Chief Engineer

Transnet Company; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Transnet seeks a Chief Engineer to lead telecommunications infrastructure strategy and value delivery for TRIM. The role focuses on converging enterprise IT and mission‑critical networks, shaping the landscape, and delivering on roadmap plans across TRIM with strong leadership of people, products, and partners.

You will accelerate staff development, oversee SLAs and governance, and ensure service continuity through robust risk management, budgeting, and technology evaluation.

Qualifications

• 15 years total engineering experience, with 10 years in telecom senior management and 5 in project/research management.
• Registered with ECSA as Pr.Eng.
• MBA or equivalent adds advantage.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to long-term network and telecom strategies for TRIM.
• Drive convergence of enterprise network infrastructure and telecom services in collaboration with TRIM leadership.
• Lead budgeting, CAPEX/COPEX/OPEX management and project delivery to deadlines.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budgeting

Negotiation

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

B.Sc.Eng or B.Eng in Electrical/Electronics

Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.)

MBA or equivalent

Job description

Chief Engineer

• Operating Division: Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM)
• Employee Group: Permanent
• Department: RN-TEL-MNG-Telecommunications-PKT
• Location: Parktown
• Reporting To: General Manager: Engineering & Network Modernisation
• Grade: C
• Reference: req5805

The closing date is on . It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that HR has received the application before the closing date of the advertisement.

Position Purpose

• Accountable for the telecommunications Infrastructure vision, strategy and value realisation management across TRIM with attention to the infrastructure evolution towards convergence of infrastructure for enterprise IT and mission critical networks.
• Responsible for defining the target infrastructure landscape, articulate the roadmap and oversee the delivery plans to support business processes and services across TRIM through the effective leadership and orchestration of people, products, partners and relevant processes.
• Accelerate the professional and technical development of employees through coaching and training ensuring focus on achieving high customer satisfaction.

Position Outputs

1. 1. Contribute to the development of long-term, medium-term and short-term network and telecommunications technology strategies for TRIM.
2. 2. Responsible for determining the evolution towards convergence of enterprise network infrastructure and telecommunication services for TRIM in collaboration with TRIM CITO.
3. 3. Ensures the availability of all services offered by managing disaster avoidance and recovery efforts caused by events like power outages, hardware failures, construction damage to outside cabling, etc.
4. 4. Maximises the integrity of all systems that are responsible for the networking and telecommunications systems by directing the development and implementation of the debugging techniques in problem determination and taking the proper corrective actions.
5. 5. Ensures operational integrity and continuity of the services delivered by providing leadership in the development of objectives for the department in order to support engineering and operational administrative systems through reliability, responsiveness, documentation and use of current software and hardware.
6. 6. Increase effectiveness by leading the evaluation of software and hardware for acquisition and the development of TRIM networking and telecommunication environment.
7. 7. Develop and implement policies, procedures, documentation, technical KPis and SLAs for network & telecommunications services portfolio.
8. 8. Provide leadership in identifying new technologies and services, including impact and costs as they relate to networking and telecommunication services.
9. 9. Analyse complex network environments and identify risks and mitigation strategies acrossTRIM.
10. 10. Lead, execute and manage CAPEX, COPEX and OPEX projects and budgets to ensure compliance to specifications and project timelines, quality and project timelines cost effectively.
11. 11. Manage and monitor budgets in line with company policies and procedures, lead budget and cost review meetings to ensure a positive contribution of own function to company EBITDA.
12. 12. Identify and develop additional revenue generation opportunities on the telecommunications network infrastructure.
13. 13. Lead and ensure execution of all engineering functional responsibilities through delegated authority, legally/regulatory compliance, transparent, ethical, teamwork and customer service-orientation.
14. 14. Lead the development, review and management of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and/or Contracts and KPAs with internal and external suppliers / service providers in line with Transnet Customer Service Charter.
15. 15. Oversee and ensure all engineering projects, initiatives, and processes are in conformance with organization's established policies and objectives.
16. 16. Ensure compliance to various regulations and legislation governing the telecommunications industry and railway infrastructure industry, e.g. RSR, !CASA, etc.
17. 17. Drive growth through business intelligence and standardization to maximize business impact.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum 4-year degree - B.Sc.(Eng.) or B. Eng degree in eitherElectrical, or Electronics Engineeringis a requirement.
• 15 years working experience of which10 years is spent within theTelecommunications industry atSenior Management level and 5 atmanaging projects and conductingresearch.
• Registered with the EngineeringCouncil of South Africa (ECSA) as aProfessional Engineer (Pr. Eng.)
• MBA OR equivalent will be an addedadvantage

Competencies

• Knowledge required:Project Management Principles.
• Financial Accounting Principles.
• Business Management Principles.
• In-depth understanding of Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager Network.
• Understanding of the engineering principles.
• In-depth understanding of research and development methodologies.
• Cross functional knowledge.
• In-depth understanding of Human Capital Management and organisational design.
• Understanding of Assets Life cycle
• Knowledge of Transnet's Operating Divisions.
• Knowledge of Transnet Rail Infrastructure.
• Sound knowledge of relevant Legislation.
• Skills required:Business Acumen
• Leadership skills
• Negotiation skills
• Decision making
• Lateral thinker
• Analytical skills
• Interpersonal skill
• Excellent communication skills
• Presentation skills
• Computer literacy including MS Project
• Planning and Organising
• Networking
• Adaptability
• Project management
• Accountable
• Get it done
• Attributes:Strategic ability
• Inspirational leader
• Customer management
• Leverage diversity
• Change agent
• Integrity
• Collaborative
• Innovative and entrepreneurial
• Foster team
• Optimise business performance
• Manage programs

Equity Statement

Preference will be given to suitably qualified Applicants who are members of the designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Plan and Targets of the Organisation/Operating Division.

Disclaimer

If you have not heard from Transnet within 90 days, please consider your application as unsuccessful.

Transnet, its employees or representatives never ask for a fee from job seekers. Any such requests are fraudulent. Please report any suspicious activities in this regard to the Transnet anti-fraud line on 0800 003 056 or email [e-mail]