Engineering Project Manager

Jenrec Recruitment; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A growing R&D company is seeking an experienced Project Manager in Gauteng. You will lead product development projects, ensuring alignment with product strategies and managing internal teams and contractors. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, extensive project management experience, and strong skills in negotiation and risk management. This full-time role offers an engaging and dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in project management in an engineering environment.
• Proven track record in managing development projects in technology-driven sectors.
• Practical experience with project management methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and manage product and technical development projects.
• Negotiate objectives, deliverables, schedules, and costs with stakeholders.
• Manage project lifecycle across development, production, and support.

Skills

Project management methodologies (PMBOK, Agile)

Negotiation skills

Risk management

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Formal project management training

Tools

Project management software

Job description

Overview

A dynamic and growing R&D company specializing in electro-optical systems and machine learning technologies is currently seeking an experienced Project Manager to join its team on a full-time basis.

The organization operates in a lively, casual office environment and focuses on the development and production of advanced technologies with applications in both civilian and security sectors, and select defence-related domains.

Primary Purpose

The Project Manager will be responsible for planning, executing, and managing:

• Product and technical development projects
• Production projects related to these products and components
• Support and lifecycle projects associated with the companys technologies
• All project work must align with broader product development strategies

Qualifications Required

• Bachelors Degree or higher in Engineering (required)
• Formal project management training or equivalent (required)
• Certification in Project Management or successful completion of a relevant course
• Required Experience: years of project management experience in an engineering environment (required)
• Proven track record of managing development projects in technology-driven sectors; experience in the military technology environment is a strong advantage
• Practical experience with project management methodologies including PMBOK (required), Prince2 and / or Agile (required)
• Experience using formal project management software and tools (required)
• Strong project planning, control techniques, and change management in complex environments (required)
• Experience leading diverse engineering and technical teams (required)
• Contract negotiation skills and understanding of total cost of ownership (preferred)
• Experience creating and managing Business Plans (preferred)
• Background in the aerospace industry is advantageous but not required

Key Responsibilities

• Define, scope, and contract projects internally or externally
• Negotiate objectives, outcomes, deliverables, schedules, and costs with stakeholders
• Align projects with systems engineering requirements, technical risk mitigation, and testing strategies
• Manage project lifecycle across development, production, support, and decommissioning
• Create Business Plans and establish business metrics for success
• Ensure milestones are achieved within quality, time, cost, and risk parameters
• Manage internal development teams and external contractors
• Oversee procurement, SHE (Safety, Health, Environment), and facility resources for project delivery
• Maintain regular communication with stakeholders and project reporting on metrics, risks, and progress
• Facilitate acceptance testing and handover to production, ensuring complete documentation and specifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

• A naturally assertive yet respectful leader
• Goal-oriented and able to balance time, cost, and quality effectively
• Self-driven, proactive, and risk-aware with strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent communicator with strong conflict resolution and stakeholder management skills
• Organized and methodical, yet adaptable to the demands of a dynamic R&D environment
• Enthusiastic and confident, with a professional demeanor
• Committed to ensuring project success through hands-on involvement