Heavy Industry Engineering Foreman

Copper Quail; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 650,000 - 950,000; Full time

Job summary

Copper Quail is seeking an Engineering Foreman to lead day-to-day engineering and maintenance across mining and drilling projects, ensuring equipment availability and safe execution.

You will supervise maintenance teams, plan preventive and corrective work, and drive root-cause analysis. Reading drawings and OEM manuals is essential, with shifts and site relocation possible.

Qualifications

• Trade qualification (Millwright/Fitter/Electrician/Diesel Mechanic) or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Supervise artisans, technicians and maintenance personnel across mining and drilling equipment.

Skills

Team supervision

Fault finding

Planning & organisation

Communication

Safety awareness

Education

Trade qualification (Millwright / Fitter / Electrician / Diesel Mechanic)

Tools

CMMS

Maintenance planning systems

Job description

The Engineering Foreman will lead day-to-day engineering and maintenance activities across mining and drilling projects, with responsibility for equipment availability, maintenance execution, breakdown response, technical supervision and safe delivery of work.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise artisans, technicians and maintenance personnel across mining and drilling equipment.
• Plan and coordinate preventive, planned and corrective maintenance work.
• Lead breakdown response, fault finding and troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Monitor equipment condition, downtime, recurring failures and maintenance backlogs.
• Coordinate inspections, servicing, component replacement and repair activities.
• Support root-cause investigations and implement practical reliability improvements.
• Ensure OEM requirements, maintenance procedures and statutory safety requirements are followed.
• Manage job cards, maintenance records, spares requirements and outstanding defects.
• Liaise with OEMs, suppliers and technical-support teams on diagnostics, parts and specialist interventions.
• Support commissioning, mobilisation and demobilisation of project equipment.

EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS

• Recognised trade qualification such as Millwright, Fitter, Electrician, Diesel Mechanic or equivalent technical qualification.
• Minimum 5 years' relevant engineering / maintenance / heavy-equipment experience in mining, drilling or industrial environments.
• Proven experience supervising technical maintenance teams.
• Strong practical fault-finding capability across mechanical and hydraulic systems; electrical exposure is highly advantageous.
• Ability to read technical drawings, schematics and OEM manuals.
• Medically fit for site work and willing to work shifts, rotations or temporary relocation where required.

ADVANTAGEOUS

• Direct SANY mining / drilling equipment knowledge or maintenance exposure.
• Raise-bore, shaft or specialist drilling equipment experience.
• CMMS / maintenance-planning systems.
• Root Cause Analysis and reliability-improvement experience.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong safety awareness and commitment to operating standards.
• Practical problem-solving and sound judgement in operational environments.
• Clear communication and effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong planning, organisation, accountability and attention to detail.