Head of Engineering

Objective of the Role - Head – Vehicle Safety Engineering: To lead the global vehicle safety function by defining and executing the organization's safety strategy across Active Safety, Passive Safety, CAE Crashworthiness, Functional Safety, and Vehicle Validation. The role will ensure world-class safety performance, global regulatory compliance, and achievement of targeted safety ratings while driving innovation, standardization, and engineering excellence across all global vehicle programs.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Vehicle Safety Strategy

• Define and implement the overall vehicle safety strategy for current and future vehicle platforms.
• Establish safety targets aligned with global regulatory and customer requirements.
• Drive the organization's roadmap for vehicle safety technologies.

2. Active Safety & ADAS

• Lead the development and integration of Active Safety and ADAS systems.
• Oversee features such as:
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control (TCS)
• Collision Avoidance Systems
• Ensure ADAS performance meets Euro NCAP, IIHS, ASEAN NCAP, and other applicable standards.

3. Passive Safety

• Lead the design and development of occupant protection systems.
• Oversee:
• Airbag systems
• Seat belt and pretensioner systems
• Child restraint (ISOFIX)
• Steering column safety
• Occupant restraint systems
• Pedestrian protection
• Body structure and crash energy management
• Optimize vehicle crash performance across all impact scenarios.

4. CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering)

• Lead CAE teams responsible for virtual vehicle safety development.
• Manage:
• Crash simulations
• Occupant injury analysis
• Pedestrian impact simulation
• Roof crush analysis
• Side impact analysis
• Frontal and rear crash simulation
• Battery crashworthiness (EVs)
• Correlate CAE models with physical crash test results.

5. Functional Safety

• Ensure compliance with ISO 26262.
• Lead development of:
• Hazard Analysis & Risk Assessment (HARA)
• Functional Safety Concepts
• Technical Safety Concepts
• ASIL allocation
• Safety Cases
• Collaborate with software, electrical, and systems engineering teams.

6. Safety Validation & Testing

• Lead vehicle safety testing programs, including:
• Full vehicle crash tests
• Sled tests
• Component validation
• ADAS validation
• Durability and abuse testing
• Pedestrian protection testing
• Manage proving ground and laboratory validation activities.

7. Regulatory Compliance & Homologation

• Ensure compliance with:
• FMVSS
• ECE Regulations
• AIS Standards
• Euro NCAP
• Bharat NCAP
• IIHS
• Global NCAP
• Support homologation and certification activities for global markets.

8. Cross-Functional Leadership

• Work closely with:
• Product Engineering
• Vehicle Integration
• Body Engineering
• Electrical & Electronics
• Powertrain
• Quality
• Manufacturing
• Program Management
• Supplier Quality
• Drive issue resolution through cross-functional teams.

9. Supplier & Technology Management

• Lead technical discussions with suppliers for:
• Airbags
• Seat belts
• ADAS sensors
• Radar
• Cameras
• LiDAR
• ECUs
• Crash sensors
• Evaluate new safety technologies and supplier capabilities.

10. Team Leadership

• Build and mentor multidisciplinary teams covering:
• Active Safety
• Passive Safety
• CAE
• Crashworthiness
• Functional Safety
• Validation & Testing
• Define competency development and succession plans.

11. Program & Budget Management

• Manage safety engineering budgets, timelines, and resource planning.
• Ensure on-time delivery of safety milestones within cost and quality targets

Candidate Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering.
• Experience: 20+ years in automotive product development, with 10+ years in leadership roles within a global OEM or Tier-1 supplier.
• Core Expertise: Active Safety, Passive Safety, CAE Crashworthiness, Functional Safety (ISO 26262), ADAS, Vehicle Validation & Testing.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of FMVSS, UNECE/ECE, Euro NCAP, Global/Bharat NCAP, and global homologation requirements.
• Leadership: Proven experience leading global, cross-functional engineering teams and delivering multiple vehicle programs across international markets.
• Preferred Background: Experience in global automotive OEMs or leading Engineering companies, with a track record of delivering world-class vehicle safety solutions and 5-Star NCAP programs.