Aking Jin

Led global R&D and product development for cutting-edge eBike technologies, managing a PMO overseeing 25+ cross-functional projects while driving innovation strategy, portfolio prioritization, and international market expansion aligned with business objectives.

• Defined and executed R&D project management strategy establishing governance frameworks (including enhanced IPD processes), risk mitigation protocols, and stage-gate reviews to ensure on-time delivery, regulatory compliance, and alignment with company innovation roadmap.
• Directed portfolio management for 25+ concurrent R&D projects spanning motors, batteries, intelligent components, IoT systems, and mobile apps; optimized resource allocation, resolved interdependencies, and achieved timely delivery across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Led international cross-cultural teams (including US business development) to deliver market-leading E-bikes solutions, securing $10 million+ in US sales in 2025 while fostering collaboration with global customers on technical solutions.
• Spearheaded development and launch of advanced motors (250W/500W rivaling Bosch), high-density batteries (692Wh/352Wh/250Wh with 0.1% defect rate), and smart components (helmets, displays, TBOX, IoT-integrated handlebars), driving 1,000+ units sold and hundreds of millions in revenue.
• Acted as primary liaison between R&D product design, marketing, and executive leadership; communicated project status, risks, and opportunities to senior stakeholders while facilitating cross-functional alignment.
• Managed R&D budgets and resource forecasting collaborated with suppliers on design standardization and cost optimization, delivering $1 million in savings in 2024 while maximizing ROI on innovation investments.
• Built and coached high-performing PMO and project teams promoting a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement through talent development and succession planning.
• Proactively identified risks and implemented contingency plans for critical projects; resolved escalated issues impacting timelines and deliverables, maintaining ultra-low defect rates and high customer satisfaction.

Key Achievements:

• Strategic Leadership in R&D Project Management

Defined and executed overarching R&D strategies for BLDC, DC motor development, collaborating with international teams (US, Vietnam, Mexico engineering) to align projects with long-term business goals in automotive electrification and innovation. Drove portfolio prioritization and resource allocation across multi-disciplinary initiatives, ensuring seamless alignment with company innovation roadmaps for major clients including HOME DEPOT.

• Project Governance and Methodologies

Established robust project management frameworks incorporating Agile, Stage-Gate, and PMI best practices, including global PCR systems, and governance structures for reviews, risk management, and decision-making. Monitored compliance with rapid prototyping, T1/T2/T3 sample approvals, and seamless R&D-to-production transitions.

• Portfolio and Program Management

Oversaw complex R&D and manufacturing portfolios exceeding 20+ concurrent projects, and 30+ line relocations/automation programs. Managed interdependencies, resolved conflicts across global sites, and delivered timely execution with budget adherence through supplier collaboration, drawing modifications, and CPK-driven optimizations.

• Risk and Issue Management

Proactively identified risks early via DFMEA/PFMEA and developed comprehensive mitigation strategies, including contingency planning for critical projects. Resolved escalated issues impacting timelines/deliverables (e.g., quality reductions by 30%, defect rates near zero), utilizing DOE, root-cause analysis, and data-driven interventions across international transfers and high-volume ramps.

• Budget and Resource Management

Developed and managed multi-million R&D and project budgets; forecasted resource needs based on pipeline priorities and optimized utilization across Asia, Europe, and Americas. Delivered cumulative savings >$7M through tooling optimization, automation, material eliminations (e.g., varnish $300k), and strategic outsourcing, maximizing ROI on innovation and manufacturing investments.

• Technology and Process Improvement

Implemented advanced tracking/reporting tools, process simulations, and machine concepts (unmanned BLDC lines, auto-gluing/fusing, integrated testing). Drove Lean transformations, automation reducing headcount 90% and boosting productivity 30–50%, while integrating emerging technologies (digital twins, AGVs) to enhance efficiency, reduce cycle times, and support next-generation motor systems.

• Communication and Stakeholder Management

Acted as primary liaison between R&D, design, manufacturing, marketing, suppliers, and executive leadership across continents; led cross-cultural teams collaborating with global customers on technical solutions. Delivered executive reporting, influenced senior stakeholders, and facilitated alignment on project status, risks, and opportunities during global launches and transfers.

• Change Management and Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

Drove organizational change toward innovation, agility, and Lean practices in emerging markets; managed cultural shifts during large-scale transfers while making informed decisions under incomplete data in high-pressure environments, balancing speed and accuracy for successful outcomes.

• Digital and Data Competency

Leveraged project management tools, analytics, and data for predictive insights, performance tracking, and digital transformation in R&D/manufacturing. Applied APQP principles and data-driven methodologies to ensure compliance, forecast trends, and optimize processes across global programs.

• Team Leadership and Development

Built and led high-performing cross-functional and cross-cultural teams (up to 50+ members); provided coaching, mentoring, talent development, and succession planning. Fostered cultures of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement, inspiring teams to deliver complex, multi-disciplinary portfolios on time and with excellence.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully transferred and standardized 24 production lines globally, enabling scalable high-volume manufacturing while maintaining quality and compliance standards.
• Championed Lean and automation initiatives that consolidated processes, eliminated redundancies, and achieved significant labor efficiency gains (e.g., output increase from 165 to 220 units/line).
• Partnered with vendors on custom machinery development, addressing IP risks through redesigns and ensuring sustainable, cost-effective production scaling.

