R&D Systems Technician - Combustion Analysis

NewKey Consulting; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

NewKey Consulting seeks a hands-on engineer to develop, commission and continuously improve combustion analysis systems for a pioneering green steel project.

You will design and test electrical circuits, integrate gas analysers and instrumentation into smelter control systems while supporting pilot-scale and commercial operations in a fast-paced R&D steelmaking environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with industrial instrumentation, process control and analytical equipment.
• Practical experience with PLCs, SCADA systems, data acquisition platforms or embedded electronics.
• Qualification in Mechatronics, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop, install and maintain combustion analysis systems that calculate furnace gas composition and support process optimisation.
• Design, build and test electronic circuits, instrumentation and data acquisition systems for high‑temperature smelter operations.
• Integrate gas analysers, flow meters, pressure sensors, thermocouples and other process instrumentation into smelter control systems.
• Support commissioning, operation and troubleshooting of pilot-scale and commercial steelmaking smelters.
• Analyse combustion and process data to improve energy efficiency, emissions performance and product quality.
• Develop calibration procedures and validate the accuracy of gas composition measurements.
• Assist in the design and implementation of automated monitoring and control systems.
• Diagnose and rectify faults across electronic, instrumentation and mechatronic systems.
• Collaborate with metallurgists, process engineers and smelter operators to improve process performance and reliability.
• Support R&D trials, experimental campaigns and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare technical documentation, operating procedures, test reports and maintenance records.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental and quality standards within a high-temperature industrial environment.

Skills

Mechatronics

Electronics

Electrical Engineering

Instrumentation

Embedded electronics

Education

Mechatronics/Electrical Eng

Tools

PLCs

SCADA

Data acquisition platforms

Embedded electronics

Job description

At Newkey Consulting, people are at the heart of everything we do. By partnering with purpose-driven organisations, we're proud to support meaningful careers while contributing to a more sustainable future.

The Role

Working within a pioneering green steel company, you will be responsible for developing, commissioning and continuously improving the combustion analysis systems used to monitor and optimise smelter performance. This role combines hands‑on electronics, instrumentation and process development in a fast‑paced R&D steelmaking environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, build, install and maintain combustion analysis systems that calculate furnace gas composition and support process optimisation.
• Design, build and test electronic circuits, instrumentation and data acquisition systems for high‑temperature smelter operations.
• Integrate gas analysers, flow meters, pressure sensors, thermocouples and other process instrumentation into smelter control systems.
• Support commissioning, operation and troubleshooting of pilot‑scale and commercial steelmaking smelters.
• Analyse combustion and process data to improve energy efficiency, emissions performance and product quality.
• Develop calibration procedures and validate the accuracy of gas composition measurements.
• Assist in the design and implementation of automated monitoring and control systems.
• Diagnose and rectify faults across electronic, instrumentation and mechatronic systems.
• Collaborate with metallurgists, process engineers and smelter operators to improve process performance and reliability.
• Support R&D trials, experimental campaigns and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare technical documentation, operating procedures, test reports and maintenance records.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental and quality standards within a high‑temperature industrial environment.

About You

You will bring:

• Familiarity with sensors used for measuring oxygen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other process gases.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs and instrumentation diagrams.

Key Skills

• Qualification in Mechatronics, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation or a related discipline.
• Hands‑on experience with industrial instrumentation, process control and analytical equipment.
• Practical experience with PLCs, SCADA systems, data acquisition platforms or embedded electronics.
• Proven experience establishing combustion and gas analysis systems for smelters, furnaces, kilns, boilers or other high‑temperature thermal processing equipment.

Highly regarded

• Experience working in manufacturing, steelmaking, mining, process plant, energy or heavy industrial environments.
• Background in manufacturing, steelmaking, mining, process plant, energy or heavy industrial environments is advantageous.

Why Join?

• Work within a pioneering green steel company enabling zero‑emissions steel production
• Join a mission‑driven organisation tackling global climate challenges

• Be part of a collaborative R&D team building new industrial solutions

At Newkey Consulting, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring everyone is valued, respected, and empowered. We put people first.