Project Manager - R&D

Role & responsibilities

Job Title: Project Manager R&D

Department: Innovation & Development (R&D)
Location: Chennai

Reports To: I&D Project Lead

Versuni, formerly known as Philips Domestic Appliances, has a simple yet powerful purpose of turning houses into homes. As a house of brands Versuni is home to the brands: Philips, Preethi, Saeco, Gaggia, Philips Walita, L'OR Barista and Senseo. Through meaningful innovation, we improve the lives of people, helping them to lead healthier and happier lives every day. We are looking for a highly motivated, progressive thinker who works with a growth mindset. If you love innovation, challenges and fast-paced ideation, this role may be for you.

You have the opportunity to:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Project Manager – R&D to lead the execution of new product development and innovation projects from concept to commercialization. The role will focus on managing cross-functional teams, ensuring timely delivery, optimizing resources, and driving technical excellence in line with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Lead and manage end-to-end R&D projects including planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery within defined timelines and budgets.
• Partner with Product Managers, Engineering, Marketing, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Quality teams to align on project objectives and deliverables.
• Drive stage-gate process for new product development, ensuring documentation, testing, and compliance with industry standards.
• Coordinate with design and engineering teams for prototype development, trials, and validation.
• Identify risks, develop mitigation plans, and proactively resolve issues to avoid project delays.
• Ensure adherence to quality, safety, and regulatory requirements across all R&D initiatives.
• Monitor project performance metrics and present regular updates to leadership.
• Manage vendor and external partner collaboration for technology, tooling, or testing.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers in project execution and best practices.

To succeed in this role, you should have the following qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in R&D, product development, or project management within consumer durables, appliances, automotive, or related industries.
• Strong knowledge of project management tools (MS Project, Agile, Stage-Gate, etc.).
• Proven ability to handle cross-functional teams and multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Certification in PMP (preferred).

Why should you join Versuni?

At Versuni, we design, manufacture, and sell market-leading products under the well-known brands like Philips, Saeco, Gaggia, Preethi, Philips Walita, L'OR Barista and Senseo. We do this with the simple yet powerful purpose of turning houses into homes. As a leading player in domestic appliances, we offer sustainable products across kitchen appliances, coffee, air, garment, and home care.

For the past century, we've innovated to make products faster, better, and more energy efficient. Since 2020, our operations have been 100% carbon neutral, but this is just the beginning of our plan. We know everything we use today will affect the planet tomorrow.

With ambitious goals set for 2025 and beyond, we are looking for forward-thinking individuals who are prepared to take their careers to new heights and drive innovation and growth within our global markets. If you’re ready to join a company that values your talent and offers opportunities for meaningful impact, Versuni is the place for you. Apply today and help us shape the future of home living!

Preferred candidate profile