Product & Manufacturing Engineering Executive

Product & Manufacturing Engineering Executive Location: South Africa, Maitland Industry: Precision Engineering / Advanced Manufacturing Reporting to: General Manager Level: Executive / Senior Management Overview A well-established precision engineering and manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Product & Manufacturing Engineering Executive to lead its engineering, maintenance, and toolroom functions. This is a senior leadership role within a high-performance manufacturing environment responsible for ensuring engineering excellence, efficient production processes, and continuous operational improvement. The successful candidate will play a critical role in supporting manufacturing operations, driving technical innovation, maintaining world-class engineering standards, and ensuring the organisation remains globally competitive in terms of cost, quality, and delivery. The role requires a technically credible engineering leader with deep experience in machining and/or assembly environments, strong project leadership capability, and the ability to collaborate effectively across production, quality, supply chain, and executive leadership teams. Key Responsibilities Engineering Leadership Provide strategic leadership to the engineering function to ensure the reliable and cost-effective manufacture of products. Ensure product master data integrity to support accurate costing, production planning, and manufacturing execution. Lead the implementation of engineering best practices and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing efficiency, throughput, and cost competitiveness. Collaborate with production teams to develop and optimise manufacturing processes and production systems. Ensure all engineering and production processes comply with relevant industry standards and organisational requirements. Work closely with the Quality department to ensure achievable and sustainable quality standards across manufacturing operations. Manage configuration control and product engineering documentation. Maintain overall responsibility for ERP engineering master data, including: o Bill of Materials (BOM) o Routing structures o Engineering change processes Lead technical investigations and root cause analysis internally and with customers where required. Develop and present CAPEX proposals aimed at improving production capacity, efficiency, or cost reduction. Lead departmental engineering projects and improvement initiatives. Manufacturing Support Provide direct engineering support to manufacturing teams to ensure stable and efficient production operations. Enable operational teams to translate customer concepts into practical, manufacturable engineering solutions. Drive initiatives to improve: Throughput Manufacturing efficiency Production reliability Cost optimisation Maintenance & Toolroom Leadership Serve as the Competent Person for Supervisor of Machinery (GMR 2.1). Provide full management oversight of the maintenance department. Drive the implementation of preventative maintenance programmes aligned with Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles. Ensure maintenance service levels support uninterrupted manufacturing operations. Provide full leadership and oversight of the toolroom function. Ensure tooling availability and reliability to support production schedules. Implement preventative systems to ensure press tools and manufacturing equipment remain operational and available. Lead engineering and maintenance improvement projects through to successful completion. Promote and enforce a strong safety culture across engineering and maintenance teams. Leadership & People Management Lead and develop a team of engineering professionals and technical specialists. Create a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. Foster strong cross-functional collaboration between engineering, production, quality, and supply chain. Support the development of engineering capability within the organisation. Encourage innovation and practical engineering problem solving. Promote clear communication, ownership of outcomes, and disciplined execution within the team. Strategic Contribution The Engineering Executive will contribute to organisational success by: Ensuring globally competitive manufacturing costs Improving operational reliability and efficiency Supporting customer satisfaction and delivery performance Leading engineering innovation within the manufacturing environment Strengthening collaboration across operational departments Contributing to long-term business growth and sustainability Key Performance Indicators Success in this role will be measured through: Manufacturing profitability and operational sustainability Competitive global manufacturing cost structures Customer satisfaction and delivery performance Operational efficiency and downtime reduction Successful implementation of engineering and improvement projects Development and retention of engineering talent Supplier and operational partnership effectiveness Contribution to responsible corporate and safety practices Minimum Requirements (Non-Negotiable) B.Eng or B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering 10 – 15 years of relevant engineering experience Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership or management role Strong exposure to manufacturing environments involving machining and/or assembly operations Project management experience Experience working with ERP systems (SAP preferred) Solid understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act Strong leadership capability within a production environment Advantageous Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) Experience in high-precision or complex manufacturing environments Exposure to advanced manufacturing optimisation initiatives Key Skills & Competencies Advanced mechanical engineering knowledge Manufacturing process optimisation Operational problem solving Engineering project management ERP / SAP master data management Root cause analysis and technical investigation Cross-functional leadership Strategic engineering planning Continuous improvement methodologies Safety and compliance leadership Leadership & Working Environment This role operates within a fast-paced manufacturing environment where engineering, production, and operational leadership collaborate closely to solve complex technical challenges. The culture values: Technical credibility Direct and transparent communication Fact-based decision making Accountability for results Practical problem solving Cross-functional teamwork Leaders are expected to engage actively in discussions, contribute their expertise confidently, and support decisions with sound engineering judgement. Ideal Candidate Profile The successful candidate will be a hands-on engineering leader who thrives in operational manufacturing environments and is comfortable balancing technical depth with strategic leadership. They should demonstrate: Strong technical credibility with production teams A practical approach to engineering challenges Confidence in engaging with senior operational leaders The ability to drive measurable improvements in manufacturing performance A commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence