Dharmender Kumar

Senior Software Engineering & AI Transformation Executive with over 20 years of experience steering global platform engineering organizations, cloud and enterprise platform transformation, and cross-functional product delivery within world-class enterprise ecosystems. Proven accountability for multi-million-dollar technology portfolios ($20M+ annual spend), building robust engineering leadership pipelines, and defining enterprise AI strategies that scale platform capabilities while optimizing operational margins. Deep expertise in aligning complex technical architectures with business growth objectives, managing high-performing matrixed organizations, and driving digital resilience across automotive and enterprise technology sectors.

Senior Program Manager - Platform Engineering - Vehicle Validation & Digitalization - Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India - Bengaluru

(2025-12 - 2026-04)

• Platform Strategy & 100% Technical Ownership: Formulate the enterprise-wide digitalization and platform engineering strategy for vehicle validation and hardware testing ecosystems, supporting thousands of global R&D engineers following user-centric platform modernization. Supported engineering and validation platforms aligned to highly customized automotive product engineering and delivery environments.
• Target-State Architecture: Architect and deliver a scalable digital platform roadmap integrating disparate validation tools, workflows, and automated reporting systems to establish unified enterprise visibility. Led API-led integration modernization across enterprise workflow platforms improving interoperability and scalability.
• Strategic Roadmap Execution: Partner with global engineering, architecture, and product stakeholders to define product roadmap execution and lifecycle governance. Modernize core engineering workflows with engineering delivery ownership.
• Engineering Line Management: Direct India-based 30+ software engineering team members delivering mission-critical, high-availability digital platforms essential for global R&D operations.

Senior Program Manager - Engineering & Platform Modernization - ServiceNow Platform - Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India - Bengaluru

(2022-07 - 2025-11)

• GCC Capability Scaling: Built and scaled a world-class global platform engineering organization across ITSM, CSM, SecOps, and GRC domains; grew the team 6x (60+ engineers) and transitioned 80% product ownership and 100% operational ownership to the India GCC.
• AI Strategy & Workflow Transformation: Led enterprise platform modernization and AI-enabled workflow transformation initiatives that improved operational productivity by 30%.
• Financial & Operational Optimization: Drove global operations optimization through intelligent automation and strategic vendor consolidation, achieving 40% sustainable cost savings across the ecosystem.
• Product Capabilities (GenAI): Designed and executed a GenAI-enabled (Now Assist) Service Desk transformation that revolutionized the internal service experience and maximized developer productivity. Supported cloud transformation initiatives enabling modernization of enterprise SaaS and platform ecosystems.
• Engineering governance frameworks: Implemented release readiness, platform observability, technical debt management, operational reliability, and compliance standards. Improved operational resilience, and build platform roadmaps.
• Engineering Excellence & Velocity: Elevated delivery maturity by embedding modern agile frameworks, unlocking a 50% increase in Scrum velocity, establishing 90% test automation, and capping UAT defects below 5%.

Senior Program Manager - Global Software Asset Governance Leader – Software Asset, License & Contract Management - Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India - Bengaluru

(2021-04 - 2023-06)

• Center of Excellence (CoE) Blueprint: Established and scaled the Global Software Asset Management CoE, enforcing enterprise architecture governance across tier-1 software ecosystems (Microsoft, Oracle, VMware, IBM, Salesforce).
• Enterprise Risk Mitigation: Formulated comprehensive compliance and audit-readiness frameworks, standardizing global vendor management and technology risk parameters.
• Strategic Cost Rationalization: Realized a 30% cost optimization through contract optimization, operational standardization, and rigorous application portfolio rationalization.
• GenAI Product Integration: Conceptualized and deployed a GenAI-led transformation for complex EULA check processes, driving a 50% improvement in operational efficiency.
• Global People Leadership: Led cross-functional, globally distributed engineering streams, led 25+ team members, cultivating leadership pipelines through active mentorship and technical stakeholder alignment.

IT Engineering Manager – Enterprise Digital Transformation & Platforms - Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India - Bengaluru

(2017-09 - 2021-04)

• Large-Scale Enterprise Modernization: Orchestrated an enterprise-wide platform transformation by implementing modern SaaS infrastructures and migrating over 100 legacy workflows and system integrations. Collaborated with architecture teams on scalable integration patterns, observability, and operational resilience frameworks.
• Business Growth Alignment: Defined digital transformation roadmaps that standardized global operations, accelerated workflow automation, and enhanced end-to-end data visibility. Supported 6000+ research engineers.
• Platform Consolidation: Led infrastructure rationalization and asset management modernization programs, drastically reducing technical debt and improving operational efficiency.
• Crisis-Response Engineering: Rapidly conceptualized and shipped business-critical digital solutions during COVID-19—including mobile rostering, mobility tracking, and vaccination management systems—safeguarding global business continuity.

Senior Technical Project Manager – Global Enterprise Architecture & Systems - GE India Technology Centre - Bengaluru

(2010-08 - 2017-08)

• Global ERP Modernization: Led global enterprise transformation programs across sourcing, procurement, finance, and core ERP ecosystems supporting global research operations.
• Multi-Domain Engineering Ownership: Managed a massive portfolio of 60+ integrated business applications, ensuring seamless delivery and performance for stakeholders across the US, Germany, China, India, and Canada.
• Portfolio Rationalization & Analytics: Directed large-scale ERP consolidation and data analytics initiatives that established structural governance, data integrity, and operational consistency.
• Fiscal Accountability ($20M Portfolio): Accountable for a $20M annual IT consulting and delivery budget; successfully engineered complex technical integrations for Legal Entity Mergers and India GST implementations.

Technical Lead – Enterprise Web & Integration Solutions - Mindtree Ltd - Bengaluru

(2006-08 - 2010-08)

• Architecture & Systems Integration: Architected and delivered complex enterprise web solutions and high-scale integration programs for premium clients, including Microsoft, AOL, and RealNetworks.
• Onsite Engineering Leadership: Dispatched onsite at AOL for over 3 years as Technical Lead, managing large-scale global portal rollouts and high-availability system integrations.
• Recognitions: Best Performer and Technical Excellence awards for innovation, delivery quality and customer satisfaction.

Software Engineer – Java & Enterprise Applications - Stalk India (A unit of STPI)

(2004-06 - 2006-07)

• Full-Cycle Software Engineering: Developed robust Java/J2EE enterprise web applications for government and commercial sectors utilizing highly structured software development lifecycles (SDLC).
• Workflow Automation Engine: Engineered the core architecture for the Loan Distribution System for the Government of Jharkhand, automating manual workflows and improved data integrity.

MBA - Marketing - Symbiosis Pune (2007 - 2009)

Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) - Computer Science - Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (2000 - 2004)