Chief Technology Officer

Role Purpose :

Provide strategic technology leadership and direction in the development of advanced automotive lighting and signaling systems. The CTO will drive innovation, ensure compliance with global standards, and strengthen the organization’s competitive edge through cutting-edge, sustainable, and intelligent illumination technologies.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Technology Vision & Roadmap

Define and implement the

technology strategy

for lighting & signaling systems aligned with business goals.

Anticipate industry trends such as

LED, OLED, Laser, Adaptive Matrix Lighting, Digital Lighting, and V2X light communication .

Develop a long-term roadmap for

interior and exterior lighting

and

signaling technologies

supporting safety, sustainability, and electrification.

Research, Development & Innovation

Lead global

R&D programs

for headlamps, tail lamps, DRLs, indicators, interior illumination, and ambient lighting.

Drive innovation in

smart and connected signaling systems

(e.g., communication through lighting for ADAS & autonomous vehicles).

Oversee

prototype development, validation, and industrialization .

Ensure strong

IP generation (patents, designs, trademarks)

to secure market leadership.

Product Development & Engineering Excellence

Guide engineering teams in developing

high-performance, cost-efficient, and reliable products .

Focus on

design for manufacturability, modular platforms, and scalable solutions .

Promote use of

new materials, optical designs, and semiconductor-based technologies .

Enhance integration of

electronics, sensors, and software-defined lighting functions .

Standards, Compliance & Quality

Ensure compliance with

ECE, SAE, FMVSS, and other regional homologation standards .

Drive quality processes including

APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, ISO 9001, IATF 16949 .

Establish strong validation frameworks for

safety, durability, and reliability

Digital & Smart Technologies

Integrate

AI, IoT, and software-based control systems

for adaptive and intelligent lighting / signaling.

Drive

vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I)

signaling innovations.

Collaborate with ADAS and EV platform teams for seamless system integration.

Customer & Market Alignment

Collaborate closely with

OEMs and Tier-1 customers

to co-develop next-gen lighting / signaling solutions.

Support the

business development team

in showcasing technology leadership to win new projects.

Translate customer insights into

product innovations and competitive advantages .

Partnerships & Ecosystem Building

Establish collaborations with

universities, research institutes, and technology partners .

Represent the company at

global forums and industry standardization bodies .

Build strong relationships with

semiconductor, optical, and electronics suppliers .

Talent Development & Leadership

Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing

engineering and R&D team .

Foster a culture of

innovation, agility, and continuous learning .

Promote

cross-functional and global collaboration

across R&D hubs.

Business & Strategic Contribution

Balance

innovation speed with cost optimization

for profitable growth.

Contribute to

strategic decisions

on new product lines, acquisitions, and technology investments.

Drive technology differentiation to support

revenue growth and market expansion .

Education

Bachelor’s degree in

Electronics, Electrical, Optoelectronics, Mechanical Engineering

or related field.

Master’s degree / PhD in

Automotive Engineering, Optics, or Applied Physics

preferred.

Additional certifications in

Automotive Standards, Quality Systems, or Technology Management

is an advantage.

Experience

20+ years of overall experience

in automotive product development, with at least

10 years in leadership roles .

Proven track record in

automotive lighting and signaling systems

(headlamps, tail lamps, DRLs, ambient lighting, signaling electronics).

Strong experience in

leading global R&D and technology organizations .

Exposure to

OEM & Tier-1 collaboration

for technology co-development.

Hands-on involvement in

concept-to-launch product development lifecycle .

Experience with

global automotive homologation standards

(ECE, SAE, FMVSS).

Prior experience in managing

multi-site engineering teams

across geographies is highly desirable

Technical Skills & Expertise

Deep knowledge of

lighting technologies : LED, OLED, Laser, Matrix / Adaptive Lighting, Digital / Projection Lighting.

Strong understanding of

optics, photometry, electronics, and software-defined lighting systems .

Expertise in

signal and safety systems

(turn indicators, brake lights, communication via lighting).

Familiarity with

semiconductors, sensors, driver ICs, thermal management, and material science .

Strong grounding in

DFMEA, PFMEA, APQP, PPAP, ISO 9001, IATF 16949 .

Knowledge of

ADAS integration, EV / Autonomous platform requirements, V2X signaling .

Leadership & Strategic Skills

Visionary mindset with ability to

define technology roadmaps

and align them with business goals.

Proven ability to

drive innovation, IP creation, and patents .

Strong

stakeholder management skills

– OEMs, suppliers, internal teams, and regulatory bodies.

Demonstrated success in

leading global engineering teams , fostering collaboration and innovation.

Experience in

budget planning, R&D investment decisions, and cost optimization .

Strong communicator with the ability to

represent the company in global forums and standardization committees .