| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Engineering |
| Level | Senior management |
| Reports to | Technical Director |
| Direct reports | R&D Manager, R&D Engineer, Senior Design Engineer |
| Experience | 12+ years in product development with 4 years leading R&D |
Head of R&D job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Head of R&D
Department: Engineering
Reports to: Technical Director
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
The Head of R&D leads new product and process research for the company. They own the innovation pipeline from idea to prototype to a design ready for production. The role balances long research bets against near term product improvements the business needs now. A strong Head of R&D protects intellectual property, keeps projects funded and staged, and turns lab work into products the plant can actually make and sell.
Key responsibilities
- Build and own the R&D roadmap, staging projects from concept through prototype to production handover.
- Prioritize research spend across long term bets and near term product improvements with the management team.
- Set stage gate reviews and kill or fund projects on evidence of technical and commercial feasibility.
- Lead prototype design, testing and iteration until performance, cost and manufacturability targets are met.
- Protect intellectual property through patents, design records and controlled documentation.
- Partner with manufacturing to make sure new designs can be produced at cost and quality.
- Manage collaborations with institutes, test labs and technology partners.
- Track R&D budgets, timelines and the return expected from each project.
- Build research capability by hiring and mentoring engineers and setting up test facilities.
Requirements
- Master's or bachelor's degree in engineering
- PhD in a relevant field is an advantage
- Record of taking products from lab to plant
- 12+ years in product development with 4 years leading R&D
KRAs and KPIs for a Head of R&D
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Pipeline | At least 3 projects moved to production handover each year |
| Stage gates | Every active project reviewed at each gate on schedule |
| Time to prototype | Working prototype delivered within the planned project timeline |
| IP protection | Every new invention recorded and filed before external disclosure |
| Manufacturability | New designs hit target cost and yield at handover |
| Budget | R&D spend held within the approved annual budget |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: 3D CAD and simulation tools, Prototyping and test rigs, Project management software, Statistical analysis tools, Design record and PLM system.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Technical Director, Chief Technology Officer, Vice President Engineering
Interview questions for a Head of R&D
- How do you decide which research projects to fund and which to stop?
- Walk me through taking one product from concept to production handover.
- How do you protect intellectual property while working with outside partners?
- A prototype meets performance but not target cost. What do you do?
- How do you keep R&D connected to what the plant can actually make?
- How do you measure the return on an R&D budget?
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What does a Head of R&D do?
A Head of R&D leads research and new product development. They own the innovation roadmap, run stage gate reviews, fund or stop projects, guide prototyping and testing, protect intellectual property and hand finished designs to manufacturing. The goal is a steady flow of products that are technically sound and commercially worthwhile.
What is the difference between R&D and design engineering?
R&D creates and proves new products, processes or technologies, often with uncertain outcomes. Design engineering turns an approved concept into detailed, production ready drawings and specifications. R&D asks whether something can work; design engineering makes it manufacturable, repeatable and code compliant. Many firms move a project from R&D to design at a handover gate.
What qualifications does a Head of R&D need?
A strong engineering or science degree is essential, often with a postgraduate degree or PhD in the relevant field. Employers value a record of taking products from lab to plant, patents filed and experience running research budgets and teams over any single certificate.