Director

The Director, Research & Development is responsible for the leadership and development of the R&D organization, leading the department through a team of Engineering Team Leaders and their respective development teams. The role manages international development resources and ensures the successful execution of product development activities aligned with business objectives, customer requirements, and technology strategies.

Reporting to the Division Vice President Engineering & Product Management, the position drives innovation, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement while ensuring the delivery of competitive and reliable motion control solutions throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D organization consisting of multiple engineering disciplines through a team of Engineering Team Leaders and their respective development teams
• Manage and coordinate international development resources across different locations
• Execute engineering strategies and development roadmaps aligned with business objectives and technology plans
• Lead the development, enhancement, and support of the product portfolio, including motors, gearboxes, brakes, encoders, firmware, and application software
• Drive new product development activities from concept through industrialization and market introduction
• Ensure sustainable product lifecycle management, including product maintenance, optimization, and engineering support
• Develop and continuously enhance modular product platforms and customer-specific solutions
• Define and further develop product architectures while ensuring robust and consistent system solutions across all engineering disciplines
• Ensure achievement of project objectives regarding quality, cost, timing, and technical performance
• Review, evaluate, and implement technical concepts and engineering solutions in compliance with customer requirements, industry standards, and regulatory requirements
• Drive value engineering initiatives, product improvements, and cost optimization measures
• Manage and prioritize development projects, engineering change requests, and engineering resources
• Continuously improve engineering processes, methods, tools, and development standards to enhance efficiency and product quality
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and international engineering teams to ensure successful product development and industrialization
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Several years of leadership experience in Research & Development within a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and international development organizations
• Strong understanding of motion control technologies, electromechanical systems, and product lifecycle management
• Experience in managing complex development projects and engineering resources
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision-making, work quality, and to reduce costs. The successful candidate must be able to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented and continuous improvement mindset
• Fluent in German and English, written and spoken