R&D Manager

Bringing together more than 10.000 business partners with the world's leading technology brands in Turkey, Arena is the leading technology products provider in the country. The company manages a wide range of products such as information technologies, telecommunications, consumer electronics, retail and internet retailing, by following closely every development in technology.

Since its establishment in 1991, Arena has been sustaining the mission of breaking new grounds with great ability to follow the rapid developments in market conditions and to anticipate consumer expectations. This is why the company has been keeping making various innovations. It is among the biggest technology companies in Turkey to deliver the right products to customers via reliable business partners.

At Arena, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are central to who we are. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone — regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or background — can learn, grow, and thrive. DEI is not just a policy for us; it's a shared responsibility and a core part of our culture.

We are looking for an experienced R&D Manager who will lead innovation initiatives, drive end-to-end research programs, and help shape Arena’s technology roadmap.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, or related technical fields.
• Master’s degree required; PhD preferred (especially in AI, Computer Engineering, or related disciplines).
• Proven experience as an R&D Manager, R&D Lead, Innovation Manager, or a similar leadership role.
• Strong understanding of R&D processes, innovation management, and research methodologies.
• Experience managing government-funded R&D programs, especially TÜBİTAK TEYDEB projects (1505, 1707, university–industry collaborations).
• Ability to manage the full R&D lifecycle: proposal preparation, work package planning, budgeting, execution, reporting, and project close-out.
• High-level technical literacy in AI, automation, enterprise systems, or software engineering concepts (no hands-on coding required, but solid conceptual understanding is expected).
• Ability to evaluate technical documents, feasibility studies, architectural proposals, and research outputs.
• Experience working with universities, research centers, and external stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and communication skills to guide researchers, analysts, and technical teams.
• Fluent in English (written and verbal).

Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end R&D initiatives aligned with Arena’s technology roadmap.
• Oversee all phases of research activities including planning, documentation, PoC development, prototyping, and transition to production.
• Manage TÜBİTAK 1505, 1707, and university collaboration projects while ensuring compliance with all technical and financial requirements.
• Drive R&D programs leveraging emerging technologies in AI, automation, and process intelligence.
• Manage scopes, timelines, budgets, milestones, and deliverables across multiple R&D projects.
• Convert research outcomes into practical, scalable, and commercially viable solutions.
• Work closely with Product teams, AI/ML Engineering, RPA units, and internal business stakeholders.
• Collaborate with external partners including vendors, universities, TÜBİTAK experts, and international organizations.
• Support and supervise research activities involving LLMs, agentic frameworks, automation models, and enterprise integration concepts.
• Evaluate tools, frameworks, technologies, and architectural approaches required for scalable R&D execution.
• Oversee experimental design, data collection, benchmarking, analysis, and interpretation of research findings.
• Ensure smooth technology transfer of prototypes and PoCs to product and engineering teams.
• Prepare and maintain all technical documentation including TÜBİTAK deliverables, project reports, feasibility studies, and architectural summaries.
• Maintain strong documentation discipline for audit, compliance, and knowledge continuity within the R&D organization.

“Yapacağınız iş başvuruları Kişisel Verilerin Korunması Kanunu (“KVKK”) ve ilgili mevzuat kapsamında otomatik yollarla işlenecektir. Detaylı bilgi için Aydınlatma Metnini (https://www.arena.com.tr/hakkimizda/kvkk-aydinlatma-beyannamesi) inceleyebilirsiniz.”