Location: Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal
Industry: Automotive / Manufacturing
Employment Type: Permanent

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Technical Lead Engineer to join a well-established organisation within the automotive manufacturing sector.

This is a key technical leadership position responsible for leading the engineering integration of vehicle accessory systems, ensuring products are designed, validated and released in line with customer, quality, cost and timing requirements.

The successful candidate will act as the technical focal point for vehicle integration projects while leading and developing an engineering team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of engineers, driving technical excellence and continuous improvement.

• Manage engineering resources, workloads, KPIs and project delivery.

• Lead engineering projects involving wiring harnesses, brackets, sensors, electronic modules and vehicle accessory integration.

• Review and approve engineering designs prior to release.

• Drive technical problem resolution using the 8D methodology.

• Ensure compliance with automotive development standards and processes, including SOR, DFMEA/PFMEA, DVPR, PPAP, APQP and Engineering Change Management.

• Coordinate engineering activities across Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing, Suppliers and Customers.

• Participate in customer technical reviews and Product Development Team meetings.

• Oversee product development from concept through to production, including CAD models, drawings, BOMs, prototype builds and manufacturing documentation.

• Review customer RFQs, define technical scope and support quotation development.

• Analyse vehicle electrical architecture, CAN networks and discrete electrical systems.

• Drive cost-reduction initiatives and manage supplier technical performance.

• Travel as required to support project activities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent.

• Minimum 8 years’ automotive engineering experience.

• Proven experience delivering automotive product development projects from concept through to production.

• Strong knowledge of automotive development processes, including SOR, DFMEA/PFMEA, DVPR, PPAP, APQP and Engineering Change Management.

• Working knowledge of vehicle electrical architecture and CAN communication.

• Experience using CAD software; Siemens NX experience would be advantageous.

• Demonstrated experience working with customers, suppliers and cross-functional engineering teams.

• Strong technical leadership, project planning, prioritisation and communication skills.

IDEAL PROFILE

We are particularly interested in candidates currently operating as either:

• A Senior Design Engineer ready to progress into a technical leadership and people-management role; or

• An experienced Lead Engineer within an automotive supplier/manufacturing environment looking for their next career opportunity.