1. Role Summary
The Design Lead / Design Manager will own the entire mechanical design function at SMT Engineering Limited. The role is responsible for setting design strategy, building and leading a high-performing design team, ensuring that every machine and product designed by SMT is safe, efficient, manufacturable, and aligned with global engineering standards. The incumbent will drive new product development (NPD), continuous improvement of existing machines, adoption of advanced SOLIDWORKS 2025 capabilities (Simulation, Visualize, PDM), and act as the senior technical face of the design function with management, customers, auditors and partners.
2. Key Responsibilities
A. Design Strategy & Roadmap
- Define and drive the 1–3 year design and product development roadmap aligned with SMT's business strategy.
- Identify technology gaps and propose investments in CAD / CAE / PDM tools, equipment and team capability.
- Champion the full adoption of SOLIDWORKS 2025 features – advanced modelling, Simulation (FEA), Visualize / PhotoView 360, Routing, Sheet Metal, Weldments, Surfacing and Configurations.
- Evaluate adjacent tools (SOLIDWORKS PDM, SOLIDWORKS Electrical, ANSYS, MBD, MES integration) and own implementation roadmap.
B. New Product Development (NPD) Leadership
- Own NPD from concept to commercialisation – brief, concept design, detail design, prototyping, validation, pilot and series production handover.
- Lead design reviews at every stage gate (Concept Review, Detailed Design Review, Pre-Prototype, Pre-Production).
- Ensure DFMEA, DFM, DFA, value engineering and cost-target reviews are completed for every new machine.
- Ensure technical feasibility, IP/patent search and clearance before committing to a design direction.
- Coordinate with marketing / sales for techno-commercial proposals, customer-specific customisation and demos.
C. Improvement of Existing & Legacy Machines
- Drive a continuous-improvement program for existing machines – reliability, efficiency, safety, ergonomics, cost.
- Lead root-cause analysis of recurring field failures and implement permanent corrective actions through redesign.
- Maintain a prioritised backlog of legacy-machine issues with assigned owners and timelines.
- Build / refresh design data for legacy machines where drawings are missing or outdated (reverse engineering).
D. Engineering Standards, Compliance & Safety
- Define, publish and enforce internal design standards – CAD templates, drawing standards (GD&T – ASME Y14.5 / ISO), part numbering, BOM structure, material codes, fastener policy.
- Ensure all designs comply with applicable national and international standards – IS, ISO, ASME, DIN, CE, BIS, OSHA.
- Embed machine safety norms (ISO 12100, ISO 13849, IS 16504) and safety-by-design philosophy in every project.
- Coordinate with TPI / certification bodies for product certification (CE marking, BIS, third-party inspection).
- Own design risk register and machine risk-assessment documentation.
E. Simulation, Validation & Quality
- Institutionalise the use of SOLIDWORKS Simulation (FEA) across every critical design – static, non-linear, fatigue, thermal, frequency, motion.
- Define mandatory simulation gates and acceptance criteria for structural, pressure, rotating and safety-critical components.
- Drive correlation studies between simulation and field / test results to continuously improve modelling accuracy.
- Coordinate with QA and shop-floor for prototype testing, validation and design qualification reports.
F. People Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, coach and grow the design team (5–15+ members across senior, mid and junior levels).
- Set goals, KRAs and individual development plans for each team member.
- Conduct technical and behavioural performance reviews; lead annual appraisal and career planning conversations.
- Build a structured training calendar covering SOLIDWORKS 2025 advanced features, Simulation, GD&T, machine design fundamentals and domain knowledge.
- Identify and groom successors for key technical and leadership positions.
- Drive a culture of design ownership, accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
G. Process, PDM & Data Management
- Implement / strengthen SOLIDWORKS PDM (or equivalent) for version control, drawing release, ECN management and access security.
- Define and enforce engineering change management process (ECR / ECN) end-to-end.
- Maintain a centralised design library – standard parts, fasteners, hydraulic/pneumatic items, motors, gearboxes, bought-out items.
- Define KPIs for design quality, delivery, rework and audit them monthly.
H. Cross-functional & Customer-facing Leadership
- Partner closely with Production, Quality, Purchase, Service and Sales to ensure designs are manufacturable, serviceable and cost-effective.
