General Manager

Recruiter:

Guardian Recruiting

Job Ref:

CPT000739/CB

Date posted:

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Location:

Cape Town, South Africa

SUMMARY:
We are seeking a senior engineering and commercial leader to head up the South African business of a global engineering organisation. This is a hybrid engineering, operations, and digital transformation leadership role with full P&L responsibility.
You will lead engineering design and delivery, modernise the operating model through technology, automation and AI, and drive profitable growth and operational excellence. This role suits a technically credible leader who can balance engineering rigour with commercial and transformation outcomes.

POSITION INFO:

Summary of Key Outcomes & Accountabilities:

Engineering & Development Leadership (Foundational)
Full P&L & Business Ownership
Technology, AI & Transformation Leadership
Operational Excellence & Labour Optimisation
Strategic Growth & Advanced Thinking
Leadership & Organisational Development

The ideal candidate profile would include:

Engineering & Technical Foundation (Non-Negotiable)

Strong background in engineering design and development environments (automotive or similar complex engineered products).
Credible technical leader able to engage deeply with engineers and customers.
Understanding of CAD-based design, development lifecycles, and delivery constraints.

Transformation and Technology Experience

Proven experience leading technology-enable transformation in engineering or technical organisations
Strong exposure to automation, digital systems, AI, and data-driven operating models
Ideally suited to a CTO/CIO mindset but grounded in engineering execution

Background & Career Profile

Possible Consulting background strongly preferred, with experience bringing new thinking into operating businesses.
Experience from mid-sized consulting or technology firms (±80–100 employees), not large bureaucratic corporates.
Must have owned the profit and loss of a business and demonstrated consistent financial results improvements

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (BEng) or related technical field.
MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification advantageous.

On-site role based in Cape Town.
Flexibility required to support international collaboration and meetings.

Kindly note that by submitting your application for this career opportunity, you agree that Guardian Recruiting may use your application for the purpose of the recruitment and selection of the said position, and this information may be shared with the relevant stakeholders in the business.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Should you not have heard back within a two-week period, please assume that your application was unsuccessful.

All job postings are in accordance with our Client's BEE requirements. Please only send certificates when requested to do so.

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