About the role

Reporting to the PMO Manager, the Development Project Manager is accountable for the end-to-end execution of R&D (non-recurring) development projects across HENSOLDT Optronics Business Lines. The role carries full responsibility for delivering technically complex solutions that meet customer requirements (internal and external) under high technical risk, tight schedules, and strict cost and quality constraints.

This role owns requirements management, scope and change control, resource planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and stakeholder alignment across the full product development lifecycle from concept through qualification, industrialisation readiness, and handover. 

Qualifications and experience

• Minimum Technical qualification; Preferably BSc/BEng Engineering qualification (Master’s degree advantageous) or equivalent technical qualification.

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in:

  • Project management in technical/ Research and Development (R&D) environments

  • Operational management

  • Customer and stakeholder management

  • Leading multi-disciplinary project teams

• Formal training in Project Management (or equivalent).

• Proven experience delivering complex, high-risk technical development projects.
  
  

Key technical skills

• Strong command of project planning techniques and tools (WBS, schedules, Gantt charts, forecasts).

• Solid understanding of the new product development lifecycle and project controls.

• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary engineering environments (mechanical, software, electronics, optics, production).

• Proven capability in scope and change management in complex projects.

• Application of Systems Engineering and systems thinking to product development.

• Understanding of total cost of ownership and lifecycle costing.

• Strong customer-centric and stakeholder management capability.

• High-level presentation, communication, and executive reporting skills.

• Demonstrated leadership, negotiation, and team management in highly skilled technical teams.

• Knowledge of PRINCE2, PMBOK, and Agile methodologies.

• Full execution accountability for schedule, cost, risk, and technical performance.

Key responsibilities

1. Project Governance, Scope and Commercial Control

   • Lead project initiation, establish Statements of Work, and set up project governance structures.

   • Ensure requirements, scope, and changes are formally agreed, controlled, and traceable.

   • Support R&D funding requests and approvals and maintain control of scope, cost, and contractual commitments.

2. Planning, Resources, Budget and Risk Management

   • Develop and manage full lifecycle plans (WBS, schedules, milestones, forecasts).

   • Perform resource planning, budgeting, and cash flow forecasting.

   • Establish and manage risk registers and mitigation plans.

   • Ensure alignment with internal project management procedures and product development standards.

3. Project Execution and Delivery Control

   • Drive execution against milestones, cost, schedule, and technical objectives.

   • Manage procurement inputs, BOM creation, and supply chain engagement for development projects.

   • Control progress through defined decision gates and ensure accurate performance reporting.

   • Ensure certification, industrialisation readiness, and product baseline establishment.

4. Stakeholder, Customer and Business Line Management

   • Act as the integration point between Business Lines, engineering, supply chain, quality, and customers.

   • Provide clear, regular reporting on financial, technical, schedule, and risk status to executives and stakeholders.

   • Align expectations, manage dependencies, and ensure delivery commitments are realistic and met.

5. Leadership, Quality and Lifecycle Assurance

   • Build, lead, and motivate high-performing, multi-disciplinary project teams.

   • Embed quality into schedules and budgets and ensure systems engineering gates are enforced.

   • Ensure early and continuous engagement with Quality Assurance (QA)/ Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) and technical authorities.

   • Manage obsolescence planning and ensure structured project closure and handover to production.

Our recruitment values:

HENSOLDT South Africa focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organizational strategy. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive corporate culture that benefits our employees and delivers better outcomes for our clients. In line with our commitment to equal employment opportunities and our focus on diversity in the operational environment, we welcome applications from all ethnic groups. In line with HENSOLDT's commitment to equal employment opportunities and our focus on diversity in the operational environment, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups.

Application Deadline: 27 February 2026. 

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV by applying directly on the HENSOLDT Careers page.

If you have not been contacted within 14 days of the closing date, please consider your application