Role Summary

The Technical Project Manager will lead end-to-end execution of machine development and manufacturing programs for grading, weighing, sorting, inspection, bagging, clipping, and packaging systems used in agricultural and industrial applications.

The role requires close coordination across:

1. Mechanical design teams
2. Embedded / electrical / control teams
3. Vision system and software teams
4. Procurement and sourcing
5. Sheet metal, machining, and fabrication vendors
6. Assembly, integration, and testing teams
7. Quality and field deployment teams

The primary objective is to ensure machines are developed, manufactured, integrated, tested, and deployed on schedule, within target cost, and with reliable field performance.

This role is highly execution-oriented and requires strong ownership of timelines, vendor coordination, manufacturing readiness, issue resolution, and cross-functional alignment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Planning & Execution

1. Create and maintain detailed project plans covering:
2. Design
3. Procurement
4. Fabrication
5. Assembly
6. Electrical integration
7. Embedded/software integration
8. Testing and validation
9. FAT and field trials
10. Define project milestones, dependencies, risks, and critical paths.
11. Conduct regular project reviews and track execution against timelines.
12. Drive closure of action items and escalation of delays or blockers.
13. Ensure effective coordination between internal teams and external vendors.

2. Cross-Functional Engineering Coordination

1. Coordinate execution between:
2. Mechanical engineering
3. Embedded and electronics teams
4. Software and vision teams
5. Manufacturing and assembly teams
6. Ensure alignment between machine architecture, controls, sensors, and software integration.
7. Track engineering deliverables including:
8. Drawings
9. BOM releases
10. Electrical schematics
11. Firmware/software readiness
12. Assembly documentation
13. Ensure design changes and revisions are communicated and implemented properly across teams.

3. Procurement & Vendor Management

1. Coordinate with procurement teams for timely sourcing of:
2. Fabricated components
3. Machined parts
4. Motors and drives
5. Pneumatics
6. Sensors and load cells
7. Controllers and electrical components
8. Cameras, lighting, and vision hardware
9. Track vendor manufacturing progress, quality, and delivery schedules.
10. Work closely with fabrication vendors for:
11. Sheet metal
12. Machining
13. Welding
14. Powder coating
15. Structural assemblies
16. Support vendor development and alternate sourcing initiatives for critical components.
17. Escalate supply chain risks and delays proactively.

4. Manufacturing & Assembly Readiness

1. Ensure manufacturing readiness before release to fabrication and assembly.
2. Review manufacturability of:
3. Sheet metal parts
4. Weldments
5. Machined components
6. Assembly structures
7. Coordinate prototype and pilot builds.
8. Ensure assembly kit completeness and material availability.
9. Work with assembly teams to resolve:
10. Fitment issues
11. Tolerance stack-up issues
12. Wiring and pneumatic routing challenges
13. Mechanical integration problems
14. Support DFM/DFA improvements to reduce assembly time, cost, and rework.

5. Vision System & Automation Integration

1. Coordinate integration of:
2. Industrial cameras
3. Lighting systems
4. Vision inspection and sorting software
5. Sensors and actuators
6. PLC/controller systems
7. Servo and motion systems
8. Work with embedded and vision teams to ensure:
9. Reliable grading/sorting performance
10. Calibration and synchronization
11. Real-time communication between systems
12. Stable operation during production conditions
13. Support testing and optimization of sorting accuracy, throughput, and repeatability.

6. Testing, Validation & Deployment

1. Plan and monitor:
2. Machine testing
3. FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing)
4. Trial runs
5. Field deployments
6. Ensure machines meet targets for:
7. Accuracy
8. Throughput
9. Reliability
10. Stability
11. Safety
12. Maintain issue trackers and coordinate root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
13. Support field feedback incorporation into future revisions.

7. Reporting & Project Control

1. Maintain and publish:
2. Project schedules
3. BOM tracking
4. Procurement status
5. Vendor progress reports
6. Risk registers
7. Testing status
8. Open issue trackers
9. Provide regular updates to leadership on:
10. Timeline adherence
11. Risks and bottlenecks
12. Cost impact
13. Manufacturing readiness

Required Skills & Qualifications

1. Strong execution and project coordination capability in industrial hardware projects.
2. Understanding of:
3. Industrial machinery / SPM development
4. Sheet metal fabrication and machining
5. Pneumatics and motion systems
6. Sensors and load-cell based systems
7. Embedded/control systems
8. Industrial vision inspection and sorting systems
9. Ability to read and interpret:
10. Mechanical drawings
11. BOMs
12. Assembly drawings
13. Electrical schematics
14. Strong vendor management and manufacturing coordination skills.
15. Excellent follow-up, communication, and issue-resolution capability.

Preferred Experience

1. 5–12 years of experience in:
2. Machine building
3. Industrial automation
4. Packaging systems
5. Grading/sorting systems
6. Material handling equipment
7. Special Purpose Machines (SPM)
8. Experience managing outsourced fabrication and assembly vendors.
9. Exposure to machine vision integration and automation systems preferred.
10. Experience handling prototype-to-production transitions preferred.

Success Metrics (KPIs)

1. On-time milestone and prototype completion
2. Vendor delivery adherence
3. Manufacturing and assembly readiness
4. BOM cost and manufacturing efficiency
5. Reduction in rework and delays
6. FAT and field trial success rate
7. Machine reliability and deployment readiness
8. Cross-functional execution effectiveness

Ideal Candidate Profile

1. Strong execution-oriented mindset.
2. Comfortable working closely with vendors, assembly teams, and factory environments.
3. Practical understanding of machine development and manufacturing challenges.
4. Able to manage multiple parallel activities and dependencies.
5. Strong ownership, follow-up discipline, and problem-solving capability.
6. Capable of driving coordination between engineering, manufacturing, and deployment teams without functional silos.

Reporting Structure

Reports to Head of Engineering / Program Director / Business Head

Works Closely With

1. Mechanical Design Lead
2. Embedded & Controls Lead
3. Procurement Manager
4. Vendor Development Team
5. Manufacturing Supervisor
6. QA & Service Teams