

• Convert product requirement specifications into design concepts and engineering specifications.
• Conduct design calculations covering battery capacity, plate configuration, acid volume, component fitment, terminal arrangement, weight and dimensional compliance.
• Support prototype development, pilot builds and production trials.
• Coordinate with testing teams to prepare DVP&R and validation plans.
• Support design verification, validation and release through the company stage-gate NPD process.
• Ensure completion of design reviews, technical risk assessments and product-release documentation.

3. Design Analysis and Optimization

• Perform tolerance stack-up, fitment and interface analysis for battery components.
• Identify opportunities for weight reduction, material optimization, improved performance and cost reduction.
• Conduct Design FMEA and participate in Process FMEA reviews.
• Evaluate product failures and implement corrective design actions.
• Apply design-for-manufacturing, design-for-assembly and mistake-proofing principles.
• Support value-engineering and product-standardization initiatives.

4. Tooling and Supplier Development Support

• Prepare technical inputs for moulds, dies, fixtures and inspection gauges.
• Participate in mould trials, component trials and sample approval.
• Work with suppliers to resolve dimensional, material, fitment and manufacturing concerns.
• Support component qualification, pilot-lot evaluation and production approval.

5. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with Manufacturing, Quality, Testing, Purchase, Marketing, Service and Supplier Development teams.
• Provide technical support during product industrialization and production ramp-up.
• Support investigation of field complaints and warranty failures related to product or component design.
• Provide technical inputs for product specifications, catalogues, manuals and regulatory submissions.

6. Documentation and Compliance

• Prepare and maintain drawings, specifications, bills of materials, engineering change notes and technical reports.
• Ensure proper document control and traceability of design changes.

• Support internal, customer and certification audits relating to product design and development.
• Follow applicable safety, quality and environmental management systems.

Educational Qualification

• B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline.
• A diploma or advanced qualification in Tool and Die Making, CAD/CAM or Product Design will be an advantage.

Required Experience

• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in product or component design.
• Practical experience in the design and development of flooded tubular lead-acid batteries is strongly preferred.
• Experience in plastic components, lead-alloy components, tooling, mould development and manufacturing drawings will be valuable.
• Exposure to battery manufacturing processes and new-product industrialization is required.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Creo and AutoCAD.
• Strong knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances and fitment analysis.
• Knowledge of flooded tubular lead-acid battery construction and performance.
• Understanding of plastic-component design, injection moulding, lead-alloy components and manufacturing processes.
• Working knowledge of DFMEA, DVP&R, design reviews and engineering-change management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Familiarity with PLM, ERP or drawing-management systems will be an advantage.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Attention to detail and commitment to drawing accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple development projects simultaneously.
• Effective cross-functional and supplier coordination.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.