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

  .