Head of Sensors

Leadership Opportunity - Head of Engineering (Sensor Design & Development)

Greetings from Amor Search Practice Indias premier leadership search firm exclusively dedicated to identifying and placing top-tier talent across the Automotive, Industrial, and Manufacturing sectors.

We are currently partnering with a prestigious client to identify a seasoned professional to lead their engineering division. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in the core design and development of sensor technologies.

Please find the detailed job description below for your consideration.

Position Summary

The Head of Sensors will be responsible for the strategic leadership, innovation, development, and industrialization of sensor technologies for automotive applications, covering both hardware and software aspects. This role will oversee end-to-end lifecycle management of sensorsincluding R&D, product design, validation, manufacturing integration, and continuous improvementensuring alignment with evolving mobility trends such as ADAS, autonomous driving, electric mobility, connectivity, and sustainability. The incumbent will drive cross-functional collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement, and customer teams to position the company as a leader in sensor solutions.

Location:

NCR / Pune

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Define and execute from SCRATCH the global sensor technology roadmap in alignment with the companys product strategy and automotive megatrends.
• Identify and invest in emerging sensor technologies (e.g., LiDAR, radar, ultrasonic, optical, MEMS, pressure, temperature, and smart sensors).
• Build strategic partnerships with universities, research institutions, and technology providers.

2. Product Development & Innovation

• Lead multi-disciplinary R&D teams in designing innovative, high-reliability, and cost-optimized sensor solutions.
• Oversee concept design, simulation, prototyping, and testing phases for all sensor products.
• Champion integration of AI, machine learning, and edge-processing capabilities in next-gen sensors.

3. Industrialization & Manufacturing Readiness

• Ensure design-for-manufacture (DFM) and design-for-assembly (DFA) principles are applied to sensor development.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineering teams to establish robust production processes and supplier capabilities.
• Lead value engineering initiatives to optimize cost, performance, and manufacturability.

4. Compliance, Quality & Reliability

• Ensure all sensors meet automotive industry standards (ISO 26262, IATF 16949, AEC-Q, UNECE regulations, etc.).
• Drive rigorous validation, durability testing, and failure mode analysis.
• Foster a culture of zero-defect quality and continuous improvement.

5. Cross-Functional & Customer Engagement

• Collaborate with ADAS, vehicle dynamics, powertrain, infotainment, and connectivity teams for seamless sensor integration.
• Engage directly with OEM customers to understand requirements, present solutions, and manage technical programs.
• Support marketing and business development in customer pitches, technical demonstrations, and trade shows.

6. Team Leadership & Development

• Build, mentor, and inspire a world-class sensor engineering team.
• Establish clear KPIs and foster accountability, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Drive a learning culture by adopting latest tools, technologies, and industry best practices.

Role Expectations

• Innovation Driver: Constantly explore disruptive technologies and market trends to maintain leadership in sensor solutions.
• Technical Authority: Serve as the organizations go-to expert on sensor design, integration, and performance optimization.
• Business Acumen: Balance technical excellence with commercial viability and speed-to-market.
• Global Mindset: Operate effectively in diverse, multicultural, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Change Leader: Champion transformation initiatives, from legacy sensor platforms to advanced digital sensing solutions.

Qualifications & Experience

• Masters or PhD in Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Experience: 1520+ years in automotive electronics, with at least 8 years in leadership roles focusing on sensors or ADAS.
• Proven track record of developing and launching sensor products in high-volume automotive production.
• Strong understanding of sensing principles (optical, radar, ultrasonic, MEMS, pressure, temperature, etc.) and relevant signal processing techniques.
• Experience with functional safety (ISO 26262), automotive cybersecurity, and automotive-grade electronics.
• Hands-on experience with simulation tools, sensor fusion algorithms, and automotive communication protocols (CAN, LIN, Ethernet).

Competencies & Skills

• Strategic thinking & vision setting
• Strong analytical & problem-solving capability
• Leadership & team building
• Excellent communication & customer interface skills
• Project management & delivery excellence
• Vendor & stakeholder management
• Deep understanding of automotive regulations & homologation processes

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

• On-time, on-budget delivery of sensor programs
• Customer satisfaction ratings
• Innovation metrics (patents filed, new technology introductions)
• Cost reduction & value engineering achievements
• Quality metrics (PPM, warranty claims, failure rates)