R&D&I Engineer
Other denominations
R&D&I manager. Researcher, R&D engineer
Description
R&D engineers are responsible for researching, planning and developing possible improvements to the products manufactured by their company, either in the product's base technology or in the manufacturing process. They are responsible for the design, execution, coordination and development of projects that must become new products in the future.
These professionals must have a great capacity for technological innovation and the development of new products or their components. It must be taken into account that, given the size of the companies in some industrial sectors (for example, in the automotive industry or in the railway and industrial vehicles industries), the R&D&I engineer must lead a group of technicians or techniques with a high level of specialization.
Their work is aimed at increasing the value of the characteristics of the products in terms of safety, precision, performance, weight, etc. To carry out this task, in addition to have a vision of the future, these professionals need to be aware of the latest technological advances and technology transfer applied to other products and that may respond to customers' needs. Likewise, they carry out research projects on new materials, new applications and the development of new technologies for companies. On the occasions when companies do not have their own R&D&I department, the R&D&I engineers' work is an alternative to outsource the development and testing of new products using research equipment to carry out tests of resistance, service life or wear, for example.
Tasks
- Analyse and select R&D&I ideas. Define the strategic plan of the R&D&I department, establishing the guidelines to effectively organize and manage R&D&I, and ensure that they are implemented and kept within the organization.
- Plan and develop the necessary process for the realization of the R&DI product, which includes basic design; detailed design; pilot test; redesign, demo, and production; commercialization.
- Create new prototypes in order to assess their viability. Carry out the corresponding tests to select those with industrial exploitation possibilities, making the appropriate corrections and innovations.
- Determine the economic viability of the projects, plan the projects and carry out the assignment of responsibilities.
- Inform and provide the Senior Management with all the necessary documentation to carry out the project that will result in a new product, innovation, or improvement of an existing product.
- Document the process followed. Projects generate important documentation that will subsequently allow verifying that objectives set in the initial project have been met. Also cover aspects of the materialization (production) process, within the limits of the project.
- Draw up, if necessary, the project certification document. Some industry products require a certification from the corresponding public authorities before authorizing their use and sale in the market. In these cases, it is an unavoidable requirement when it comes to marketing.
- Manage publications and patents with the head of the Department. Ensure that activities susceptible to generating proprietary technologies and patents are not lost, through which benefits can be obtained by transfer of technology or by tax deductions.
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