About the job
Head of R&D & Product Development (Mandarin Speaker)
Location: Selangor, Malaysia
Department: Research & Development
Reporting to: Group Managing Director
Key Requirements —
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Development or a related field.
- 10–15 years of experience in the automotive, motorcycle, mobility or related manufacturing industries.
- At least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing R&D and Product Development.
- Proven experience in vehicle homologation, regulatory compliance and successful product launches.
- Chinese language proficiency is compulsory, including speaking and writing. Strong English and Bahasa Malaysia communication skills are also required.
- A Master’s Degree or MBA is an added advantage.
About the Role
An established mobility and vehicle-related business is seeking an experienced Head of R&D & Product Development to lead its innovation strategy, product development programmes and technical teams. This is a senior leadership position for a commercially minded, hands-on professional who can translate market opportunities into competitive products and drive projects from concept through to mass production.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership & Innovation
- Develop and execute product development and innovation roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
- Identify market opportunities, emerging technologies and consumer trends.
- Recommend new products, portfolio expansion and continuous improvement initiatives.
2. Product Development & R&D
- Oversee the complete product development lifecycle, from concept and prototyping to testing, validation and mass production.
- Ensure product performance, reliability, durability, quality, cost and delivery targets are achieved.
- Review engineering designs, technical specifications and testing results.
- Lead product upgrades, model enhancements and cost-optimisation initiatives.
3. Homologation & Regulatory Compliance
- Oversee vehicle homologation, certification and regulatory approvals.
- Ensure compliance with Malaysian and relevant international standards.
- Liaise with regulatory authorities, certification bodies and other stakeholders.
- Monitor regulatory changes and ensure timely approvals and documentation.
4. Styling & Product Design
- Guide vehicle styling and design direction in line with brand identity and market expectations.
- Review design concepts and benchmark competitors to strengthen product appeal.
5. Project & Budget Management
- Manage departmental budgets, project resources, timelines and risks.
- Monitor project milestones and present progress updates and recommendations to senior management.
6. Supplier & Stakeholder Management
- Collaborate with OEM partners, suppliers and technology providers.
- Lead technical discussions, supplier evaluations and negotiations.
- Build strategic partnerships to strengthen product competitiveness.
7. Team Leadership
- Lead and develop the R&D, Product Development, Homologation and Styling teams.
- Establish departmental KPIs, performance standards and talent development plans.
- Foster technical excellence, accountability and cross-functional collaboration.
Ideal Candidate
A strategic and commercially astute leader who combines technical expertise with operational execution. The successful candidate should be innovative, decisive, hands-on and results-driven, with strong communication, stakeholder management and team leadership capabilities.