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Technical Product Manager: Airborne EW

Centurion, South Africa
Closing date: 1 August 2024

Technical Product Manager: Airborne EW

The Technical Product Manager (TPM): Airborne EW is responsible for designing and supporting competitive products that meet and exceed market and end-user requirements throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Your role

The TPM ensures the technical integrity of baseline products in the Product Life Cycle Management (PLCM) process by capturing, verifying and validating results to maintain and support current generation products and establish new baseline products utilizing emerging technologies.

Product Requirements: 

  • Determine product requirements through information gathering using portfolio vision, the product strategy from the product plan, customers, marketing etc.
  • Compare trends and remain up to date with relevant technologies within SAAB and in the open market and provide feedback and guidance to Product Managers and Technical Design Authorities
  • Influence the technical product roadmap by providing proposed solutions by introduction of new technologies, product re-use and adaptation.
  • Participate in drafting such technical development product roadmaps and influence the Product Manager, TDA’s and other key stakeholders in terms of prioritization and funding of product roadmaps 
  • Adapt system requirements based on the approved roadmap
  • Advise Product Manager on Make or buy product recommendations

Technical Management:

  • Ensure there is a relevant set of management plans for the product including System engineering management Plan, Test and evaluation Management Plan, Logistic Support Plan, Configuration management plan, Quality management Plan etc.
  • Develop, maintain and baseline a set of generic system requirements including System requirement specifications, interface requirements, subsystem requirements, installation requirements, environmental requirements, logistic requirements etc, all to be captured in DOORS and ensure customer projects use the generic content to the extent possible
  • Develop, maintain and baseline a set of generic acceptance tests and results.
  • Conduct robustness and limit testing using Target System Test opportunities
  • Review Target System Test and Evaluation Master Plans
  • Provide Target Systems Support by assisting with initial planning for new programs, supporting allocated target project teams, influencing system demonstrations and trails planning, and participate in customer reviews and audits
  • Review and co-sign sub-systems requirement specification and deviations
  • Ensure full requirements traceability between System to Software and LRU/SRUs, and between project specification and system requirement specification
  • Manage lifecycle processes, including obsolescence management, end of production
  • Oversee day-to-day technical tasks and activities related to the R&D assignment, project adaptations, bug-fixing and maintenance
  • Provide accurate costings for R&D tasks, new equipment development, project adaptations, bug-fixes, interface adaptations for consolidation by the Product Manager

Technical Support to Marketing and Sales:

  • Serves as the point of contact for technical marketing support
  • Provide inputs for technical proposals, including system architecture, compliance, NRE requirements and system integration cost estimates
  • Develop and maintain a  reference set of marketing technical documentation in conjunction with Product Manager
  • Provide input for marketing brochure content, including the scope of ILS packages and after sales support

Technical After Sales Support:

  • Analyse reported problems and recommend solutions
  • Provide technical support to Customer Support department by offering inputs and guidance for long term planning and addressing and customer related issues including retrofits, training, and upgrades

Client Relations:

  • Support system engineers by addressing queries and gathering feedback
  • Provide technical support for proposals, presentations and training sessions 
  • Ensure effective internal client relations by providing technical assistance

Vendor Relations of strategic IDAS LRU’s:

  • Identify, evaluate and maintain relationships with key vendors of 3rd party LRU’s
  • Support strategic procurement in the negotiation of contracts, continuously monitor performance and collaborate on technology integrations together with these vendors
  • Assist in resolving vendor related technical problems

Your profile:

Specialist knowledge:

  • Extensive experience and background in the defense EW environment (Airborne EW: Radar Warning, Missile Warning, Laser Warning and Countermeasures)
  • Experience with Model Based System Engineering approach and concepts
  • Proven track record of successful product development and execution
  • Strong management and leadership skills
  • Excellent team-building, problem-solving, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
  • Proficient presentation, oral and written communication skills
  • Customer Relationship Management skills
  • Strategic thinking ability
  • Competence in generating effective Operation Concept Description / User Requirements
  • Commitment to ensuring the longevity of delivered customer products
  • Excellent communication skills aimed at team collaboration and providing the best technical solutions

Practical Experience:

  • Minimum of eight (8) years Systems Engineering Management with customer project experience
  • Proficiency with DOORS, DOORS Tools and active participation in the SGD Requirements Management Plan

Qualification:

  • An applicable Engineering qualification (B Engineering or equivalent tertiary qualification)
  • Relevant System Engineering courses
  • PM / TPM courses (advantageous)
  • Financial management qualification (advantageous)

Competencies required:

  • Analyse and interpret data
  • Leadership skills
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to influence people

What you will be a part of

SGD has reinforced its position as a leading South African defence and security company, bringing capabilities including electronic warfare systems, sensor technology, training systems, avionics, security and support solutions to the African and international markets. These capabilities are supplied and supported over the air, land, sea and civil security domains.

With new and improved technological systems and solutions, SGD increases a country’s defence capabilities and provides innovative, effective products and services for those tasked to maintain security. The company also works with various stakeholders in gathering data and providing insight into how security threats evolve, and what the best market-customised solutions are.

If you aspire to help create and innovate whilst developing yourself in a challenging team setting, Saab may well have the perfect conditions for you to grow. We pride ourselves on a nurturing environment, where everyone is different yet we share the same goal – to help protect people.

SGD will give preference to South African citizens and we also welcome applications from individuals with culturally diverse backgrounds

Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you have not received feedback from us within 30 days after the closing date.