• Strategic Leadership in R&D Project Management

Collaborated with international design teams, including Italian engineering partners, to define and implement overarching R&D strategies for G3 BLDC motor development, aligning projects with long-term business goals in automotive innovation. Drove portfolio prioritization and resource allocation across multiple R&D initiatives, ensuring alignment between product development and company innovation roadmaps for clients like VW, BMW, Honda, and GM.

• Project Governance and Methodologies

Established project management frameworks incorporating Agile, Stage-Gate, and PMI best practices to build rapid prototype (RP) samples with suppliers and Italian engineering. Set up governance structures for project reviews, risk management, and decision-making, including performance, salt spray, vibration, high-low temperature, flow value, water immersion, noise, and EMI/EMC testing to verify design concepts and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards.

• Portfolio and Program Management

Oversaw the entire R&D project portfolio for motor components (die casting, plastic, rubber, magnet, sintering, shaft, PCBA, gluing, stamping, coating, epoxy, protruding), ensuring timely delivery and budget adherence. Managed interdependencies between projects by modifying drawings based on supplier input, reviewing mold designs, approving T1/T2/T3 samples, defining measurement methods, and incorporating design modifications from CPK values to resolve conflicts and optimize manufacturability.

• Risk and Issue Management

Proactively identified potential risks early in the development phase and developed mitigation strategies, including DFMEA and PFMEA to drive process optimization. Ensured contingency planning for critical projects, resolved escalated issues impacting timelines or deliverables, such as through DOE for design validation and life cycle testing (performance, salt spray, vibration, noise, temperature shock).

• Technology and Process Improvement

Implemented tools and systems for project tracking and reporting, such as process flow charts, dummy process simulations, and machine concept designs (hydraulic press, winding, fusing, PCBA soldering, balancing, gluing/ultrasonic, EOL test machines). Drove process optimization to improve efficiency and reduce cycle times, staying updated on emerging technologies like digital twins and AGVs, and integrating them into project management practices for automotive systems like CFM, BLDC/DC motors, and cooling solutions for G3, MQB, and Hiper products.

• Communication and Stakeholder Management

Demonstrated excellent communication skills for executive reporting and cross-functional collaboration, influencing and negotiating with senior stakeholders across Asia, Europe, South America, and North America during global product launches. Acted as the primary liaison between R&D, product development, marketing, and executive leadership, facilitating cross-functional alignment and communicating project status, risks, and opportunities.

• Change Management and Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

Drove organizational change and process improvements, managing cultural shifts toward innovation and agility in production processes. Made informed decisions with incomplete data, balancing speed and accuracy in high-pressure environments, such as during 3P reviews (Product, Process, People) and DFM/DFA risk assessments.

• Digital and Data Competency

Leveraged data for predictive insights and performance tracking, familiar with project management tools, analytics, and digital transformation in R&D. Utilized APQP, IATF 16949, and automotive test standards (GM, VW, BMW, Ford) to ensure data-driven decision-making and compliance.

• Team Leadership and Development

Built and led a high-performing project management team of 15 members, including 1 Assistant Manager (India) and 1 Manager, providing coaching, mentoring, and career development. Fostered a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement, inspiring cross-functional teams to deliver complex, multi-disciplinary R&D portfolios

• Strategic Leadership in Global Production Transfer

Led the successful transfer of ABS motor production from Germany to the People's Republic of China (PRC), defining overall R&D and manufacturing transfer strategies aligned with business objectives in automotive safety systems. Drove portfolio prioritization, resource allocation, and cross-continental collaboration to ensure seamless integration and on-time mass production ramp-up.

• Technical Solutions and Innovation Direction

Directed cross-functional teams in developing innovative technical solutions and comprehensive line transfer strategies for ABS motors, evaluating technical feasibility, innovation potential, and alignment with long-term electrification and safety trends in the automotive industry.

• Project Governance and Phase Management

Established robust project management frameworks using Stage-Gate methodologies to oversee Design Validation (DV), Process Validation (PV), Pilot Run (PR), and Mass Production (MP) phases. Scheduled milestones, tracked progress, monitored compliance with quality and regulatory standards (e.g., IATF 16949), and proactively resolved open issues to ensure timely delivery and budget adherence.

• Customer-Focused Issue Resolution

Managed customer complaints related to ABS motor performance, coordinating internal troubleshooting and cross-departmental resolutions to enhance product quality and satisfaction for global automotive clients.

• Technical and Domain Expertise in Product Design

Engineered stepper motors for automotive dashboard applications, demonstrating deep understanding of R&D processes, product development lifecycle, and relevant technologies in precision motor systems. Evaluated technical feasibility and innovation potential by selecting optimal plastic and metal materials, contributing to plastic and metal tooling design, and conducting trials to identify suitable magnet materials.

• Project Governance and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Managed end-to-end aspects of stepper motor development projects, from material trials and tooling design to prototype optimization and production implementation. Facilitated cross-functional coordination to integrate design improvements into manufacturing, ensuring timely progression through development phases and compliance with automotive quality standards.