R&D Manager

Job Descriptions

• Drive research and innovation initiatives aligned with NashTech’s Technical Strategy, focusing on AI-first, Cloud, Data, and DevOps.
• Lead the development of new technologies, accelerators, and frameworks that enhance NashTech’s delivery efficiency and competitiveness.
• Act as a bridge between CTO Office, Competency Leads, SWAT, Practices, and Delivery Units to ensure research outputs are scalable and applicable.
• Build a culture of continuous innovation, encouraging experimentation and collaboration across technical domains.
• Ensure all R&D initiatives contribute directly to engineering excellence, reusability, and market differentiation.

Responsibilities

• R&D Governance and Strategy
  • Define and execute the R&D roadmap consistent with company vision, technical strategy and priorities.
  • Identify emerging technologies (e.g., Agentic AI, Edge AI, AI in SDLC, cloud, data & automation) and evaluate adoption feasibility.
  • Manage the R&D portfolio, monitor progress, and track outcomes using standardized reporting and performance tracking tools.
  • Ensure all research activities comply with NashTech’s security, data governance, and ISO27001 standards.
• Innovation and Accelerator Development
  • Lead the creation of prototypes and accelerators such as microservices template, agentic AI accelerator, or modern data solution template.
  • Collaborate with Competency Leads to transform PoCs into reusable components and standardized best practices.
  • Validate R&D outputs via pilot implementations in delivery projects.
  • Maintain clear documentation and version control for all R&D artifacts.
• Collaboration and Enablement
  • Partner with delivery units and Practice teams to embed R&D results into client projects and promote to the market.
  • Coordinate hackathons, DevShow events, and internal technical sharing sessions to spread innovation.
  • Collaborate with key technology partners (Microsoft, AWS, Databricks, Snowflake) on joint research and enablement initiatives.
  • Support the HR Training team in integrating emerging technologies into internal upskilling and Rookie programs.

Qualifications

Must-have:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in software development, with passion to leading R&D or innovation projects.
• Strong expertise in one or more domains:
  • AI/Agentic AI: LangChain, LangGraph, Microsoft Agent Framework, Strands Agents, Agentic workflows, …
  • Cloud: Azure, AWS, or GCP (familiar with Cloud-native, FinOps, MLOps).
  • Data & Analytics: Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, or modern data stack.
  • DevOps: CI/CD, DevSecOps, GitOps, and platform engineering.
• Strong understanding of SDLC, from research to productionisation.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in a global delivery environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.

Nice-to-have:

• Hands-on experience with GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or JetBrains AI Assistant.
• Familiar with AI TRiSM or Responsible AI frameworks.
• Experience managing R&D budgets or technical partnership programs (e.g., Microsoft, Databricks).
• Published articles, whitepapers, or open-source contributions related to AI or software innovation.