ROLE MANDATE
Suzlon's BESS business needs a quality and safety backbone that works across its own plant and its contract / tolling manufacturing partners — ensuring every pack and container that ships is traceable, test-certified and warranty-ready.
The Lead – QHSE builds the quality management system from the ground up (incoming inspection through final dispatch) and extends it with equal rigour to tolling partners. The role owns right-first-time quality, regulatory and certification readiness, supplier-quality governance, the closed-loop field-failure feedback system, and HSE governance for the BESS operation. This is a foundational hire — equally comfortable writing the first SOP and auditing a contract manufacturer's line.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Quality Management System
- Design and deploy a unified QMS spanning Suzlon's plant and all contract / tolling manufacturers under one governance framework + setting up of QAP at both ends – Suzlon's plant + tolling partner + Raw Material Supplier.
- Establish PFMEA, control plans, work instructions, inspection standards, deviation management and MRB processes
- Define quality SLAs, audit rights, data access and corrective-action timelines contractually for contract manufacturers
Incoming Quality
- Own incoming inspection for cells, BMS / PCS sub-assemblies and BOP components (domestic + imported) with accept / reject / deviation criteria
- Drive supplier PPAP and first-article qualification for all critical components
- Coordinate with Procurement on supplier-quality performance data to inform sourcing decisions and LTA reviews
In-Process & Contract-Manufacturer Oversight
- Implement SPC, quality gates and real-time monitoring at module assembly, pack build, electrical test and container integration
- Run resident / periodic quality presence at tolling sites with shared standards, audits, CAPA cadence and escalation / line-stop triggers
- Ensure process consistency and first-pass-yield parity across all manufacturing locations
Outgoing Quality, Evidence & Compliance
- Govern end-of-line testing so every unit ships with complete test records, cell-to-container traceability and FAT documentation; enforce dispatch sign-off — no release without quality clearance
- Build customer-facing quality evidence packs (test certificates, inspection reports, compliance declarations)
- Own certification readiness — IEC 62619, UL 1973 / UL 9540, UN 38.3 transport, BIS, and container environmental standards (IEC 60529 / 60068, ISO 1496, ASTM E84)
Field Feedback, RCA & Supplier Quality
- Run the closed-loop RCA (8D / 5-Why) and CAPA process linking OMS / warranty claims back to manufacturing and design, with effectiveness verification
- Partner with Technical / Design Engineering on design-related quality improvements and change-control inputs
- Drive supplier-quality governance — qualification, periodic audits and scorecards (DPPM, rejection rate, CAPA closure)
HSE, Team & Culture
- Anchor BESS safety / EHS governance across the operation, including the plant safety function
- Recruit, train and deploy the quality team from scratch across plant, incoming, supplier and contract-manufacturer oversight
- Build a quality-first culture and review cadence (daily / weekly / monthly) aligned to the plant's daily management system
SUCCESS MEASURES
- Product quality: First-pass yield and DPPM on target; zero undetected escapes to field in early deployments
- Contract-manufacturer alignment: Audit scores and NC closure at tolling sites; FPY parity across sites; quality-SLA adherence
- Documentation: 100% dispatch with complete traceability, test records and FAT packs; zero releases without sign-off
- Field feedback & CAPA: RCA within defined timelines; CAPA closure and effectiveness; reduction in repeat failure modes
- Compliance & team: Certification-readiness scores with zero gaps at external audits; quality team recruited and deployed per plan
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Experience & Background
- 6–10 years in quality leadership within battery / EV systems, BESS, power electronics, heavy electrical assembly or precision manufacturing
- Demonstrated experience building quality systems and teams from scratch — not just maintaining existing setups
- Hands-on experience managing quality across multiple sites, including contract / tolling manufacturers, and driving supplier-quality governance
Domain Expertise
- Strong grasp of pack / module assembly processes, failure modes and quality gates; containerized BESS integration and system-level testing
- Working knowledge of battery safety / regulatory frameworks (IEC 62619, UL 1973 / 9540, UN 38.3, BIS)
- Practical command of quality tools — PFMEA, control plans, SPC, 8D / 5-Why, CAPA, layered audits, MES / traceability
Education
- B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Chemical Engineering
- Postgraduate qualification in Quality Management / Operations preferred; ASQ CQE or Six Sigma Black Belt a plus
Location: Pune/Plant
