Senior Manager R&D

Be a part of a revolutionary change At PMI, we’ve chosen to do something incredible. We’re totally transforming our business to deliver a smoke‑free future.

With huge change comes huge opportunity. So, wherever you join us, you’ll enjoy the freedom to imagine, influence, and deliver better, brighter solutions — and the space to move your career forward in endlessly different directions.

About The Role The Innovation Cell combines technical expertise, agile working and cross-functional collaboration to accelerate new product concepts.

As Senior Manager, Technical Stream, you will be the on-site technical interface between local experts and PMI central functions. You will translate technical requirements into execution, guide prototype development and validation, and support the transition of validated concepts into product development and production readiness.

What You’ll Do

• Coordinate local experts and PMI teams across engineering, testing, quality, IP, procurement and production readiness.
• Translate system requirements and engineering standards into clear priorities, work packages and deliverables.
• Manage technical plans, stand-ups, actions, risks, blockers and CAPEX/NRE follow-up.
• Maintain complete and traceable requirements, validation plans, test reports, BOM inputs, risk registers and design evidence.
• Coordinate technical reviews and Go/No-Go recommendations through production readiness.
• Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of complex technical issues.
• Align scope, timelines, resources, statements of work and phase-gate readiness with project stakeholders.
• Manage external partners and ODMs against agreed quality, timing, confidentiality and contractual requirements.
• Ensure effective handover and adherence to IP and confidentiality practices.

What You’ll Bring

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or a related discipline.
• Eight or more years of R&D, product design or development experience involving complex electromechanical, consumer or regulated products. E-vapor experience is preferred.
• Experience coordinating technical teams, external partners or ODMs across prototype, feasibility and EVT environments.
• Strong expertise in product design, prototyping, validation, fault analysis, risk management and production scalability.
• Ability to connect system requirements with firmware, electrical, mechanical, CMF, testing and quality considerations.
• Strong coordination, influencing and partner-management skills, with confidence to challenge technical assumptions.
• Ability to translate technical evidence into clear risks, options and recommendations.
• Fluent English; Mandarin is an advantage.
• Strong confidentiality, IP, traceability and documentation standards.

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