About the role
Role Purpose: Lead applied research and new product development (NPD) for tire and mechanical rubber goods (MRG) applications, driving projects from concept to commercialization and supporting Birla Carbon's growth and profitability objectives. Key Responsibilities Conduct applied research to develop new carbon black products and understand structure-property relationships. Lead and manage NPD projects through the stage-gate process from ideation to commercialization. Design experiments, analyze technical data, and generate actionable insights. Plan and support plant trials, product validation, and manufacturing scale-up. Engage with customers, sales, technical service, and marketing teams to introduce and commercialize new products. Manage project documentation and intellectual property (IP) activities. Represent Birla Carbon at technical conferences, seminars, and customer events. Key Challenges Identifying new product opportunities through research, industry trends, and customer insights. Coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver successful commercialization. Demonstrating product value through technical data and customer engagement. Managing multiple stakeholders without direct authority. Critical Skills Rubber Science & Technology New Product Development (NPD) Experimental Design & Data Analysis Project Management Customer & Stakeholder Management Experience & Qualification Master's or PhD in Physical Sciences, Engineering, Polymer/Rubber Technology, or related field. 5-10 years of experience in rubber, tire, carbon black, or related R&D environments. Experience leading NPD projects and customer-facing technical discussions.