Electrical Engineer

Sappi; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Sappi is seeking an Electrical Engineer to provide maintenance and engineering support to maximise plant production and uptime in a safe, compliant manner. You will lead technical activities including audits, RCA, and maintenance planning, while ensuring cost-effective solutions and data integrity in SAP.

You'll contribute to SHEQ adherence, supplier and stakeholder communication, and capital planning, with opportunities for development and travel within a global organisation that has operated

Qualifications

• BSc/BEng/BTech in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 2–8 years maintenance experience in heavy industry.
• Proven SAP knowledge is highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality: ensure SHEQ policy compliance, inspections, and record keeping.
• Operational Excellence: lead maintenance standards, compliance audits, RCA, and fast repair to maximise uptime.
• Budget and Cost Control: monitor expenses, support 5-year capex planning, and manage renewals.
• Reporting: provide feedback on plant performance and cost management to Electrical Maintenance.
• Lean a Technical/Maintenance Team: recruit, coach, and develop the maintenance team for predictive maintenance.
• Build Customer Relations: communicate with suppliers and customers and drive corrective actions.

Skills

Maintenance planning

Leadership

SHEQ knowledge

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Tools

SAP

Job description

At Sappi, we are a leading global provider with a reputation for delivering high-quality sustainable Woodfibre products and solutions for the global markets. We lead through our values centred around safety, integrity, courage, making smart decisions which we execute with speed. We are seeking unique people who believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive and safe environment.

We are on the lookout for an Electrical Engineer to supply competent and cost-effective maintenance and engineering support, service, advice, solutions, and techniques to maximize plant production and plant availability in a safe and legally compliant manner.

As anElectrical Engineer, you will be responsible for:

Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality

• Enforce technical team compliance with SHEQ policies, work permits, ISO standards (9000, 14001, 50001, 45001), Safe Work Procedures, and Critical Task Analyses.
• Provide continuous SHEQ guidance, conduct routine inspections, maintain safety records, and educate the team on operational standards.

Operational Excellence

• Implement maintenance standards, drive legal compliance for electrical installations, conduct audits, and enforce adherence to Maintenance Business Processes.
• Manage shutdown/long-term maintenance planning, lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) on plant failures, and execute fast-response breakdown repairs to maximize uptime.
• Oversee SAP Maintenance reporting and data integrity, manage maintenance contracts and vendors, guide plant modifications, and fulfill standby/overtime duties.

Budget and Cost Control

• Monitor weekly expenses against budget, approve requisitions within mandate, and explain variances to the Maintenance Manager Electrical.
• Participate in 5-year capital planning, develop business cases for cost-effective plant changes, and manage equipment renewal/capex projects on time and budget.

Reporting

• Provide regular feedback to the Maintenance Manager Electrical on overall plant performance, unresolved engineering issues, and cost management.

Lean a Technical/Maintenance Team

• Manage team recruitment, performance, development, and discipline, providing direct on-the-job coaching to build predictive maintenance and problem-solving skills.

Build Customer Relations

• Maintain effective communication with internal/external suppliers and customers, actively responding to feedback and initiating corrective action.

What are we looking for?

• BSc, BEng, BTech, BEng Tech, or Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering.
• 2 to 8 years' maintenance experience within a heavy industrial environment.
• Proven SAP knowledge is highly advantageous.
• Prior experience leading or supervising a technical/maintenance team is advantageous.

What's in it for you?

• Opportunity to work within a global organisation that continues to thrive in a rapidly changing world even after 80 years of existence.
• Learning and development programmes to fast-track your career within Sappi.
• Opportunities to travel.
• Market leading leave benefits.

Sappi is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. At Sappi, we encourage and support vaccination.

ABOUT SAPPI

Sappi isa leading global provider of everyday materials made from woodfibre-based renewable resources. As a diversified, innovative and trusted leader focused on sustainable processes and products, we are building a more circular economy by making what we should, not just what we can.