General Manager

Guardian Recruiting (Pty) Ltd; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1 000 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering organisation is seeking a senior engineering leader to head its South African business. This hybrid role involves full P&L responsibility and focuses on engineering design, operational excellence, and driving transformation through technology and AI. The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background, experience in leading technical transformations, and a focus on measurable financial results. The position is based in Cape Town but requires flexibility for international collaboration.

Qualifications

• Strong background in engineering design and development environments.
• Credible technical leader able to engage with engineers and customers.
• Proven experience leading technology-enabled transformation.
• Experience from mid-sized consulting or technology firms.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering design and delivery with full P&L responsibility.
• Modernise the operating model through technology and automation.
• Drive profitable growth and operational excellence.
• Engage deeply with engineers to ensure effective leadership.

Skills

Engineering design and development

Technology and transformation leadership

Understanding of CAD-based design

Proven track record in operational excellence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (BEng)

MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification

Job description

We are seeking a senior engineering and commercial leader to head up the South African business of a global engineering organisation. This is a hybrid engineering, operations, and digital transformation leadership role with full P&L responsibility. You will lead engineering design and delivery, modernise the operating model through technology, automation and AI, and drive profitable growth and operational excellence. This role suits a technically credible leader who can balance engineering rigour with commercial and transformation outcomes.

Summary of Key Outcomes & Accountabilities:

• Engineering & Development Leadership (Foundational)
• Full P&L & Business Ownership
• Technology, AI & Transformation Leadership
• Operational Excellence & Labour Optimisation
• Strategic Growth & Advanced Thinking
• Leadership & Organisational Development

The ideal candidate profile would include:

Engineering & Technical Foundation (Non-Negotiable)

• Strong background in engineering design and development environments (automotive or similar complex engineered products).
• Credible technical leader able to engage deeply with engineers and customers.
• Understanding of CAD-based design, development lifecycles, and delivery constraints.

Transformation and Technology Experience

• Proven experience leading technology-enable transformation in engineering or technical organisations
• Strong exposure to automation, digital systems, AI, and data-driven operating models
• Ideally suited to a CTO/CIO mindset but grounded in engineering execution

Background & Career Profile

• Possible Consulting background strongly preferred, with experience bringing new thinking into operating businesses.
• Experience from mid-sized consulting or technology firms (±80–100 employees), not large bureaucratic corporates.
• Must have owned the profit and loss of a business and demonstrated consistent financial results improvements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (BEng) or related technical field.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification advantageous.

• On-site role based in Cape Town.
• Flexibility required to support international collaboration and meetings.

Kindly note that by submitting your application for this career opportunity, you agree that Guardian Recruiting may use your application for the purpose of the recruitment and selection of the said position, and this information may be shared with the relevant stakeholders in the business.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Should you not have heard back within a two-week period, please assume that your application was unsuccessful.

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