Automation & Facilities Maintenance Engineer

K2 Recruit; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Recruit is seeking a proactive maintenance and facilities professional to oversee automated manufacturing equipment, PLCs and integration of new systems in a production environment in Cape Town. You will drive preventative maintenance, monitor reliability, coordinate external providers and support safety and efficiency improvements.

Responsibilities include leading maintenance planning, root cause analysis, improving reliability, and ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements

Responsibilities

• Support and maintain automated manufacturing equipment and production systems.
• Ensure automation and robotics infrastructure remains operational and reliable.
• Troubleshoot technical issues affecting automated production.
• Work closely with Production to identify and resolve equipment-related issues.
• Monitor equipment performance and identify potential failures before they impact production.
• Support automation improvements, upgrades and optimisation initiatives.
• Assist with PLCs, sensors, drives, controls and associated industrial automation systems where applicable.
• Coordinate technical interventions and specialist support when required.
• Ensure equipment is maintained in accordance with manufacturer and operational requirements.
• Support the integration and commissioning of new equipment and automation technologies.
• Identify opportunities to improve automation reliability, efficiency and production output.
• Take ownership of preventative, planned and reactive maintenance across the plant.
• Develop and maintain preventative maintenance schedules.
• Ensure all planned servicing is completed on time.
• Coordinate corrective maintenance and breakdown response.
• Monitor equipment reliability, failure trends and recurring breakdowns.
• Drive proactive maintenance to minimise unplanned downtime.
• Maintain accurate equipment and maintenance records.
• Ensure maintenance activities are properly documented.
• Monitor maintenance performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work with Production to schedule maintenance with minimal disruption to output.
• Ensure maintenance activities support production requirements and operational targets.
• Take responsibility for facilities and infrastructure including HVAC, electrical, building, water, compressed air, security, site services.
• Manage external service providers, contractors, and maintenance partners.
• Establish and maintain service schedules and SLAs.
• Negotiate and manage SLAs.
• Monitor contractor performance and service quality.
• Coordinate external technical support.
• Work with Production to understand operational requirements.
• Respond quickly to breakdowns and technical issues.
• Identify potential production bottlenecks and maintenance risks.
• Prioritise interventions according to operational impact.
• Drive root-cause analysis on significant equipment failures.
• Implement corrective and preventative actions.
• Track downtime and recurring causes.
• Maintain preventative maintenance programmes.
• Coordinate service schedules across equipment, utilities, and facilities.
• Ensure statutory and required maintenance activities are completed on time.
• Plan maintenance activities around production requirements.
• Maintain maintenance calendars and records.
• Track outstanding maintenance actions.
• Escalate overdue or high-risk maintenance activities.
• Oversee and coordinate site services including security, HVAC, cleaning, waste management, pest control, utilities, building maintenance, external contractors, and specialist service providers.
• Support and/or lead engineering improvement projects.
• Assist with installation and commissioning of new equipment.
• Coordinate suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Support automation upgrades and production improvements.
• Develop project timelines and maintenance plans.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely and with minimal disruption to production.
• Identify opportunities for plant optimisation and improved reliability.
• Investigate recurring equipment failures and breakdowns.
• Conduct root cause analysis.
• Implement corrective and preventative actions.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability.
• Drive continuous improvement across maintenance and facilities.
• Reduce recurring downtime and operational interruptions.
• Identify opportunities to improve maintenance efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Support operational excellence initiatives.
• Ensure maintenance and engineering activities comply with health and safety requirements.
• Maintain technical and maintenance documentation.
• Ensure service schedules and maintenance records are current.
• Support audits.
• Ensure contractors comply with site requirements.
• Maintain SOPs and procedures.
• Identify and escalation safety, compliance, or operational risks.
• Monitor maintenance and plant reliability KPIs.
• Track equipment downtime and failures.
• Maintain dashboards and reports.
• Monitor SLA performance.
• Track preventative maintenance completion.
• Report on outstanding maintenance.
• Analyse trends and identify improvement opportunities.
• Provide feedback to the Head of Production.
• Use data to support decision-making.

Job description

K2 Recruit is seeking a proactive maintenance and facilities professional to oversee automated manufacturing equipment, PLCs and integration of new systems in a production environment in Cape Town. You will drive preventative maintenance, monitor reliability, coordinate external providers and support safety and efficiency improvements.

Responsibilities include leading maintenance planning, root cause analysis, improving reliability, and ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements