Key Responsibilities :

1. Lead end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) projects and existing product improvement activities across all business verticals.
2. Manage, guide, and mentor the design team to achieve project objectives and timelines.
3. Develop and evaluate new product concepts, engineering solutions, and design approaches.
4. Collaborate with Marketing, Production, Purchase, Quality, Service, and other cross-functional teams.
5. Ensure product designs meet functional, aesthetic, cost, quality, safety, and manufacturability requirements.
6. Conduct and oversee product design reviews, prototyping, testing, validation, and design finalization.
7. Establish and maintain design standards, processes, procedures, and engineering best practices.
8. Manage project timelines, budgets, resources, milestones, and deliverables.
9. Identify project risks and implement appropriate mitigation and corrective action plans.
10. Ensure designs comply with applicable regulatory, safety, quality, customer, and engineering requirements.
11. Lead Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) initiatives to improve product quality and reduce manufacturing costs.
12. Identify and resolve technical, engineering, and design-related challenges during product development.
13. Prepare technical and commercial proposals for new product development projects.
14. Analyze customer requirements, RFQs, technical specifications, and develop cost estimates and quotations.
15. Maintain and regularly update customer enquiry records, project databases, drawings, and design documentation.
16. Coordinate with customers to understand and clarify technical, commercial, and project requirements.
17. Participate in customer meetings to understand requirements, expectations, specifications, and project scope.
18. Coordinate and monitor New Product Development and Prototype Development activities from concept to final product.
19. Train and guide team members on ISO requirements, design documentation, procedures, and audit requirements.




20. Support internal and external ISO audits and ensure proper design-related documentation and compliance.
21. Conduct regular design and project review meetings with the team to monitor progress and drive continuous improvement.
22. Review and approve engineering drawings, 3D models, BOMs, specifications, and other design documentation.
23. Coordinate with Production and Quality teams during prototype and production trials to resolve design-related issues.
24. Identify opportunities for product cost reduction, design optimization, quality improvement, and process improvement.
25. Ensure proper documentation and knowledge transfer throughout the product development lifecycle.

SolidWorks & Technical Skills :

- Strong proficiency in SolidWorks for 3D modelling, assembly design, and 2D engineering drawings.
- Strong knowledge of GD&T; (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing).
- Ability to interpret and prepare detailed engineering drawings.
- Knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, machining, fabrication, sheet metal, welding, and assembly processes.
- Experience in prototype development, testing, validation, and design verification.
- Knowledge of DFM, DFA, Design Optimization, and Value Engineering.
- Knowledge of engineering standards and product safety requirements.

Required Skills :

- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent product design and engineering knowledge.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Valuable project planning and execution skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.




- Strong understanding of manufacturing and production requirements.
- Good knowledge of quality management and ISO documentation.
- Ability to prepare technical proposals, cost estimates, and quotations.
- Strong customer coordination and communication skills.
- Excellent cross-functional coordination skills.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong decision-making and negotiation skills.
- Ability to work under deadlines and manage project priorities.

Preferred Profile
- Experience in R&D;, Engineering, Product Development, or Manufacturing industries.
- Experience in managing complete product development cycles from concept → design → prototype → testing → validation → production.
- Experience in customer-facing technical discussions and RFQ evaluation.
- Experience in leading continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Experience working with ISO-certified organizations and supporting internal/external audits.

Key Performance Areas :

- New Product Development completion within planned timelines.
- Existing product improvement and cost reduction.
- Design quality and accuracy.
- Prototype and validation success rate.
- Project cost and resource management.
- Customer requirement compliance.
- DFM/DFA implementation.
- Design team productivity and development.
- Reduction of design-related production issues.
- ISO and engineering documentation compliance.
- Customer satisfaction and successful project delivery.

Qualification :

- B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant engineering discipline.
- M.E. / M.Tech in Mechanical / Design Engineering is preferred.
- MBA in Operations, Project Management, or a related field is an added advantage.

Experience :

- 10+ years of relevant experience in Product Design, R&D;, Engineering, or New Product Development.
- Proven experience in leading and managing a design/engineering team.
- Experience in developing new products and improving existing products.

📌 New Product Development Manager (Palladam)
🏢 Vertex Research Centre
📍 Palladam