Vendor Development Specialist - Frame & Fabrication

Company Overview

Oben Electric is a pioneering company in the electric two-wheeler industry, founded in 2020 by alumni of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Bangalore. The company specializes in designing, developing, and manufacturing completely Made-in-India electric two-wheelers, inspired by global automotive engineering standards and dedicated to bringing advanced technologies to the Indian market. Oben Electric prides itself as an innovative, rapidly growing and well-funded startup in the EV segment that offers vast opportunities for skill growth.

Role Summary

We seek a seasoned Vendor Development professional specializing in Frame and Fabrication within the 2-wheeler automotive space. This role focuses on identifying, developing, qualifying, and optimizing suppliers for frame, chassis, and fabricated components, ensuring quality and cost targets are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, develop, and onboard vendors manufacturing frame, chassis, sheet metal, welded assemblies, brackets, mounts, and related fabricated parts for two-wheelers.
• Drive vendor development for components produced via sheet metal fabrication techniques such as laser cutting, bending, stamping, pressing, welding, and machining.
• Collaborate closely across Design, R&D, Quality, Supplier Quality Assurance, Supply Chain Management, and Production to validate component feasibility, manufacturability and maintain quality.
• Lead supplier technical evaluation, capability assessments, process audits, and supplier qualification processes.
• Champion VA/VE projects, localization efforts, cost reductions, and should-cost analysis to meet component cost objectives without compromising quality.
• Assess suppliers’ tooling, fixtures, welding skills, fabrication techniques, production capacity, and infrastructure robustness.
• Manage prototype production cycles including sample submissions, dimensional verification, trials, and readiness for mass production.
• Ensure compliance with engineering drawings, GD&T, dimensional tolerances, welding protocols, and automotive quality standards.
• Coordinate APQP, PPAP, FMEA, control plan development, and implement corrective and preventive actions with Quality teams.
• Monitor vendor performance on quality, cost, delivery, capacity, and development schedule metrics.
• Address supplier-related manufacturing or quality issues through root cause analysis and structured corrective measures.
• Develop alternative sourcing strategies to broaden vendor options and mitigate supply chain risks.
• Negotiate commercially including tooling expenses, development payments, and component pricing with suppliers.

Required Skills & Experience

• Over 10 years in vendor development, supplier development, or strategic sourcing within the two-wheeler automotive industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing suppliers for frames, chassis, sheet metal, welded structures, and fabricated components.
• Comprehensive knowledge of fabrication methods including stamping, pressing, laser cutting, bending, welding, tooling and fixture design.
• Experienced with supplier technical evaluations, process capability analysis, new product development stages, and production scale-up.
• Strong proficiency with engineering drawings, GD&T principles, precision dimension controls, and automotive quality systems.
• Proven track record in cost management including VA/VE, localization efforts, and supplier cost negotiation.
• Ability to manage cross-functional coordination and independently spearhead supplier development projects.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical thinking, problem-solving, and supplier relationship management capabilities.

Educational Requirements

B.E. or B.Tech degree in Mechanical, Automobile, Production Engineering, or related fields. Candidates with relevant diplomas combined with significant industry experience will also be considered.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Current experience with 2-wheeler OEMs or automotive component manufacturers supplying frame, chassis, or fabricated assemblies.
• Experience managing suppliers for new vehicle platform launches and transitioning components from prototype through mass production.
• Established supplier networks and deep understanding of Indian automotive fabrication industry.

Note

This role specifically targets professionals with hands-on vendor development expertise in frame and fabrication for 2-wheeler vehicles, rather than general procurement or purchase order administration roles.