Senior Project Manager (Engineering)

HR Talent Partner SA; Somerset West; On-site; ZAR 850,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

HR Talent Partner SA is seeking a Senior Project Manager (Engineering) in Somerset West to lead end-to-end payload development, ensuring technical excellence and regulatory compliance. The role demands a Bachelor's in engineering and 5+ years in aerospace or related fields.

You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets and schedules, and drive risk management and continuous improvement across the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field with relevant specialisation.
• 5+ years in aerospace/space systems engineering or project management.
• Experience leading complex engineering projects with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Budget & Resource Control to manage payload development costs.
• Cross-functional coordination to ensure timely issue resolution.
• Technical oversight & risk management of payload subsystems.
• Internal reporting to leadership on project status and risks.
• Quality, testing & integration activities for payload readiness.
• Knowledge management to capture lessons learned and improve processes.
• Encourage innovation in project delivery and use of new tech.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional teams

Regulatory compliance

Budgeting

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelors in Engineering

Tools

MS Project

Primavera

Job description

Senior Project Manager (Engineering) required in Somerset West.

A renowned Engineering company is looking for a Senior Project Manager to join their team on a full-time permanent basis in the Helderberg Area.

About the job:

Lead and coordinate the end-to-end development of space payloads, ensuring technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and timely delivery in alignment with mission objectives and organisational strategy.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering or Applied Sciences (with relevant technical specialisation).
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience in Aerospace or space systems engineering, Payload development or integration and/or project management in high-tech or regulated industries.
• Hands-on experience with designing, developing, testing, or integrating space payloads, such as optical instruments, communication systems, scientific sensors, or Earth observation equipment.
• Familiarity with payload subsystem interfaces, environmental constraints, and mission-specific requirements.
• Proven track record of leading complex engineering projects in aerospace, defense, or high-tech sectors.
• Experience managing project lifecycles, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., systems engineering, thermal, mechanical, software, AIT).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Budget & Resource Control
  • Develop and manage internal budgets for payload development, including procurement of components and test equipment.
  • Monitor internal resource utilization and adjust plans to optimize team performance and cost efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Facilitate effective communication between departments to ensure smooth execution and timely issue resolution.
• Technical Oversight & Risk Management
  • Oversee technical progress of payload subsystems, ensuring compliance with mission specs and interface requirements.
• Internal Reporting & Stakeholder Communication
  • Provide regular updates to internal leadership on project status, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Quality, Testing & Integration Readiness
  • Coordinate internal payload verification and validation activities, including functional, environmental, and performance testing.
• Knowledge Management & Continuous Improvement
  • Capture lessons learned from each payload development cycle and feed them into internal process improvements.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
  • Encourage innovation in project delivery, leveraging emerging technologies and methodologies.