Job: Mechanical Engineer Intern

Company : RCL Foods; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 120,000 - 180,000; Part time

Job summary

RCL Foods in Gauteng invites applications for an Internship: Mechanical Engineering Management Trainee. Over 4-5 years you will gain exposure to plant operations, projects, and maintenance systems while working on real business challenges in a high-performing manufacturing environment.

You will receive hands-on experience, structured training, and one-on-one mentorship to grow into a future technical or operational leader within the company.

Qualifications

• Currently in final year or completed in B-Engineering / BSc-Engineering / BTech Engineering (Mechanical).
• South African citizen or permanent resident.
• Strong academic results in major subjects in 2nd and 3rd year.

Responsibilities

• Support maintenance and production teams with mechanical engineering solutions.
• Participate in plant equipment inspections, fault diagnosis, and root cause analysis.
• Contribute to projects focused on process efficiency, reliability, and safety.
• Assist in developing and implementing preventative maintenance strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including production, quality, and safety.
• Lead or co-lead improvement projects under guidance of engineers.
• Engage in technical and leadership training modules as part of the plan.
• Track and evaluate personal progress against defined performance goals.

Skills

Strong academic performance

Analytical thinking

Education

BEng/BSc/BTech Mechanical Engineering

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

Job description

As a Mechanical Engineer – Management Trainee, you will be part of our long-term development programme designed to build authentic leadership within the business. Over the course of 4-5 years, you will gain exposure to plant operations, engineering projects, and maintenance systems while working on real business challenges within a high-performing manufacturing environment. The programme offers hands-on experience in our facilities, where you will apply your mechanical engineering knowledge to optimize processes, improve equipment reliability, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives. Alongside practical experience, you will benefit from structured training, personalized development plans, and one-on-one mentorship to support your growth into a future technical or operational leader.

Responsibilities

• Support maintenance and production teams with mechanical engineering solutions
• Participate in plant equipment inspections, fault diagnosis, and root cause analysis
• Contribute to engineering projects focused on process efficiency, reliability, and safety
• Assist in developing and implementing preventative maintenance strategies
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including production, quality, and safety
• Lead or co-lead improvement projects under the guidance of experienced engineers
• Engage in technical and leadership training modules as part of the development plan
• Track and evaluate personal progress against clearly defined performance goals

Qualifications

• Completed studies or currently in the final year of study in B-Engineering / BSc-Engineering / BTech Engineering (Mechanical)
• South African citizen or permanent resident
• Good academic results in your majors in 2nd and 3rd year
• Computer Literacy (MS Office, including Excel and Word)
• A valid South African driver's license (Preferred)

Hiring organization

RCL Foods

Employment Type: Internship

Job Location: All Towns, Gauteng, South Africa

Internship - Mechanical Engineering Material Development Intern