Senior Test Automation Engineer & Department Manager

G-Matrix Systems; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking a Senior Technical Engineer to lead the Test Jig Department and ensure operational integrity of automated test systems. This mid-senior level role encompasses software and hardware design, technical authority in electronics, and mentoring junior engineers. Candidates should have proficiency in Lab VIEW and experience with C/C++, Altium Designer, and MySQL databases. This role offers the opportunity to directly influence production quality and scalability while working in advanced manufacturing environments.

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in Lab VIEW for scalable system design.
• PCB design experience using Altium Designer.
• Proficiency in C/C++ for microcontroller applications.
• Experience with MySQL database systems.
• Capable of troubleshooting in complex test environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor junior engineers in the Test Jig Department.
• Ensure operational stability and uptime of production lines.
• Establish object-oriented software architectures.
• Own the Dev Ops repository and enforce version control.
• Design and maintain hardware for embedded systems.
• Provide technical leadership at client sites.

Skills

Lab VIEW

Electronics Design

Embedded Systems

Data Engineering

Diagnostics

Tooling (Git, Azure Dev Ops, etc.)

Tools

Github

Azure Dev Ops

Altium Designer

VS Code

MySQL

Job description

CEO@G-Matrix Systems | Electrical Engineering

Role Summary
We are seeking a Senior Technical Engineer to take full end-to-end ownership of the Test Jig Department. This role combines departmental leadership with deep hands‑on engineering responsibility. The successful candidate will lead a small, high‑impact engineering unit and be accountable for the architecture, delivery, and operational integrity of automated test systems supporting both G‑Matrix production lines and external client deployments. This is a technically demanding role spanning software architecture, embedded firmware, hardware design, database engineering, and client‑facing operational support, with clear ownership of engineering standards, scalability, and production reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Department Leadership & Operational Delivery
• Operational Ownership – Own daily operation of the Test Jig Department; ensure system stability, uptime, and throughput across all active production lines.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship – Lead junior engineers through direct technical involvement; set priorities and conduct architectural and design reviews.
• Reporting & Governance – Report technical matters to the Senior Engineer; report delivery status, risks, and bottlenecks to the Project Manager.
• Escalation Authority – Act as final escalation point for complex test automation failures beyond junior engineer capability.
• Software Architecture & Quality Assurance Framework Ownership
• Define, evolve, and enforce standardized Lab VIEW architectures; ensure all development follows object‑oriented principles enabling hardware abstraction, reuse, and long‑term scalability.
• Code Governance – Establish and enforce peer reviews and formal technical sign‑off prior to release.
• Dev Ops & Traceability – Own the G‑Matrix Dev Ops repository; enforce strict version control and traceability between source code, documentation, configuration, and deployed executables.
• Hardware, Firmware & Data Engineering – Test Hardware Design, Embedded Firmware, Data Architecture
• Design and maintain custom PCB‑based test instrumentation (Altium Designer).
• Develop and maintain C/C++ firmware for microcontroller‑driven test systems.
• Design, implement, and maintain MySQL databases for production data logging, traceability, reporting, and analytics.
• Strategic Client Engagement – On‑Site Technical Leadership, Service Delivery & SLA Compliance, Operational Continuity
• Provide senior technical presence at key client sites when required.
• Ensure all support activities (remote and on‑site) meet agreed SLAs.
• Provide after‑hours remote support when required to maintain production continuity.

Candidate Requirements

• Technical Competencies
• Lab VIEW – Advanced proficiency; experience designing scalable, framework‑based systems.
• Electronics Design – PCB design and schematic capture (Altium Designer).
• Embedded Systems – Working proficiency in C/C++ for microcontrollers.
• Data Engineering – MySQL database design and system integration.
• Diagnostics – Proven fault‑finding capability in complex production test environments.
• Tooling – Git, Azure Dev Ops, Lab VIEW, Altium Designer, VS Code, MySQL.
• Professional & Leadership Attributes
• Technical Authority – Able to set and enforce engineering standards without micromanagement.
• Executive Communication – Translate technical risks and constraints into clear business impact.
• Documentation Discipline – Strong commitment to documentation quality, revision control, and design traceability.

Why Join G‑Matrix Systems

High ownership, high impact technical leadership role
Direct influence on production quality and scalability
Exposure to advanced automated test systems and real‑world manufacturing environments
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply or contact us directly for a confidential discussion.

Job Details

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Quality Assurance
Industries: Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing