General Manager – Engineering and Optronics

About the role

The company is a well‑established South African technology firm that designs advanced electro‑optical systems. It seeks a General Manager to lead engineering and optronics operations, translate board strategy into actionable plans, and drive sustainable business growth.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day operational activities, improve efficiency and ensure compliance with quality standards.
• Develop, monitor and report on budgets, analyse financial performance and control resource allocation.
• Mentor multidisciplinary engineering and operational teams, set measurable KPIs and foster a high‑performance culture.
• Convert executive strategy into operational objectives and oversee execution of strategic initiatives.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (essential); postgraduate engineering qualification is advantageous.
• 15–20 years of experience across the full product development lifecycle, with at least 5 years in senior management of engineering or product development teams.
• Extensive background in electro‑optical or closely related technologies.
• Systems Engineering training (SEBOK or equivalent) and/or Project Management certification (PMBOK, PRINCE2) are desirable.

Required skills

• Systems Engineering (SEBOK or equivalent)
• Project Management (PMBOK, PRINCE2)
• Optronics and electro‑optical system development
• Contract negotiation and management
• Risk management