Project Manager (Hardware & Embedded Systems)

Job Description: Project Manager - Hardware & Embedded Systems

At Sportable, we’re not just redefining the future of sports technology, we are creating it. As a leading sports data provider, we’ve pioneered world-first innovations such as our range of Smart Balls, and we continue to expand into new sports and new markets. Our products combine custom electronics, precision mechanical design, embedded firmware, and wireless technology, built at scale with our manufacturing partners.

We are now seeking a Project Manager (Hardware & Embedded Systems) with strong hardware engineering experience, a track record of taking physical products through stage-gated development into mass production, and a working understanding of Agile to join our dynamic team.

This role brings project management leadership to hardware product development, ensuring it meets business goals and quality standards. You will lead the electronics, mechanical, and embedded firmware teams from concept to mass production and product release, working hand in hand with QA and manufacturing. You will own scope and schedules, track risks, and manage stakeholder communication across each programme, handling the project management aspects of design, prototyping, verification and validation testing, certification, and manufacturing. Where firmware is developed iteratively, you will keep sprint delivery aligned with hardware build milestones and drive continuous improvement in how the teams work together.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment and bring strong project leadership with a good understanding of hardware development, we’d love to hear from you.

Required skills / Experience:

• 5+ years’ experience in hardware product development, including at least 3 years managing complex hardware projects from concept through to mass production, coordinating electronics (PCB/PCBA), mechanical, and embedded firmware teams through EVT, DVT, and PVT builds.
• Experience running stage-gated or hybrid Waterfall/Agile programmes, aligning iterative firmware delivery (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) with hardware design freezes, tooling releases, and build gates.
• Skilled in project planning, resource coordination, and risk and budget tracking, with proficiency in tools such as MS Project, JIRA, Confluence, and SharePoint, and familiarity with PLM and BOM management.
• Ability to engage technically with electronics, mechanical, and firmware engineers and understand challenges such as component lead times, tooling, tolerances, and hardware/firmware integration.
• Experience working closely with QA and manufacturing teams, including contract manufacturers where required, to move products smoothly from development into volume production.
• Experience coordinating product certification and compliance (e.g., CE/UKCA, FCC, RED, EMC, RoHS/REACH).
• Able to adapt to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment and comfortably switch between strategic planning and operational delivery.

Advantageous:

• Project management qualifications or professional memberships (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, APM (MAPM), or PMSA (PM/Sr.PM) designations).
• A degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Quality and manufacturing training such as Lean Six Sigma, APQP, or FMEA.
• Agile certification (e.g., Scrum Master).

Project Planning & Management

• Manage the full new product development (NPD) lifecycle - from initial concept through design, prototyping, EVT/DVT/PVT builds, certification, mass production, and launch.
• Support sustaining work on current and previous-generation products, including maintenance releases, engineering changes, and their schedules.
• Develop and maintain project plans covering scope, objectives, timelines, budgets, and resource requirements.
• Own the integrated project schedules for both new product development and sustaining work, including prototype builds and test windows.
• Define project milestones and deliverables in partnership with electronics, mechanical, firmware, QA, and manufacturing teams, including stage-gate design reviews and build-readiness checks.
• Monitor progress, track risks, and ensure alignment with product and organisational goals.
• Where teams work in sprints (primarily firmware), support sprint planning and stand-ups and work with Product Owners so that firmware scope and releases stay aligned with hardware builds.

• Apply hybrid Agile/Waterfall approaches where appropriate, aligning iterative firmware cycles with structured hardware milestones such as design freeze, tooling release, and build gates, to ensure smooth end-to-end delivery.

• Collaborate with the Head of Project Management to shape project management processes, tools, and overall delivery schedules.
• Work with engineering teams to maintain accurate estimates, monitor performance, and track issues, risks, and opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Ensure strong communication across electronics, mechanical, firmware, QA, procurement, operations, and manufacturing to support smooth product integration and successful launches.
• Work with QA to plan design verification, validation, and reliability testing, and drive defect tracking and corrective actions through to closure.
• Partner with manufacturing and contract manufacturers on new product introduction, DFM/DFA reviews, production test, and a smooth handover to volume production.
• Coordinate with software and data platform teams on interfaces, integration testing, and release timing, so that hardware, firmware, and software deliver as one system.
  

Technical Oversight

• Follow the progress of electronics and mechanical design, prototyping, and testing activities against the plan, and escalate issues that affect schedule, scope, or cost.
• Help remove technical roadblocks and facilitate problem-solving throughout the Product Lifecycle.
• Liaise with relevant engineers and external test houses to schedule and coordinate certification and compliance testing.
• Stay informed on hardware development and quality KPIs (e.g., build yield, test pass rates, defect closure), working with QA to understand their impact on schedules and deliverables.

Budget Tracking & Resources

• Track project budgets and expenditure against plan, and flag variances early.
• Coordinate human, material, and technology resources to meet project demands.

Risk Tracking

• Maintain the project risk register, tracking risks and dependencies such as component supply, obsolescence, tooling, and certification.
• Follow up with risk owners on mitigation plans and reflect agreed changes in project plans.

Stakeholder Communication

• Provide clear, timely updates on project status, risks, performance metrics, and scope changes.
• Manage stakeholder expectations through professional and transparent communication.

Process Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement in project management practices, capturing lessons learned from each build.
• Ensure adherence to internal policies, quality management processes, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and motivate cross-functional teams to deliver effectively.
• Mentor team members and support their professional development.

Personal qualities:

• Strong time management and organisational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Confident presenter with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Analytical, technically minded, and adept at problem-solving.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team with a hands-on, sleeves rolled-up approach that thrives in a fast-paced environment

Reporting directly to:

• Head of Project Management

Working closely with:

• NPD teams, notably Electronics, Mechanical, and Embedded Firmware
• QA and Manufacturing/Operations teams, including contract manufacturers
• Software and Data Platform teams
• Product Management
• Heads of department and the senior management team

Perks and benefits:

• Hybrid work environment  
• Generous annual leave - 21 working days per year, plus South African public holidays
• Pension Salary contribution  
• Opportunity for global collaboration 

Diversity statement:

Sportable is a committed equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from disabled candidates, and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Please Note: If you have not received a response from us within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.