Job Description

About the role

We are seeking a Software Engineer to design, develop, and sustain HENSOLDT Optronic’s advanced electronic and software-driven products. You will work across the full product life cycle—from concept and architecture through design, verification, industrialisation, and production support.

This role requires strong engineering fundamentals, disciplined design execution, and the ability to solve complex technical problems in multi-disciplinary project teams. As you grow, you will take full technical ownership as design authority for defined product or functional areas, ensuring performance, quality, and life-cycle integrity of mission-critical systems.

Qualifications & experience

• BEng Electronic Engineering or Computer Engineering.
• Minimum 3 years; Preferably 5 years proven experience in product development, embedded systems, or complex engineering environments is essential.

Key technical skills

• Strong fundamentals in mathematics, physical sciences, and software engineering principles
• Design, analysis, and innovation using engineering tools, simulation, and rapid prototyping
• Solid understanding of engineering processes, design reviews, and configuration management
• Product life cycle thinking: requirements extraction, design-to-cost, manufacturability, and supportability
• Familiarity with manufacturing techniques and industrialisation principles
• Embedded and software-focused experience, including:
  • RTCA/DO-178B/C
  • Embedded electronics
  • C and C++ (embedded and PC-based)
  • Design verification and test equipment development
  • Xilinx Zynq processors
    • Embedded file systems (e.g., Reliance Edge)
    • Embedded operating systems (e.g., FreeRTOS)
    • VHDL (working understanding
• Engineering toolchain exposure:
• • • IDEs and design documentation standards
    • Analytical design calculations (e.g., a-thermalisation), reliability engineering
    • MATLAB
    • High-speed digital design
    • Control systems
    • EMC design principles
    • Test equipment development and technical reporting

  Key responsibilities

  1. Task Planning and Contracting

  • Define and agree scope of work with system engineers, project managers, and peers.
  • Develop activity plans, budgets, deliverables, and risk assessments.
  • Execute approved plans and report deviations.
  • Apply and comply with HENSOLDT engineering processes and design philosophy.

  2. Design and Development

  • Apply formal design processes to develop concepts meeting functional, interface, and performance requirements.
  • Perform conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design with full life-cycle accountability.
  • Select and specify manufacturing technologies and design-for-manufacture solutions.
  • Perform modelling, simulation, and rapid prototyping to de-risk designs.
  • Develop test equipment and industrialisation tools alongside product design.
  • Execute or initiate engineering verification, test, and evaluation.
  • Finalise and maintain design data packs in line with configuration management.
  • Contribute reusable libraries, tools, and engineering competencies.

  3. Industrialisation and Production Support

  • Define and develop test procedures and assembly processes.
  • Design test equipment prior to production release.
  • Support production with fault finding, debugging, and process improvement.
  • Train production personnel in assembly and test processes.

  4. General Engineering Responsibilities

  • Translate system and user requirements into detailed design requirements
  • Ensure peer and specialist reviews of design and performance data
  • Investigate and apply new technologies, components, and suppliers
  • Apply design-to-cost principles and support Preliminary Design Review (PDR) /Critical Design Review (CDR) activities.
  • Perform lab work, qualification testing, and technology development tasks.
  • Ensure knowledge transfer through documentation and coaching.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of internal engineering processes.

  5. Sub-System Engineering Responsibilities

  • Technical ownership of sub-systems and architectural design.
  • Engineering work contracting, planning, and execution monitoring.
  • Define readiness for PDRs/CDRs and ensure peer reviews.
  • Ensure engineering integrity, milestone delivery, and process compliance.
  • Apply full life-cycle thinking to architecture, interfaces, timing, and integration.
  • Support technical management activities including risk management and development strategies.

Our recruitment values:

HENSOLDT South Africa focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organizational strategy. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive corporate culture that benefits our employees and delivers better outcomes for our clients. In line with our commitment to equal employment opportunities and our focus on diversity in the operational environment, we welcome applications from all ethnic groups. In line with HENSOLDT's commitment to equal employment opportunities and our focus on diversity in the operational environment, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups.

Application Deadline: 26 May 2026.

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV by applying directly on the HENSOLDT Careers page.

If you have not been contacted within 14 days of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.