General Manager – Optronics Division

About the role

Our client, a leading South African technology organisation in the advanced optronics and electro‑optical sector, is seeking a senior executive to head its Optronics Division. The General Manager will be responsible for translating strategic goals into operational results across engineering, product development, finance and people management.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the division, driving efficiency, productivity and continuous improvement.
• Develop and manage divisional budgets, monitor financial performance and ensure cost‑effective resource utilisation.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering and product development teams through the full product lifecycle, from concept to deployment and support.
• Oversee contract negotiations, commercial agreements and execution to sustain business growth.
• Mentor and develop high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation and collaboration.
• Work with executive and board‑level stakeholders to deliver strategic objectives and identify growth opportunities.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (essential); postgraduate engineering qualification is advantageous.
• Extensive experience in optronics – non‑negotiable.
• Proven track record in senior general‑management roles within technology or manufacturing environments.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to drive sustainable business performance.

Required skills

• Systems Engineering (e.g., SEBOK)
• Optronics technology