Lead Industrial Automation Engineer - Robotics & PLC/SCADA

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Retirement fund contributions

Paid time off

Relocation support

Training and certifications

State-of-the-art facilities

Career advancement

Wellness programs

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Industrial Automation Engineer in East London to oversee design, implementation and upkeep of advanced automated systems on production lines.

The ideal candidate will command PLC, HMI/SCADA, robotics integration, and industrial networking skills, while guiding a team of engineers and technicians toward reliable and efficient manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level engineering degree in a related field.
• 8+ years in industrial automation with 3+ years in lead roles.
• Expertise in PLC, HMI/SCADA, and robotics integration.
• Strong knowledge of industrial networks and control architectures.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of automation solutions.
• Oversee integration and commissioning of robotic systems, PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA.
• Mentor engineers and technicians, promoting technical excellence.
• Maintain automation documentation and project records.
• Troubleshoot complex automation issues and drive improvements.
• Coordinate with stakeholders and vendors to meet timelines and budget.
• Implement preventive maintenance and stay current with tech advances.
• Ensure safety standards compliance across automation systems.
• Optimize throughput, quality, and energy efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentorship

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

PLC programming (Siemens, Rockwell)

HMI/SCADA development

Robotic programming (KUKA, ABB, FANUC)

Industrial networks (Ethernet/IP, Profinet)

Vision systems and sensors

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Industrial Automation Engineer in East London to oversee design, implementation and upkeep of advanced automated systems on production lines.

The ideal candidate will command PLC, HMI/SCADA, robotics integration, and industrial networking skills, while guiding a team of engineers and technicians toward reliable and efficient manufacturing operations.