Site R&D Manager

Johnson Electric Group is the definitive leader in micromotors, motion subsystems and actuators for automotive and industrial applications. Our motion solutions adjust car seats and headlamps, run vacuum cleaners and power drills as well as 300 other applications worldwide. We are the safe choice for our clients.

For our factory in Niš, we need:

Site R&D Manager

As the Site R&D Manager, you will drive the creation and development of our new R&D engineering hub for e-System at our Niš site. In E-System Division JE provides motion solutions to Automotive Customers consisting of actuators, pumps, valves, thermal systems, cooling fan motors and many others.

In this role, you will be responsible for establishing, building, and developing the complete site‑level R&D organization, leading all R&D activities while striving always for a very strong alignment with other JE R&D centers.
A key success factor in this role is the ability to create strong engineering capabilities from the ground up, including team structure, competencies, ways of working, and a high-performance R&D culture.

This role combines strong technical leadership with full site and organizational responsibility, ensuring robust product development in full compliance with Johnson Electric processes, standards, and values. You will act as the key R&D interface for customers, a site-level technical authority, and a people leader - driving efficiency, capability growth, and cross-functional collaboration across the organization.

Your responsibilities will be to:

• Form a high-impact team shaping the future of e-System engineering
• Support and establish engineering activities and services (CAD works, Simulation,..) covering component and subsystem development incl. Electronics Hardware and Software towards global JE RnD centers
• Establish strong alignment culture for collaboration with other RnD Centers
• Chair local design reviews and R&D management meetings
• Establish local testing capabilities with lean test execution, results tracking and data generation
• Act as primary technical interface with manufacturing site to provide best and most efficient engineering services and support
• Drive robust product design, standardization, and manufacturability in line with global guidelines such as ASPICE, Functional Safety, Cyber Security and JE product development process
• Implement and improve engineering methods, tools, and development processes while relying on AI capabilities to further enhance
• Lead, develop, and allocate the site R&D team and resources
• Build and manage the site R&D budget and planning activities
• Ensure compliance with engineering processes, quality standards, EHS requirements, and labor regulations
• Protect Johnson Electric know‑how, assets, and reputation and promote continuous improvement
• Maintain and foster local network such as faculties and authorities to leverage resources
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Our requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Thermal Systems, or related field.)
• 10+ years of experience required in R&D and product development, preferably in automotive or industrial environment
• Strong background in technical and people leadership
• Experience with budget ownership and resource planning
• Customer‑oriented mindset and strong stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work in a matrix, international organization
• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus

What we offer:

• International and dynamic working environment
• Opportunity for continuous development
• A strategic site level leadership role with real business and technical impact

If you are interested in this challenging position, we are looking forward to receiving your CV in English.

*Obaveštavamo vas da će, ukoliko se prijavite na ovaj konkurs i pošaljete nam vašu radnu biografiju (CV), privredno društvo Johnson Electric doo Niš, sa registrovanim sedištem u  Nišu – Crveni Krst, Vazduhoplovaca BB, u svojstvu rukovaoca podataka, obrađivati vaše lične podatke koje nam dostavite putem radne biografije ili na drugi način ili ih mi pribavimo u skladu sa zakonom (na primer, iz javno dostupnih izvora), a sve kako bismo mogli da donesemo odluku u vezi sa vašom prijavom za zaposlenje, kao i da sa vama komuniciramo u vezi sa tim. Ova obrada vaših ličnih podataka vršiće se u skladu sa svim relevantnim pravilima predviđenim važećim Zakonom o zaštiti podataka o ličnosti Republike Srbije.