Saurabh Katna
Summary
Accomplished Program and Change Management professional and former Indian Navy Commander with 14+ years of experience leading complex engineering and operational programs in high-reliability environments across nuclear and conventional submarine platforms. Skilled in strategic planning, risk management, and stakeholder alignment across multidisciplinary teams. Recognized for driving operational excellence, governance, and continuous improvement through structured execution.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Team Lead, Engineering Design
Tata Consultancy Services
09.2023 - 03.2024
- Led engineering design programs for Indian Naval submarine systems, supervising 7 senior engineers and coordinating a 60+ member multidisciplinary team.
- Drove program planning, scheduling, and risk mitigation for pre-FEED and FEED design phases achieving 100% milestone adherence during design readiness reviews.
- Managed stakeholder communication between design, production, and customer teams, resolving key bottlenecks in product lifecycle management (PLM). improved delivery predictability by 25%.
- Established program monitoring metrics and documentation to track progress and ensure quality deliverables to enhance audit readiness and reduced rework by 15%.
Deputy Director Planning (Commander), Ship Building Centre
Indian Navy
01.2021 - 07.2023
- Directed multi-stakeholder programs involving OEMs, design, and production teams to meet project milestones for future naval platforms.
- Formulated risk-based prioritization models for project tasks and critical path activities ensuring timely execution and delivery predictability by 25%.
- Developed and implemented project governance frameworks incorporating lessons learned, quality audits, and compliance checkpoints.
- Supervised and monitored five major and 50+ minor contracts, worth ₹400+ crore, improving vendor performance with improved parameters by 20%.
First Engineer (Nuclear Propulsion Plant)
INS Chakra
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Headed a technical team of 34 personnel ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operation of the nuclear propulsion plant and auxiliaries.
- Managed preventive maintenance programs, performance analytics, and operational readiness assessments reducing unscheduled downtime by 15%.
- Conducted risk assessments, performance reviews, and process improvement workshops to enhance plant reliability and reduce downtime.
- Designed training and audit preparation programs achieving 100% compliance during inspections by national and international regulators.
Nuclear Reactor Operator Training (Lt Commander)
BARC & Visakhapatnam
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Completed specialized training for Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) operations and nuclear plant control systems.
- Gained in-depth understanding of reactor safety, radiological control, and operational governance frameworks.
- Supported design review and validation exercises aligning operational requirements with safety policies.
Deputy Departmental Head, Submarine Systems Trials & Acceptance Team
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Directed system trials for 12 major and 45 auxiliary systems, ensuring compliance with class authority directives.
- Managed stakeholder across design, inspection, and testing agencies to close 100% of trial observations within deadlines.
- Implemented cross-training and rotation plans for 40 specialists, improving project efficiency by 20%.
- Streamlined documentation for acceptance trials, reducing approval cycle time by 25%.
Second Engineer (Diesel-Electric Submarine)
INS Sindhuraj
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Managed end-to-end maintenance and operational readiness of key submarine systems under stringent timelines.
- Developed process improvement initiatives for preventive maintenance and enhanced spare management and inventory accuracy by 30%, minimizing equipment downtime.
- Led a technical team of 30 sailors in high-pressure conditions ensuring adherence to quality, safety, and operational standards.
Graduate Trainee Officer
Indian Navy
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Completed specialized submarine engineering and operations training on propulsion, hydraulic, pneumatic, and auxiliary systems.
- Earned 'Dived Watchkeeping Certificate' for operational readiness aboard INS Sindhuraj.
- Applied theoretical engineering knowledge to practical shipboard systems and operational procedures.
Education
Executive Program in Business Management - undefined
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
12.2023
M.Tech. - Nuclear Technology
Homi Bhabha National Institute
12.2018
B.Tech. - Mechanical Engineering
Punjab Technical University
12.2008
Skills
- Program & Project Management
- Change Management
- Strategic Planning
- Risk Assessment
- Operational Excellence
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Process Optimization
- Governance & Compliance
- Performance Metrics & Reporting
- Leadership & Team Development
- Resource Planning
Certification
- PMP, Project Management Institute, 2023-01-01
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Scrum Alliance, 2023-01-01
- Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Academy Amsterdam, 2023-01-01
- Jira Fundamentals, Atlassian University, 2023-01-01
- Licensed Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator (PWR), Indian Navy, 2019-01-01
Accomplishments
- Commendation by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Indian Navy (2013) for exemplary leadership during deployment for rectifying defect on Main Diesel Engine High speed governor in a high sea state.
- Led multiple multi-stakeholder programs from planning through execution in complex regulatory environments for nuclear and radiological inspections by Russian and Indian Regulators.
- Implemented governance frameworks ensuring process standardization, quality compliance, and operational excellence for vendor selection across strategic naval projects.
Personal Information
Nationality: Indian
Timeline
Team Lead, Engineering Design
Tata Consultancy Services
09.2023 - 03.2024
Deputy Director Planning (Commander), Ship Building Centre
Indian Navy
01.2021 - 07.2023
First Engineer (Nuclear Propulsion Plant)
INS Chakra
01.2018 - 01.2021
Nuclear Reactor Operator Training (Lt Commander)
BARC & Visakhapatnam
01.2016 - 01.2018
Deputy Departmental Head, Submarine Systems Trials & Acceptance Team
01.2014 - 01.2015
Second Engineer (Diesel-Electric Submarine)
INS Sindhuraj
01.2012 - 01.2014
Graduate Trainee Officer
Indian Navy
01.2010 - 01.2011
Executive Program in Business Management - undefined
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
M.Tech. - Nuclear Technology
Homi Bhabha National Institute
B.Tech. - Mechanical Engineering
Punjab Technical University