R&D Manager

JW JANT SANAYİ VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ

We are looking for an R&D Manager to lead and manage the R&D organization of our company, a leading manufacturer of steel wheels for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline,
• Minimum 10 years of experience in R&D, product development, or product engineering within the automotive industry,
• Preferably experienced in the steel wheel industry and involved in product development projects for OEM customers,
• Strong knowledge of RFQ, APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, and product validation processes,
• Familiarity with ETRTO, EUWA, and relevant automotive standards,
• Knowledge and experience in CAE/FEA analyses, product durability assessments, and validation testing processes,
• Good command of English,
• Strong leadership, team management, and communication skills,
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

The position will be responsible for managing product design and development activities for OEM customers and will play an active role in the structuring of technical processes.

Job Description

• Lead the structuring and development of the R&D organization within the company,
• Manage product development and validation processes in line with OEM customer requirements,
• Coordinate technical activities from the RFQ stage through mass production launch,
• Plan and oversee product design, analysis, testing, and validation activities,
• Ensure product development activities comply with customer specifications and applicable standards,
• Lead APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, and other product development processes,
• Work closely with Production, Quality, Project Management, and Customer teams,
• Manage technical communication with OEM customers and represent the company in technical matters,
• Lead the establishment and development of the R&D team and manage department performance.

Purpose of the Position

To strengthen the company’s product development capabilities, enhance its technical competence in serving OEM customers, and establish a sustainable R&D operating framework.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in steel wheel development projects,
• Experience with OEM customer technical specifications and product approval processes,
• Knowledge of CAD/CAE applications and engineering documentation,
• Experience in product method plans,
• Experience in tooling design.