Field Service Engineer (Team Leader)

Ntsumi HR Partners; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Ntsumi HR Partners is seeking a Field Service Engineer (Team Leader) to guide and develop a team delivering installation, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs across customer sites. You will drive safety, service quality, and uptime while acting as the main technical escalation point in Southern Africa.

The role requires leadership experience in field service, a technical degree or diploma, and strong communication in English.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a comparable technical discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Field Service Engineers and Technicians.
• Coordinate and supervise field service activities including installation, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, inspections, and repairs.
• Ensure efficient planning and allocation of service resources in line with customer priorities and business requirements.
• Act as the main escalation point for complex technical issues in the field and support the team in resolving them effectively.
• Ensure all service work is completed in accordance with Bühler quality standards, safety regulations, and customer requirements.
• Review and validate service reports, documentation, and feedback from the field to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships by ensuring professional communication, timely issue resolution, and high service quality.
• Support customers in improving equipment reliability, uptime, and operational performance.
• Identify service business opportunities such as spare parts, upgrades, retrofits, maintenance agreements, and other value-added services (implement Service Agreement packages).
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders including engineering, technical support, spare parts, sales, and project management teams.
• Monitor service KPIs and implement actions to improve productivity, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with local regulations, company standards, and customer site rules.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and contribute to the further development of service processes, tools, and best practices.

Job description

As Field Service Engineer (Team Leader), you will lead and develop a team of Field Service Engineers and Technicians, ensuring the successful delivery of installation, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair services across customer sites. You will be responsible for driving operational excellence, resource planning, service quality, safety compliance, and customer satisfaction, while acting as the key escalation point for complex technical challenges. Working closely with customers and internal stakeholders, you will play a critical role in maximising equipment reliability, uptime, and long-term service growth across the region.

What You Bring...

Qualifications & Experience:

Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a comparable technical discipline.

• Several years of professional experience in field service, maintenance, commissioning, or technical support within an industrial environment.
• Experience in industries such as food processing, feed, grain milling, grinding, die casting, or related sectors.
• Familiarity with heavy duty manufacturing equipment, processes, and service standards.
• Experience with ERP, CRM, and digital service reporting tools.
• Strong analytical and root cause problem-solving skills.
• Experience in driving continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
• Initial or proven leadership experience in managing or coordinating technical service teams.
• Strong technical understanding of industrial machinery, systems, and troubleshooting processes.
• Experience in customer-facing roles with a strong service mindset.
• Good knowledge of health, safety, and quality standards related to field operations.
• Ability to read and understand technical drawings, manuals, and service documentation.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Effective communication skills in English; additional local language skills are considered an advantage.
• Willingness to travel frequently to customer sites.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Field Service Engineers and Technicians.
• Coordinate and supervise field service activities including installation, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, inspections, and repairs.
• Ensure efficient planning and allocation of service resources in line with customer priorities and business requirements.
• Act as the main escalation point for complex technical issues in the field and support the team in resolving them effectively.
• Ensure all service work is completed in accordance with Bühler quality standards, safety regulations, and customer requirements.
• Review and validate service reports, documentation, and feedback from the field to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships by ensuring professional communication, timely issue resolution, and high service quality.
• Support customers in improving equipment reliability, uptime, and operational performance.
• Identify service business opportunities such as spare parts, upgrades, retrofits, maintenance agreements, and other value-added services (implement Service Agreement packages).
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders including engineering, technical support, spare parts, sales, and project management teams.
• Monitor service KPIs and implement actions to improve productivity, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with local regulations, company standards, and customer site rules.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and contribute to the further development of service processes, tools, and best practices.

Why This Role?

• Join a globally recognised organisation at the cutting edge of industrial technology and engineering innovation
• Real ownership of complex, multi-million-rand projects with end-to-end accountability and visibility
• Direct engagement with senior leadership, international clients, and cross-functional teams across Southern Africa, Europe and Asia.
• A high-performing, collaborative environment where your expertise and leadership are genuinely valued