Durban Principal Mechanical Engineer — Lead Heavy Machinery

Placements24

Durban

On-site

ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Industry-leading compensation package

Private medical insurance

Retirement fund contribution

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer for our Durban facility to lead the design of high‑performance industrial machinery. You will guide projects from concept through production, mentor junior engineers, and drive innovations across mining, manufacturing and material handling sectors.

The role requires a strong analytical mindset, 10+ years in heavy industrial design, and expertise in CAD and advanced simulation tools.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
Minimum 10 years in mechanical design/engineering of heavy industrial machinery.
Proven leadership of engineering projects and teams.
Expertise with CAD software and advanced simulation tools (FEA/CFD).
Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and safety standards.

Responsibilities

Lead the mechanical design and development of complex industrial machinery from concept to production.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and designers.
Perform advanced analyses (FEA, CFD, dynamic simulations) to validate designs.
Develop innovative design solutions to improve performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
Oversee material and component selection for demanding environments.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project success.
Create and maintain design documentation, BOMs, specs, and validation reports.
Champion best practices and regulatory compliance in mechanical design.