Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), headquartered in Bengaluru with a satellite office in Pune, is the largest R&D center for Mercedes-Benz Group AG outside of Germany. Our mission is to drive innovation and excellence in automotive engineering, digitalization, and sustainable mobility solutions, shaping the future of mobility.

The Senior Program Manager will lead and coordinate all thermodynamics-related engineering activities across automotive product development programs. The role is responsible for managing thermal and fluid system simulations, cooling and HVAC performance, underhood thermal management, energy efficiency studies, and cross-functional integration with vehicle, powertrain, battery, and aerodynamics teams.

The individual will drive program execution, technical excellence, resource planning, customer coordination, and delivery of simulation-led engineering solutions aligned with vehicle performance, regulatory, cost, and timing targets.

Education, required skills and experience:

1. Bachelors/ Masters/ Ph.D. of Engineering in mechanical/ thermal/ automotive/ aerospace/ chemical/ electrical streams (or) equivalent

2. 14+ years of experience, preferably in automotive modeling and simulations - 1D or 3D fluid flow/ thermal/ aerospace/ multiphysics/ multiphase/ electrical/ chemical field based performance evaluations for components/ systems/ vehicle level.

3. 4+ years of people, operations, and business leadership experience.

4. Technical skills:

1. Thermodynamics and heat transfer

2. Fluid mechanics

3. Vehicle thermal management systems

4. Cooling system design

5. HVAC performance engineering

6. Battery thermal management for EVs

7. Underhood thermal analysis

8. STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent, GT-SUITE, CONVERGE CFD, OpenFOAM, Amesim

5. Operational skills:

1. Project management methodologies

2. Engineering data analysis

3. Technical reporting and presentations

4. Understanding of automotive development lifecycle

5. Ability to drive innovations in process, product and business

1. Experience in EV thermal management programs

2. Exposure to digital twins and AI-driven engineering workflows

3. Knowledge of automation scripting (Python, MATLAB, VBA)

4. PMP or equivalent project management certification

5. Experience working with global OEMs

6. Ability to connect with Universities and industrial ecosystem

7. Knowledge of German language is highly desirable

1. Strong leadership and decision-making skills

2. Excellent communication and stakeholder management

3. Analytical and problem-solving mindset

4. Ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously

5. Customer-focused approach

6. High level of ownership and accountability

1. Program delivery adherence (cost, quality, timing)

2. Simulation accuracy and correlation with testing

3. Customer satisfaction metrics

4. Resource utilization efficiency

5. Reduction in thermal-related design issues

6. Improvement in engineering turnaround time

7. Innovation and process automation contributions

1. Program & Technical Leadership

1. Lead thermodynamics and thermal management activities for multiple vehicle development programs.

2. Define project scope, timelines, technical deliverables, and resource requirements.

3. Drive thermal system development for engine cooling, battery thermal management, HVAC systems, underhood airflow and heat shielding, cabin comfort analysis, and power electronics cooling.

4. Ensure alignment of thermodynamics activities with overall vehicle program milestones.

2. Simulation & Engineering Management

1. Oversee CFD and 1D thermal simulation activities using industry-standard tools.

2. Guide teams on heat transfer analysis, conjugate heat transfer (CHT), flow distribution studies, thermal soak and transient analysis, and cooling module optimization.

3. Review simulation methodologies, assumptions, validation plans, and engineering reports.

4. Establish best practices, templates, and quality standards for thermal simulations.

3. Cross-Functional Coordination

1. Collaborate with vehicle integration teams, powertrain engineering, battery systems teams, aerodynamics groups, testing & validation teams, manufacturing and supplier engineering.

2. Coordinate with global customers, OEMs, and external partners.

4. Project & Resource Management

1. Manage project schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables.

2. Allocate engineering resources and monitor workload utilization.

3. Conduct regular program reviews and management updates.

4. Identify technical risks early and implement mitigation plans.

5. Customer & Stakeholder Management

1. Act as primary technical interface for thermodynamics-related customer discussions.

2. Present engineering concepts, simulation results, and development status to customers and leadership teams.

3. Support RFQs, technical proposals, and business development initiatives.

6. Process Improvement & Innovation

1. Develop and implement automation workflows and digital engineering processes.

2. Promote simulation-driven design optimization.

3. Support adoption of AI/ML-enabled engineering workflows where applicable.

4. Drive continuous improvement initiatives for accuracy, turnaround time, and engineering efficiency.

7. Team Leadership

1. Mentor and develop thermodynamics engineers and analysts.

2. Conduct technical reviews, capability development sessions, and performance discussions.

3. Build a strong technical culture focused on innovation and delivery excellence.

Why Join Us?

· Be part of a purpose-driven organization that’s shaping the future of mobility.

· Work on cutting-edge technologies and global projects.

· Thrive in a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive environment.

· Access world-class infrastructure and learning opportunities.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

At MBRDI, we are committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of gender, background, or ability.

Education, required skills and experience:

1. Bachelors/ Masters/ Ph.D. of Engineering in mechanical/ thermal/ automotive/ aerospace/ chemical/ electrical streams (or) equivalent

2. 14+ years of experience, preferably in automotive modeling and simulations - 1D or 3D fluid flow/ thermal/ aerospace/ multiphysics/ multiphase/ electrical/ chemical field based performance evaluations for components/ systems/ vehicle level.

3. 4+ years of people, operations, and business leadership experience.