Manufacturing Owner (P&L / Horizontal)

About the Team and the Role

The Manufacturing Development team is the strategic engine behind Ather’s horizontal execution model. As a Manufacturing Owner (MO), you act as the "CEO of the Swimlane." You are responsible for bridging high-level organizational "True North" goals with ground-level execution. This is a matrix leadership role where you own the P&L, resource allocation, and technical integrity of a specific horizontal, ensuring that value is delivered at high velocity using Lean manufacturing excellence.

Responsibilities

• Translate organizational OKRs into program objectives and measurable Key Results (KRs); break these down into Epics and Stories for the swimlane.
• Propose, decide, and allocate capital for the horizontal; manage the fiscal year budget and revise quarterly based on priority shifts.
• Sign off on Epics, Stories, and the "Definition of Done" (DoD). Own the prioritization engine (WSJF) to ensure high-value Lean initiatives are sequenced correctly.
• Take accountability for the dotted-line reporting of all swimlane members, ensuring a high-functioning horizontal structure in collaboration with Functional Managers.
• Act as the final authority on strategic trade-offs (e.g., Scope vs. Timeline) to break execution impasses and maintain flow velocity.
• Maintain dashboards of horizontal KPIs, resource allocation, and progress towards OKRs vs. cost during P&L reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement in dependency mapping and PI (Program Increment) goals, ensuring technical integrity is maintained throughout the product lifecycle.

Experience and Qualifications

• Educational Background: B.E/B.Tech or M.E/M.Tech in Industrial, Production, Electrical, or Mechanical engineering.
• Advanced Degree: MBA in Operations or Supply Chain Management is highly preferred.
• Professional Experience: 8 to 15 years of experience in Production, Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Lean Management.
• Domain Expertise: Proven experience in managing manufacturing horizontals, high-volume assembly lines, or complex process engineering projects.
• Past Experience: Have worked in a manufacturing function such as Production, quality, maintenance, industrial engineering, etc or Manufacturing/Production Engineering.

Must Have Competencies

• Expert knowledge of Assembly Operations and Lean manufacturing principles.
• Proficiency in Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and identifying systemic value chain bottlenecks.
• Hands-on technical expertise in Integrated Management Systems (ISO 14001, 45001, 9001).
• Strong command over digital manufacturing tools including SAP, Jira, and G Suite.
• Ability to think in scenarios and ensure module optimization never happens at the expense of the overall vehicle.
• Proficiency in Agile/Scrum frameworks, specifically PI (Program Increment) Planning and backlog hygiene.

Good to Have Competencies

• Implementation of Flow Oriented Layout, Lean Line Design, and Single Piece Flow systems.
• Management of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Levelled Production (Heijunka).
• Application of Consumption Control and Kanban-based production systems.
• Implementation of I4.0 standards and advanced digital manufacturing competencies (IIoT, data analytics).
• Strategic and operational understanding of warehouse management and logistics from a P&L perspective.

About Ather Energy

At Ather, we’ve built India’s first intelligent scooter, from scratch. Based on the philosophy of clean design and smart technology, we are transforming the urban commute experience. We are expanding in India, and in the coming years, we look forward to scaling up and launching more products globally. Today, our product offerings include the Ather 450X, 450S, 450 Apex, and Rizta. Beyond the product, we are also setting up an extensive charging network and re-imagining end-to-end ownership experience.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Ather story doesn't write itself - our people do. We believe everyone is equal, but not the same. Diversity is our strength, and building an inclusive and equitable workplace begins with acknowledging and embracing our differences. We are an equal opportunity employer, and our team reflects a wide range of identities, experiences, and perspectives - all united by a shared passion to shape the Ather journey.