Pradeepkumar Santhakumar

Results-driven Automotive Electronics and Engineering Leader with 23+ years of experience delivering full-lifecycle ECU, CCU, PCB, and Embedded Electronics products while leading engineering organizations of up to 96 members. Proven track record of developing and launching complex automotive electronics solutions from concept and architecture through validation, manufacturing introduction, and high-volume production for global OEM customers. Recognized for leading high-impact programs for Ford, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler, Cummins, SsangYong (KGM), Kubota, Tata Motors, and other global OEMs. Proven leader of cross-functional engineering organizations, driving product development, quality improvement, operational efficiency, cost optimization, and customer satisfaction across global programs. Strategic engineering leader with global experience across India and Europe, including assignments at Bosch Stuttgart and direct OEM engagement with Ford Dunton, UK. Delivered 5–10% cost reductions across product portfolios, managed hardware budgets of approximately EUR 18M, contributed to two published patents, and recently completed an M.Tech in Microelectronics (BITS Pilani), complementing extensive expertise in automotive electronics, hardware engineering, and engineering leadership. Currently based in Toronto, Canada, targeting Automotive Engineering Leadership, Product Development Management, Program Management, and Senior Hardware Engineering opportunities.

• Automotive Electronics
• Capacitive & Optical Sensor Systems
• Embedded Systems
• EMI/EMC
• Full Lifecycle ECU/CCU Development
• Functional Safety
• Global OEM Delivery
• Hardware Design & Integration
• Hardware Validation
• PCB Design
• Power Electronics
• RFQ Engineering

1. Hardware Department Manager

   VALEO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

   Feb 2022 to Apr 2026

   Chennai, India

   Group Technical Centre, Chennai Team Size: 96 members • Established globally adopted KPI framework for PCB department – benchmarking efficiency, quality, and rework reduction; AI-driven initiatives delivered ~EUR 0.5M savings. • Pioneered Zuken-based PCB routing reuse methodology, delivering 8% average efficiency saving per board across standard electronic modules. • Drove quality transformation across 54-member Chennai team, reducing annual errors from 8 to 1 (2023 – 2026). • Scaled subcontractor capacity from 0% to 25% (2023 – 2025), enhancing delivery capability without compromising quality.

2. Head of Engineering

   ROBERT BOSCH ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED

   Jul 2020 to Jan 2022

   India

   Overall employer tenure: Jun 2006 – Jan 2022 Team Size: 40 members • Led Bosch India's Connectivity Control Unit (CCU) engineering organization, resolving complex technical challenges, strengthening OEM customer trust, and supporting business expansion across North American, European, and Indian markets.

3. Engineering Manager

   ROBERT BOSCH ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED

   Sep 2015 to Jul 2020

   India

   Overall employer tenure: Jun 2006 – Jan 2022 Team Size: 64 members • Led global Ford Diesel ECU programs representing ~50% of Ford's diesel ECU business, managing 64-member cross-functional engineering teams and driving delivery, customer engagement, quality, and business growth across Ford, GM, JLR, FCA, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, and Daimler programs.

4. Senior Hardware Engineer, Project Manager

   ROBERT BOSCH ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED

   Jun 2006 to Aug 2015

   India

   Overall employer tenure: Jun 2006 – Jan 2022 Team Size: 33 members • Acted as Bosch's global technical interface for Ford Diesel ECU programs, coordinating hardware development, manufacturing support, and customer engagement across global engineering teams. • Drove 8% YoY cost savings across ECU manufacturing programs with zero defects delivered over 4 years. • Established and led Bosch India's End-of-Line (EOL) ECU testing team from the ground up, supporting Bosch Global Production Systems and enabling validation of manufactured ECUs across global production plants.

5. Hardware Engineer / Team Leader

   PREMIER EVOLVICS PRIVATE LIMITED

   Jun 2002 to Jun 2006

   India

   Team Size: 35 members • Led cross-functional team of Electronics, Firmware, and Field Trial engineers in indigenous design of capacitive and optical sensors from scratch – solving a critical triboelectric sparking problem that unlocked 12 subsequent sensor programs – growing market share from <2% to 10% (2005 – 2006).

1. BITS Pilani

   M.Tech in Microelectronics (Work Integrated Learning Programme), Microelectronics

   India

   2023 to 2025

   CGPA: 7.43/10 (Dissertation: Excellent)

2. BITS Pilani

   M.Tech, Microelectronics

   India

   2023 to 2025

   Work Integrated Learning Programme | CGPA: 7.43/10 (Dissertation: Excellent)

3. Bharathidasan Institute of Management

   MBA, General Management & Information Systems

   India

   2002 to 2005

4. PSG College of Arts & Science, Bharathiar University

   M.Sc., Applied Electronics

   India

   2000 to 2002

5. PSG College of Arts & Science, Bharathiar University

   B.Sc., Electronics

   India

   1997 to 2000

• German Language (B1.1) Certification

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

  Bosch