Electro-Mechanical Engineer, Southern Africa

CDM Smith; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

CDM Smith in South Africa seeks an Electro-Mechanical Engineer to lead feasibility-stage planning and preliminary design of pumping, electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, control, SCADA, and power-supply systems for a major water-conveyance study.

You will coordinate equipment selection and liaise with hydraulic, pipeline, and structural teams to ensure robust, safe, and climate-resilient design across Lesotho-Botswana-South Africa routes.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in electro-mechanical engineering or related field.
• 15 years post-qualification experience designing electro-mechanical systems for large hydraulic structures and pump stations.
• Registered professional engineer with a recognized body.
• Experience designing SCADA for electro-mechanical equipment and electricity-supply systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop preliminary designs for electro-mechanical systems serving pumping stations.
• Coordinate pump and motor configurations and electrical infrastructure.
• Define station piping, valves, surge protection, and maintenance provisions.
• Develop SCADA concepts, including control philosophy and cybersecurity considerations.
• Prepare equipment data sheets, schedules, BOMs, and cost inputs.
• Contribute to HAZOP, reliability analysis, asset management, and climate-risk assessment.
• Evaluate hydropower interfaces and grid-connection considerations.

Skills

Electro-mechanical design

Pump & motor selection

SCADA & automation

Hydraulic integration

Coordination across teams

Education

Master's degree in electro-mechanical engineering

Tools

SCADA systems

Electrical design software

Hydraulic modelling tools

Job description

Company Overview

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Job Description

Project Overview

The Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) is seeking consulting services to conduct a technical feasibility study and produce the preliminary design for the water conveyance system of the Lesotho to Botswana Water Transfer Scheme. The bulk water transfer scheme is intended to mobilize water in Lesotho and convey it through South Africa to Botswana, while supplying users along the route. The study will assess and integrate technical, financial, environmental, regulatory, institutional, social, and climate considerations to support financing and implementation decisions.

The assignment covers route confirmation, demand and socioeconomic assessment, topographical and cadastral surveys, geotechnical and materials investigations, climate risk assessment, hydraulic modelling and optimization, preliminary design of pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs and supporting infrastructure, cost estimation, economic analysis, and preparation of detailed-design terms of reference and a Record of Implementation Decision.

Position Description

CDM Smith is seeking an Electro-Mechanical Engineer to lead feasibility-stage planning and preliminary design of pumping, electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, control, SCADA, power-supply, transformer, and related systems for the anticipated water-conveyance study. The position will coordinate equipment selection and layouts with the hydraulic, pipeline, structural, hydropower, operations, and cost workstreams.

Professional engagement is contingent on project award and client approval.

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop preliminary designs for electro-mechanical systems serving abstraction works, high-lift and booster pump stations, reservoirs, break-pressure tanks, hydropower facilities, and other conveyance structures.
• Coordinate hydraulic optimization and select preliminary pump and motor configurations, duties, efficiencies, redundancy, and operating arrangements.
• Define station piping arrangements, valves, surge-protection equipment, lifting and maintenance provisions, mechanical services, and equipment layouts.
• Assess existing, planned, and future electricity-supply infrastructure and establish long-term supply, transmission-line, substation, switchgear, high- and low-voltage, transformer, and standby-power requirements.
• Develop the SCADA and automation concept, including system configuration, communications, control philosophy, trends, alarms, events, cybersecurity considerations, and water-and-energy-efficiency functions.
• Prepare the outline instrumentation plan for hydraulic, structural, equipment, and seismic monitoring and document the rationale for instrumentation.
• Prepare equipment data sheets, schedules, preliminary drawings, flow diagrams, specifications, bills of materials, long-lead schedules, and CAPEX and OPEX inputs.
• Contribute to HAZOP, reliability analysis, strategic asset management, O&M planning, emergency preparedness, climate-risk assessment, and implementation planning.
• Evaluate hydropower-generation and pumped-storage interfaces and coordinate grid-connection and power-offset considerations.

Skills & Abilities

• Planning and preliminary design of complex electro-mechanical systems for major hydraulic infrastructure and pump stations.
• Pump and motor selection, station mechanical systems, power supply, transformers, switchgear, instrumentation, automation, and SCADA.
• Ability to integrate hydraulic transients, operating philosophy, reliability, maintainability, energy efficiency, climate resilience, and lifecycle cost.
• Strong preparation and review of process diagrams, equipment schedules, data sheets, specifications, drawings, quantities, and cost inputs.
• Effective coordination with utilities, regulators, hydraulic modellers, pipeline engineers, structural engineers, hydropower specialists, and operations personnel.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualification of a master's degree in electro-mechanical engineering or relevant fields
• 15 years post qualification work experience in planning and designing of electro-mechanical systems for large hydraulic structures and pump stations, including designing of SCADA systems for operation of electro-mechanical equipment, and electricity supply systems.
• Registered as a professional engineer with a recognized statutory engineering professional body

Preferred Qualifications

• Electro-mechanical design experience on large bulk-water pumping and conveyance systems in Lesotho, Botswana, or South Africa.
• Demonstrated experience with high-head and booster pump stations, large motors, variable-speed drives, surge-protection systems, substations, transformers, and long-distance power supply.
• Experience designing SCADA, telemetry, instrumentation, remote-control, alarm, trend, event, security, predictive-maintenance, and water-loss-management functions for large water systems.
• Working knowledge of electricity utilities, grid-connection processes, electrical codes, occupational safety requirements, and water-sector standards in the target countries.
• Experience assessing hydropower generation or pumped-storage interfaces with water-conveyance pumping requirements.
• Current professional engineering registration that can be readily verified in a relevant statutory jurisdiction

Amount Of Travel Required

20% - 40%

Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as "CDM Smith") reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.

Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.

Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position

Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Team will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.