AVP / VP Product & Technology Innovation (India)

For the position of AVP / VP Product Technology Innovation Location: Mumbai/Bangalore Reports to: Chief Technology Officer Works closely with: CEO, Marketing,Business Heads (BFSI, IAM, eGov, Retail, Industrial Automation, Smart Manufacturing, ESS) Being the AVP / VP Product Technology Innovation for Group company, you will be responsible for Owning discovery, product strategy and earlystage R D for new solution and platform plays in biometric IAM, IoT/edge and ESS, from concept to validated proto/pilots. Drive IP and patent creation while shaping GTM narratives; hand over scaled execution to engineering and delivery teams. The opportunity: This role provides a unique opportunity to shape Evolutes next-generation product platforms and innovation agenda, create defensible IP and convert emerging technologies into scalable solution platforms that drive new revenue streams across BFSI, IAM, e-Gov, Retail, Industrial Automation, Smart Manufacturing and ESS domains. The role reports into the CTO and works in close collaboration with the CEO, Marketing leadership and Business Heads across BFSI, IAM, e-Gov, Retail, Industrial Automation, Smart Manufacturing and ESS. Key responsibilities include: 1. Product platform strategy (0 1) - Define product vision and platform roadmaps for biometric IAM, IoT devices/platforms and ESS solutions across BFSI, eGovernance, Retail, and Industrial/Smart Manufacturing segments. - Identify highvalue problems and usecases with business heads and key customers, translate them into product hypotheses and experiment backlogs. - Shape solution blueprints (hardware, firmware, cloud, analytics) that extend your current embeddedhardware strength into full solutions and platforms. - Deliver a targeted number of validated platform concepts taken to pilot per year. - Drive adoption of new platforms across customer deals, increasing the share of platform-led solutions vs bespoke hardware-only solutions. 2. Research, feasibility and IP - Lead deeptech feasibility for new bets in AI/ML, biometrics, security, IoT/edge and ESS controls, balancing Can we with Should we build it from a commercial lens. - Run structured PoCs and lab prototypes; define clear go/nogo criteria and success metrics before scaling. - Drive an IP pipeline around algorithms, architectures, and control schemes, coordinate invention disclosures, patentability checks, and filings with external counsel. - Build a measurable IP funnel tracked through invention disclosures, patent filings and patents granted. 3. Gotomarket design (without full delivery ownership) - Craft positioning, value propositions, and solution narratives for each platform in partnership with Marketing and Sales. - Define reference architectures, pricing logic and deployment models (onprem/edge/cloud, OEM/whitelabel, managed service) for pilots and firstwave customers. - Support selected lighthouse deals with domain/solution expertise and proofpoints from pilots; hand execution to engineering and delivery once patterns are validated. - Create a measurable recent product/platform revenue pipeline from pilots and lighthouse deals. 4. Proto and pilot ownership (no BAU delivery) - Own the lifecycle from idea lab prototype limited customer pilots; ensure designs are securebydesign and manufacturable. - Work with Engineering Head to define clear handover criteria from pilot to scale (architecture baselines, backlog, documentation, nonfunctional requirements). - Stay involved posthandover only as platform owner for roadmap and major architectural decisions, not daytoday project management. 5. Collective decisionmaking and governance - Run regular innovation/roadmap councils with CTO, CEO, Marketing and business heads to choose which bets to start, stop or scale. - Maintain a simple portfolio view of innovation bets (stage, TRL, expected impact, risk) to guide investment decisions. - Ensure compliance with biometric, KYC/AML, eGov and IoT/ESS security guidelines in all concepts and prototypes. - Track portfolio performance through pilot throughput, revenue pipeline, IP outcomes and platform adoption metrics. To qualify for the role, you must have - 1015+ years across product, R D or platform roles in deeptech / embedded / IoT / ESS domains, with strong exposure to BFSI/IAM/eGov and/or industrial/energy sectors. - Proven 0 1 experience: has taken deeptech products from concept to successful pilots or early commercial rollout. - Demonstrated IP orientation (patents filed/granted, or platforms with defensible technical moats). - Strong systems thinking (hardwarefirmwareclouddata), excellent stakeholder facilitation with CXO and business heads, and comfort working in an MSME/startup environment. Key attributes for success - Strategic thinking with strong commercial orientation. - Ability to influence CXOs and business heads and drive cross-functional alignment. - High ownership mindset .