ZEISS in India

ZEISS in India is headquartered in Bengaluru and present in the fields of Industrial Quality Solutions, Research Microscopy Solutions, Medical Technology, Vision Care and Sports & Cine Optics.

ZEISS India has 3 production facilities, R&D; center, Global IT services and about 40 Sales & Service offices in almost all Tier I and Tier II cities in India. With 2200+ employees and continued investments over 25 years in India, ZEISS’ success story in India is continuing at a rapid pace.

Further information at ZEISS India.

Reports to: Head of R&D; Refractive Lasers (Jena, Germany)

Role Mission The Head of Lifecycle Engineering (REF) is accountable for establishing and leading a globally integrated Lifecycle Engineering function for ZEISS Refractive Lasers, ensuring long-term product sustainability, regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

This role combines end-to-end ownership of lifecycle engineering for released products with the strategic mandate to design and implement a scalable Germany–India operating model.

Strategic Impact

This role is critical to ZEISS Medical Technology’s ability to:

- Ensure uninterrupted product availability despite increasing component obsolescence, regulatory requirements, and cybersecurity demands

- Unlock innovation capacity within R&D; by transferring sustaining activities into a dedicated Lifecycle Engineering structure

- Build a cost-efficient, scalable engineering capability in India fully aligned with global quality and compliance standards

- Strengthen ZEISS’ global operating model through effective cross-site collaboration and integration

Core Responsibilities

Lifecycle Ownership & Product Sustainability

- Assume full accountability for lifecycle engineering of released refractive products (post Gate 5), covering quality, safety, compliance, cost, and timelines

- Define and continuously evolve lifecycle roadmaps across product lines

- Lead obsolescence management strategies, including second sourcing and redesign decisions

- Oversee supplier-driven changes, including technical evaluation, risk assessment, and implementation





- Ensure robust software maintenance and cybersecurity patching in alignment with global processes (PSIRT/CSIRT)

- Drive resolution of quality issues including CAPA, non-conformities and field corrective actions

Portfolio & Execution Management
- Own and steer the global sustaining project portfolio

- Prioritize initiatives based on business impact, regulatory requirements and risk exposure

- Ensure delivery excellence across time, cost and quality dimensions

- Establish transparency through KPI-driven performance management

Operating Model & Capability Build (Project Ettersburg)
- Architect and implement a Germany–India Lifecycle Engineering operating model in close collaboration with Operations/ Live-Cycle-Management

- Define scope and roadmap for offshoring activities with transparent governance structures

- Build and scale a multidisciplinary engineering team in Bangalore

- Institutionalize knowledge transfer, capability development and process standardization

- Establish clear KPIs, SLAs and performance frameworks across sites

Leadership & Organizational Transformation
- Lead and develop high-performing teams across geographies

- Drive cultural and organizational transformation towards a distributed engineering model

- Foster a performance-oriented, feedback-driven, and collaborative culture

Act as a role model for ZEISS leadership principles and values

Stakeholder & Supplier Leadership
- Align lifecycle priorities across R&D;, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Service and Procurement

- Navigate and balance trade-offs between cost, compliance, speed and risk

- Lead supplier interactions including technical alignment and change implementation

Own escalation management and resolution in critical situations





Quality, Regulatory & Compliance Governance
- Ensure full compliance with applicable standards (ISO 13485, ISO 14971, IEC 62304, MDR, FDA)

- Establish and enforce robust change control processes

- Support audits and regulatory interactions globally

- Drive continuous improvement of lifecycle engineering processes and tools

Candidate Profile

Education

Master’s degree in Engineering or related technical field (PhD preferred)

Professional Experience

- 12+ years in lifecycle engineering, R&D; or systems engineering in MedTech

- Proven track record in offshoring engineering activities to India, including operating model design and execution

- Demonstrated leadership experience in multidisciplinary and cross-cultural environments

- Strong hands-on experience in lifecycle topics such as obsolescence, CAPA, supplier changes, and software maintenance

Technical & Leadership Capabilities
- Deep understanding of complex systems (electronics, mechanics, software)

- Strong project and portfolio management capabilities

- Structured problem-solving and risk management expertise

- Solid understanding of cybersecurity lifecycle requirements

- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

Leadership Characteristics
- Strong ownership mindset with high accountability for outcomes

- Pragmatic and solution-oriented approach in complex environments

- Resilience and ability to lead through ambiguity and change

- Intercultural leadership capability with experience in global teams

Languages & Mobility
- Willingness to work in Germany for extended onboarding phase and travel globally

Positioning of the Role

This position represents a key leadership role within ZEISS Medical Technology, sitting at the intersection of R&D;, Quality and Operations.

It offers the opportunity to shape a globally relevant engineering capability, drive meaningful organizational transformation and directly impact product performance and patient outcomes worldwide.

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team

Saptarshi Chowdhury

📌 Head of Refractive Laser Lifecycle Engineering (Bengaluru)
🏢 Zeiss
📍 Bengaluru