Product Development Engineer Distribution and Transmission Hardware

DAV Professional Placement Group; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company located in Pietermaritzburg is seeking a Product Development Engineer with at least 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment. This role involves managing projects related to distribution and transmission hardware, designing prototypes, and driving manufacturing process improvements. A Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering and professional registration with ECSA are mandatory. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills and be adept in project management and communication.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' product development experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience in line hardware development.
• Exposure to the electrical power transmission and distribution industry is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Manage cost and timelines of all related projects.
• Design prototypes, conduct technical qualification, and oversee testing.
• Drive continuous improvement of products and manufacturing processes.

Skills

Strong analytical and problem-solving ability

Project management and product development skills

Excellent communication (written and verbal)

Teamwork and collaboration

Attention to detail and time management

Knowledge of ISO 9001 principles

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Grade 12 or equivalent

Professional registration with ECSA

Tools

Computer Aided Design and Draughting (CADD)

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

ERP (SYSPRO or similar)

Job description

Overview

Product Development Engineer (PDE) Distribution and Transmission Hardware
Location: Pietermaritzburg Our client is a proudly African organization with a global presence, manufacturing high-quality products for energy transmission and distribution networks. Their head office and manufacturing operations are situated in Pietermaritzburg.

Responsibilities

• Manage cost and timelines of all related projects
• Design prototypes, conduct technical qualification, and oversee testing
• Develop and implement manufacturing processes for distribution and transmission hardware products, including:
• Substation clamps, wireform, and vibration damping products
• Small hardware components (e.g., fuse cut-out components - production implementation only)
• Drive continuous improvement of products and manufacturing processes
• Engage with suppliers on technical specifications, new materials, and product development
• Issue manufacturing drawings to ensure accuracy of design revisions

Quality Management (Support)

• Assist in reducing production waste in hardware manufacturing
• Provide guidance to receipt inspection teams on incoming materials
• Lead and close out engineering-related non-conformance investigations

Sales & Marketing (Support)

• Contribute to tenders and technical submissions for distribution and transmission hardware
• Address and resolve technical product-related customer complaints

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years' product development experience in a manufacturing environment
• Grade 12 or equivalent
• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering (preferably BSc Eng)
• Professional registration with ECSA (mandatory)
• Proven experience in line hardware development
• Exposure to the electrical power transmission and distribution industry (advantageous)

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
• Engineering design and analysis expertise
• Project management and product development skills
• Excellent communication (written and verbal)
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Attention to detail and time management
• Resilience under pressure and ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to influence change
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 principles
• Engineering Professions Act (basic understanding)
• South African Labour Laws (basic understanding)
• Knowledge of Risk management

Systems Proficiency

• Computer Aided Design and Draughting (CADD) - Intermediate
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) - Intermediate to Advanced
• MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) - Medium to Advanced
• SHEQX - Intermediate to Advanced (non-conformance management software advantageous)
• ERP (SYSPRO or similar) - Basic understanding