About the position
Well established light aircraft company based in Johannesburg is looking for an Electrics Manager with a relevant qualification and experience in the aviation industry.
We are seeking an experienced Electrical Department Manager to lead the end-to-end manufacturing and installation of electrical wiring looms (harnesses) for light aircraft. This role owns department safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance – spanning prototype, production and retrofit activities. The manager partners closely with Engineering on new designs,
manufacturability, compliance with aviation electrical practices, and continuous improvement. The manager will set standards, develop people and processes, and ensure robust configuration control and airworthiness evidence throughout the product lifecycle. The manager will be required to occasionally assist with troubleshooting older aircraft in the AMO. This position reports to the Production Manager but involves coordinating and collaborating with other managers in the business.
Required Qualifications & Experience
Leadership & Operations
Manage and oversee all staff within the Electrics Department in line with company HR policy and procedures
Lead, coach, and develop the electrical team, building a high-performance culture focused on safety and first-time-right quality.
Manage departmental planning and execution in line with production schedules.
Establish, monitor, and improve departmental KPIs (first-pass yield, OTD, rework rate, labor variance)
Drive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvements.
Design Collaboration & Industrialization
Partner with Engineering to review and influence new designs for manufacturability,
serviceability, routing/segregation, EMI/EMC, weight, and cost.
Provide inputs on wire selection, shielding, grounding/bonding, connector families, splices, clamps, grommets, protective sleeving, and identification schemes.
Review and influence build standards, harness drawings/panels, and tool/fixture concepts.
Oversee first article builds and installations; coordinate FAI (as applicable), process validation,
and documented acceptance criteria.
Ensure configuration management, serial number traceability, and effective engineering change control.
Manufacturing & Installation Excellence
Own process discipline for cutting, stripping, crimping, soldering, sleeving, lacing, over-braiding, and labeling per aerospace standards.
Ensure correct routing, clamping, separation, strain relief, chafe protection, firewall penetration, environmental sealing, and EMI mitigation practices in airframe installations.
Implement robust inspection and test regimes (in-process, final, install verification), troubleshoot hardware and software faults, and conduct effective corrective/preventive actions.
Coordinate with Quality for conformity, flight-worthiness releases, and regulatory audits.
Support supplier selection and incoming quality. Collaborate with engineering and procurement on ERP data integrity (BOMs, suppliers, lead times), obsolescence, and shortages mitigation.
Compliance, Standards & Safety
Champion compliance with common aviation electrical practices and standards, such as:
Maintain compliance with electrical safety, FOD prevention, tool control, and safe installation practices.
Desired Skills:
- aviation
- electric manager
- aircraft electrics
Employer & Job Benefits:
- Basic salary TCTC
