Section Head - PowerTrain R&D

About the Role

Job Purpose: Provide senior technical leadership for the overall design, performance, development,validation and production readiness of Norton motorcycle powertrain systems, covering theengine, transmission, clutch, intake and exhaust systems, cooling, lubrication, engine controlsand electrified propulsion components where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Define the powertrain technical vision, engineering strategy and performance targets forengine and transmission development.
• Act as the final technical authority for powertrain decisions affecting performance, durability,emissions, cost and manufacturability/assembly.
• Establish power, torque, fuel economy, emissions, NVH, reliability and weight targets;translate customer and market requirements into engineering specifications and benchmarks.
• Define the overall powertrain architecture, including engine configuration (single, twin, inline-four, V-twin, etc.), displacement and combustion strategy, transmission, cooling, lubricationand hybrid/electric integration where applicable.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across engine layout, thermodynamics, transmission,CAE/simulation, testing and validation, and manufacturing engineering; mentor engineers andallocate technical priorities.
• Drive performance development covering horsepower, torque characteristics, fuel efficiency,rideability and thermal management through simulation and test reviews.
• Ensure applicable emissions, noise and regulatory compliance and support certificationactivities with the Homologations team.
• Approve development test plans, review durability, performance, emissions and field-testresults, drive root-cause resolution, and sign off major validation milestones.
• Coordinate with vehicle and electrical engineering, manufacturing, purchasing/supply chain,quality, service engineering, program management, suppliers and technology partners.
• Manage development schedules, technical milestones, budgets, engineering expenditure,technical risks and mitigation plans; report progress to executive leadership.
• Select and approve key suppliers, review supplier designs and validation data, align technicaland quality requirements, and evaluate/develop future technologies.
• Support production-readiness reviews, pilot and launch issue resolution, transition to massproduction, and post-launch quality improvement.
• technical risks and mitigation plans; report progress to executive leadership.
• Select and approve key suppliers, review supplier designs and validation data, align technicaland quality requirements, and evaluate/develop future technologies.
• Support production-readiness reviews, pilot and launch issue resolution, transition to massproduction, and post-launch quality improvement.
• Internal - Vehicle Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing/SupplyChain, Quality, Service Engineering, Program Management, Homologations and executiveleadership.
• External - Suppliers and technology partners.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Mechanical, Automotive, Automobile, IC Engine, ThermalEngineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Doctorate in Engineering preferred.

Required Skills

• Minimum 20 years of experience in two-wheeler or automotive ICE and/or electric powertraindevelopment, spanning concept, prototype, validation and production-release stages, withsound knowledge of product-development and engineering-change processes.
• Motorcycleriding and customer use-case understanding are preferred.

Key Skills:

• Internal combustion engine and transmission systems design and development
• Thermodynamics, combustion, CFD and CAE simulation
• Engine calibration, controls, emissions systems and materials engineering
• Manufacturing processes and production readiness
• Technical decision-making and strategic planning
• Team leadership, mentoring and resource prioritisation
• Stakeholder, supplier and risk management
• Systems thinking from vehicle to component level
• Structured, evidence-based problem solving
• Technical ownership, influencing and review leaders