Head of R&D - Fulltime role

Title: Head of R&D

Location: Milpitas, CA (onsite)

Type: Fulltime role

Summary:

1. Technical (Vice president level) Head of R&D

Should be able to support CTO with all R&D activities from a program/project management standpoint across the US and globally and engage in deep technical discussions with Big Tech engineering teams if required (e.g., Apple, Meta, Netflix).

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's, Computer Sciences, Electrical Engineering, or Physics

• 10 years of experience taking a product from concept phase to production for commercial or consumer use cases requiring deep knowledge of systems architecture. Expert in selecting and building talent in SW/FW/HW (Python, C#/C , MCU, FPGA, ARM), Product certification is a plus working with external agencies.

• Proven track record in a major display OEM or advanced R&D environment is a significant advantage.

• Strong expertise in electronics, optical systems, mechanical systems, and SW/FW to integrate product functions using signal processing and algorithms. Machine vision data processing is a big plus.

• Solid understanding of system characterization techniques such as margin studies and providing solutions negotiating component and product specifications (using product/display performance metrics).

• Demonstrated success in building and leading high-performing technical teams.

• Experience working across global R&D, product development, and manufacturing organizations.

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and mentor the R&D team, fostering a culture of innovation, technical rigor, and execution discipline.

• Define and execute the R&D roadmap in alignment with global technology and product strategies.

• Providing thought leadership on future technology directions.

Technical & Product Development

• Drive applied research to refine and enhance emerging display technologies.

• Lead efforts to optimize key performance parameters such as brightness, contrast, resolution, color accuracy, and power efficiency.

• Oversee the transition of technologies from lab prototypes to scalable, manufacturable products.

• Provide expert guidance on troubleshooting and resolving technical challenges across development phases.

R&D Operations

• Establish and manage robust lab operations, development processes, and quality control systems.

• Coordinate with global engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to ensure design scalability and manufacturability.

• Develop partnerships with academic, industrial, and vendor ecosystems in India to strengthen R&D capabilities.

• Ensure timely documentation of findings, intellectual property (IP) generation, and knowledge transfer.

Innovation & Industry Engagement

• Stay at the forefront of industry trends in OLED, MicroLED, Quantum Dot, projection systems, and related technologies.

• Introduce novel techniques, materials, and processes to drive competitive advantage.

• Represent the R&D team in global reviews and technical strategy discussions.

Thanks & Regards,

Krishan Kumar Sr. IT Recruiter

Last Word Consulting Inc.

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Office: 1- Ext 405

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