Group Principal Engineer: Control & Instrumentation (C&I)

Sabenza IT & Recruitment; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 2,000,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Sabenza IT & Recruitment seeks a Group Principal Engineer: Control & Instrumentation to lead OT and AI strategy across mining operations. You will define roadmaps, converge automation architectures, and improve cybersecurity while guiding the group’s senior technical direction.

You will provide expert consultancy on PLC/DCS/SCADA, Digital Twins, and AI-powered processes, mentoring engineers and driving governance and high-impact projects across sites.

Qualifications

• BEng/BSc in Electronic, Mechatronic or Electrical Engineering (control) with AI/ML studies a strong advantage.
• Minimum 10 years in C&I within mining or heavy industry, with proven leadership of large-scale digital or automation projects.
• At least 5 years in a senior engineering management role.
• Deep experience applying AI to industrial processes and integrating AI/ML into process control.
• Hands-on capability with Python, PLC coding and C++ for advanced control applications.
• Broad knowledge of HSE requirements relevant to mining and processing operations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder skills.
• Detail-oriented, self-driven and results-focused.

Responsibilities

• Define the technical direction for C&I and AI across operations.
• Lead the governed convergence of traditional automation, IT and AI architectures.
• Drive secure improvements in operational processes and cybersecurity.
• Act as the group’s senior technical authority on advanced control, digital platforms and AI in operations.
• Review AI and OT capital projects for governance; deliver quarterly and annual reports.
• Mentor senior engineers and foster learning in C&I, data science and cybersecurity.

Skills

Python

PLC programming

C++

AI in industry

Predictive analytics

Digital Twins

Stakeholder management

Decision making

Education

BEng/BSc in Electronic/Mechatronic/Electrical Eng (control)

Master’s or AI/ML studies

Tools

Python

PLC coding

C++

Job description

Group Principal Engineer: Control & Instrumentation (C&I)

Centurion, South Africa

We are looking for a Group Principal Engineer: Control &Instrumentation to lead the adoption of operational technology and AI acrossthe group. This is a high-impact role for an experienced engineering leader whocan bring industrial automation, IT and AI together under strong governance —improving how operations run while keeping systems secure.

You will shape the technical direction for C&I and AI,move from site-by-site solutions to integrated, federated systems, and set thestandards that keep advanced control and AI both effective and safe.

The opportunity

• Definethe short-, medium- and long-term technical roadmaps for C&I and AIacross operations.
• Leadthe governed convergence of traditional industrial automation, IT and AIarchitectures.
• Drivesecure improvements in operational processes while reducing cybersecurityrisk.
• Actas the group’s senior technical authority on advanced control, digitalplatforms and AI in operations.

What you will do

Strategic leadership Set the technical direction for C&I and AI, shifting from isolated siteinterventions to integrated, federated systems that support the wider business.

AI and automation Provide specialist consultancy on advanced control architectures (PLC, DCS,SCADA) and their integration with Digital Twins for real-time simulation anddecision support. Bring deep experience in AI-powered industrial processes,predictive analytics and embedding AI/ML into process control.

Digital transformation Lead the move toward low-code integrated digital platforms so teams acrossthe organisation can build practical solutions on top of existing operationaltechnology.

OT and AI governance Provide oversight and assurance on cybersecurity controls for the OT and AIenvironment. This includes:

• Developingand maintaining policies, procedures and standards for OT and AI.
• Ensuringarchitectures meet evolving international standards and best practice.
• Leadingsecurity risk assessments on industrial control networks, OTinfrastructure, AI systems and applications.
• Supportingincident response (containment, eradication and recovery) and contributingknowledge of disaster recovery and forensic approaches.

Projects and governance Review proposed AI and OT capital projects to confirm that business casesand technical solutions are sound and meet governance requirements. Deliverquarterly and annual reports on AI and OT governance and convene the OT and ITworking group steering committees.

Mentorship Coach senior engineers and build a culture of continuous learning in C&I,data science and cybersecurity.

Requirements

What you bring

• BEng/BScin Electronic, Mechatronic or Electrical Engineering (control focus). AMaster’s or recent further study in AI/Machine Learning is a strongadvantage.
• Minimum10 years in C&I within mining or heavy industry, including a provenrecord of leading large-scale digital or automation projects.
• Atleast 5 years in a senior engineering management role.
• Deepexperience applying AI to industrial processes, predictive analytics andintegrating AI/ML into process control.
• Hands-oncapability with Python, PLC coding and C++ for advanced controlapplications.
• Broadknowledge of HSE requirements relevant to mining and processingoperations.
• Stronganalytical, problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Excellentinterpersonal, communication and stakeholder skills.
• Detail-oriented,self-driven and results-focused.

Why this role

This is a rare chance to shape how operational technologyand AI are used at group level. You will influence technical standards, capitalprojects and day-to-day operations, while mentoring the next generation ofengineers and reducing risk in a complex industrial environment.