The client is seeking an experienced Head of Research & Development to lead and coordinate all group R&D efforts and drive innovation across the organization. In this senior executive role, the successful candidate will be a member of division management with a direct reporting line to the CEO and will oversee strategic and operational leadership for the global R&D organization.
Key responsibilities include managing the R&D center with full accountability for budget and results, leading multidisciplinary engineering teams spanning mechanical, electrical, hardware, and software, and analyzing emerging technologies to assess their industrial applicability. The role will also define the development roadmap in close collaboration with Product Management, steer development projects worldwide from early concept through market readiness with attention to time-to-market and budget targets, and ensure knowledge transfer through detailed documentation and training and education initiatives.
The Head of R&D will maintain responsibility for patents and certifications, collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders, and continuously improve R&D processes. The successful applicant will typically bring a Master’s degree in electrical or electro-mechanical engineering (a PhD may be advantageous) and at least 10 years of relevant international experience, with demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams and a strong track record in complex mechatronic or electromechanical product development; flexibility for international commuting and fluency in English are expected, with German as an additional advantage.