- Be the senior technical interface with key customers – attend design reviews, customer audits and on-site issue resolution as needed.
- Support sales with technical proposals, customisation feasibility and competitive differentiation.
- Manage external design vendors, freelancers and consulting firms when work is outsourced.
I. Budget, Vendor & Tool Management
- Plan and own the annual capex / opex budget for the design function (CAD/CAE licences, workstations, training, prototyping, IP filing).
- Own vendor relationships with SOLIDWORKS / Dassault Systèmes channel partners, simulation tool vendors, and prototyping / 3D-printing partners.
- Negotiate and manage AMC, licence renewals and training contracts.
J. Innovation, IP & Documentation
- Drive an innovation pipeline – ideation workshops, patentable design improvements, automation features.
- Own IP strategy for design – patent searches, invention disclosures, filing and tracking.
- Ensure complete and version-controlled documentation: design specifications, calculation sheets, simulation reports, GA drawings, manuals, service documents.
3. Required Skills & Knowledge
- 10+ years of mechanical / machine design experience with progressive responsibility; minimum 4–5 years leading a design team.
- Expert command over SOLIDWORKS (latest 2025 version): advanced modelling, large assemblies, weldments, sheet metal, surfacing, configurations, design tables, equations.
- Strong working knowledge of SOLIDWORKS Simulation (FEA), Visualize / PhotoView 360 and SOLIDWORKS PDM.
- Deep understanding of GD&T (ASME Y14.5 / ISO 1101), tolerance stack-up and 2D drawing standards.
- Strong fundamentals of machine design – strength of materials, kinematics, dynamics, power transmission, pneumatics / hydraulics, rotating equipment, fasteners and joints.
- Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes – machining, fabrication, sheet-metal, welding, casting, forging, heat-treatment, surface finish.
- Working knowledge of relevant standards – IS, ISO, ASME, DIN, CE, BIS, OSHA – and machine safety standards (ISO 12100 / 13849 / 14120).
- Demonstrated success in leading NPD projects from concept to series production.
- Proven people management experience – hiring, coaching, performance management and succession planning.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
- Strong project management discipline – schedule, budget, risk, scope.
Good to Have
- CSWP / CSWE certifications and / or SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional certification.
- PMP, Prince2 or Six Sigma (Green / Black Belt) certification.
- Exposure to ANSYS / HyperMesh / other FEA tools.
- Experience implementing PLM / PDM systems and ERP integration (SAP / Oracle).
- Domain experience in SMT's industry vertical (specify: heavy machinery / SPM / packaging / food / pharma / sheet-metal etc.).
- Patents filed or granted in mechanical / machine design domain.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- On-time delivery of design milestones across all NPD and improvement projects (target ≥ 95%).
- First-pass yield of designs at production handover (target: continuous YoY improvement).
- Reduction in ECNs per project and reduction in design-related field failures.
- % of critical components validated through SOLIDWORKS Simulation (target ≥ 90%).
- Cost / weight / efficiency improvement on legacy machines (target set per project).
- Team capability score, attrition rate and bench strength (succession readiness).
- On-time release of standards, templates and PDM rollout milestones.
- Customer satisfaction on design-led commitments and audits.
- Adherence to design budget (capex + opex).
5. Compensation & Benefits
Indicative CTC: ₹ 14.0 – 22.0 LPA (negotiable). Compensation will be aligned with the candidate's experience, industry domain (SPM / heavy machinery / packaging etc.), team size handled, certifications and current CTC. Premium positioning is justified for candidates with proven NPD leadership, simulation depth, and a track record of building and scaling design teams.
- Fixed CTC + annual performance-linked bonus (10–20% of fixed).
- Long-term incentive / retention bonus (where applicable).
- Statutory benefits – PF, Gratuity, Group Health & Accidental Insurance for self and family.
- Budget for SOLIDWORKS certifications (CSWP / CSWE / Simulation), PMP / Six Sigma, conferences and domain training.
- Premium workstation with SOLIDWORKS Premium + Simulation + Visualize licence.
- Opportunity to build and lead a strategically critical function with direct visibility to the CEO / Board.
