Lead Electrical Engineer – Mining Automation & Control

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary + annual bonuses

Medical aid

Life insurance

Retirement savings plan

Annual leave & development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer specializing in Automation and Control Systems for mining operations in Nelspruit. You will design, implement, and maintain advanced automation solutions to boost safety, efficiency, and productivity, with emphasis on PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA in heavy industry.

The role demands extensive experience in industrial control systems, mentoring junior engineers, and driving technology upgrades while ensuring reliability and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in industrial automation and control systems, with mining sector focus.
• Knowledge of PLC programming languages (Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram), HMI development, and SCADA systems.
• Experience with Profibus, Modbus, Ethernet/IP.
• Familiarity with VSDs, soft starters, and motor control centers.
• Registered Pr. Eng. with ECSA is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and implementation of electrical control and automation for mining equipment and processes.
• Oversee PLC, HMI, and SCADA configuration, programming, and troubleshooting.
• Manage instrumentation and control aspects of capital projects, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Develop and maintain electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical docs.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards including functional safety (SIL).
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to automation engineers and technicians.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Manage vendor relationships and procurement of automation hardware/software.

Skills

Automation & control systems

Mentoring

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Siemens PLCs

Allen-Bradley PLCs

HMI development

SCADA systems

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Senior Electrical Engineer specializing in Automation and Control Systems for mining operations in Nelspruit. You will design, implement, and maintain advanced automation solutions to boost safety, efficiency, and productivity, with emphasis on PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA in heavy industry.

The role demands extensive experience in industrial control systems, mentoring junior engineers, and driving technology upgrades while ensuring reliability and regulatory compliance.