Product Manager: Product Support
The Product Manager will be accountable for the commercial viability, sustainment strategy, and lifecycle management of a portfolio of airborne military products (Line Replaceable Units – LRUs) delivered to customers. The role ensures informed decision-making regarding continued support, production of spares, repairs, and end-of-life strategies for fielded systems.
The Product Manager acts as the central integrator of business, technical, contractual, and support information, enabling the Customer Support organisation to engage with customers effectively and make risk-balanced commercial decisions.
Your role / Key Responsibilities:
Product Portfolio & Commercial Accountability
- Own the commercial performance and lifecycle strategy of assigned in-service products/LRUs
- Develop and maintain business cases for:
- Continued product support
- Spare production
- Repair capability sustainment
- End-of-life and phase-out decisions
- Assess profitability, cost exposure, and commercial risk for low-volume, single-customer products
In-Service Support & Sustainment Strategy
- Define and maintain supportability strategies for delivered products, including:
- Repair vs replace decisions
- Spares manufacturing feasibility
- Minimum order quantities and cost drivers
- Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain to determine current and future production and repair capability
Obsolescence & Lifecycle Risk Management
- Obtain, consolidate, and maintain obsolescence data for components, materials, and processes.
- Evaluate the impact of obsolescence on:
- Cost
- Supportability
- Contractual obligations
- Propose mitigation strategies such as lifetime buys, redesigns, or support termination
Contractual & Customer Interface Support
- Maintain a strong understanding of contractual obligations, warranties, and support clauses for each product
- Support the Customer Support organisation in:
- Customer engagements
- Support negotiations
- Commercial and technical decision making
- Prepare decision material for customer discussions related to:
- Continued support
- Cost increases
- Capability limitations
- End-of-support notifications
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Act as the single point of consolidation across:
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Supply Chain
- Repair & Overhaul
- Finance
- Customer Support
- Ensure alignment between technical reality and commercial commitments
Key Deliverables
- Product lifecycle and sustainment plans
- Business cases and executive decision briefs
- Obsolescence risk assessments and mitigation plans
- Supportability and capability status reports
- Customer support decision support packs
Your profile
- Experience in product management, programme management, or lifecycle management within aerospace, defence, or complex engineered systems
- Strong understanding of:
- Low-volume manufacturing
- In-service support models
- Long lifecycle and obsolescence challenges
- Ability to integrate technical, commercial, and contractual information
- Experience supporting senior leadership decision-making
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
Desired skills:
- Experience with military aircraft systems or avionics/electronic warfare products
- Exposure to defence contracts and customer support agreements
- Engineering or technical background
Competencies:
- Commercial judgement
- Systems and lifecycle thinking
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Cross-functional leadership without direct authority
Qualification:
- Applicable tertiary qualification in Engineering.
- Applicable business qualifications will be considered an advantage.
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.