Head of Engineering

J.K. Fenner (India) Limited is looking for a Head Manufacturing - Chennai/Hyderabad.

Who we are

JK Fenner (India) Limited, a part of the renowned 140‑year‑old JK Organisation, carries a proud legacy of over 70 years in delivering high‑quality engineering and mobility solutions. The company is a trusted partner to leading OEMs and customers across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, railways, defence, and emerging mobility sectors.

JK Fenner operates through a diverse portfolio of business verticals, including Industrial Solutions, Industrial Drives & Automation, Automotive OE, Auto Aftermarket, Electric Vehicle (EV) Solutions, Railway Solutions, Defence Solutions, and Advanced Technology. Its product offerings span power transmission belts, sealing and fluid transfer systems, automation drives, moulded rubber components, EV drivetrain systems, railway assemblies, defence‑grade technologies, and lightweight engineering solutions.

Backed by robust R&D capabilities, advanced manufacturing infrastructure, and a strong pan‑India distribution network, JK Fenner combines engineering excellence with customer‑centric innovation. The company is deeply committed to quality, sustainability, and operational excellence across all its businesses.

JK Fenner fosters a culture of trust, ownership, and continuous learning, empowering its people to build meaningful careers while creating long‑term value for customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Why don't you join us? Do you want to experience new challenges and innovate the future of Automotive and Industrial Automation Solutions? Accelerate your career with JK Fenner.

Position Details:

Role: Head Manufacturing

Location: Chennai/Hyderabad

Experience: 18–25 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, including a minimum of 8–10 years in a senior leadership role

Product exposure: Experience in the rubber, polymer, automotive, belts, hoses, sealing systems, or process manufacturing industries.

Industry: Manufacturing

Relevant Experience: In multi-plant manufacturing environments and of leading large-scale automation projects.

Job Description:

Purpose of the Role

To lead the Manufacturing Engineering function across all J.K. Fenner manufacturing facilities by developing world-class manufacturing processes, improving productivity, reducing costs, and driving automation and digital manufacturing initiatives, while supporting new product industrialisation and ensuring best-in-class Quality, Safety, Delivery, and Cost (QSDC) performance.

The role will also establish standardised manufacturing systems that strengthen the organisation’s competitiveness across both domestic and global markets.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Strategy

• Develop and execute the Manufacturing Engineering strategy in alignment with the organisation’s business objectives and build manufacturing capability to support future growth.
• Establish technology roadmaps for all manufacturing plants, benchmark global best practices, and drive manufacturing competitiveness across every product division.
• Strengthen manufacturing performance by improving process capability, reducing cycle time, enhancing material yield and labour productivity, elimination of NVA and standardising processes across all manufacturing facilities.

Proess Automation

• Lead process automation and standardisation initiatives across all facilities in line with Industry 4.0 principles and digital manufacturing standards to eliminate human requirement or deskill .
• Introduce automated material-handling systems and vision-based inspection systems to improve product quality, process consistency, and throughput.

New Product Industrialisation

• Partner with the R&D and Product Development teams to design products for manufacturability (DFM) and to develop robust, scalable manufacturing processes for new product introductions.

Capital Projects

• Lead capital projects end to end, including technology selection and equipment specification, to ensure the most suitable manufacturing technologies are adopted across all plants.

Cost Optimisation

• Drive sustained cost reduction through the deskilling of operations, process optimisation, automation, productivity improvement, and simplification of manufacturing processes.

Educational Qualification

• Any Engineering degree in Mechanical, Production, Industrial, Polymer, Manufacturing Engineering, Rubber Technology & Mechatronics / Controls & Instrumentation.
• A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, together with strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence methodologies, is preferred.

Behavioural Competencies

• Effective conflict-resolution and team-building skills, combined with the perseverance and personal ability to drive complex initiatives through collaborative approach.
• A mindset that consistently challenges the status quo and champions continuous

Areas of Particular Emphasis

• Driving manufacturing excellence across multiple product businesses, including power transmission belts, hoses, sealing systems, and other polymer-engineered products.
• Standardising manufacturing processes and best practices across all plants.
• Accelerating automation in rubber processing, belt building, inspection, and material handling.
• Building a high-performance Manufacturing Engineering organisation capable of supporting future expansion, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.

Join us and be part of a forward-thinking organization dedicated to excellence.