Mechanical Engineer

Talent Shore; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 22 days + UK holidays

ASAP start

Job summary

Talent Shore is seeking a mechanically-minded engineer to join our team in Johannesburg. The role focuses on sales-stage design and technical solutions, translating customer requirements into technically sound, commercially competitive outcomes.

You will work with customers and the sales team to assess needs, develop proposals, optimize solutions, and ensure robustness before delivery. Strong English and communication skills are essential, with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills to engage with clients and internal teams.
• Advanced Excel and Word proficiency for technical reporting.
• Excellent written and spoken English for clear documentation and presentations.
• Creative, solution-focused mindset with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer requirements into technically sound, commercially competitive solutions.
• Develop technical proposals and perform design reviews for accuracy and feasibility.
• Attend client meetings with sales to provide technical expertise and support.
• Create and review technical drawings and ensure proper documentation.

Skills

Communication

Excel

Word

English

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Bluebeam

Job description

Johannesburg, South Africa | Posted on 21/08/2026

Salary: Competitive / Dependent on Experience

Holiday: 22 days annual leave + UK Bank Holidays, increasing by 1 day per year up to 25 days

Start Date: ASAP

Reporting to: Technical Manager

About the Role

We are looking for a technically minded Mechanical Engineer to join a growing engineering business in a role focused on sales-stage design and technical solutions.

This is a key position at the front end of projects, where you will take customer requirements and translate them into technically sound, commercially competitive engineering solutions.

You will work closely with customers and the sales team to assess requirements, develop technical proposals, optimise solutions and ensure projects are technically robust before they move into delivery.

The ideal candidate will be a creative problem solver who enjoys finding practical engineering solutions, is commercially aware and can confidently communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Stage Design & Engineering

Take customer requirements and develop technically sound, commercially competitive solutions using the available engineering tools and product range.

Review customer specifications in detail and identify any gaps or misalignment with standard products or solutions.

Develop practical solutions to address technical requirements and customer concerns.

Assess CAPEX vs OPEX, including machinery running costs, chemical and carbon consumption.

Analyse competitor strengths and identify opportunities for cost optimisation and differentiation.

Develop proposals that clearly demonstrate the technical and commercial value of the proposed solution.

Confirm appropriate plant selection, media, contact times, cooling strategies and performance thresholds to ensure effective system design.

Assess and recommend appropriate corrosion protection levels.

Evaluate PLC and control system requirements to ensure accurate quotations and appropriate applications.

Develop derogation schedules and ensure relevant regulatory requirements are considered, including CE marking for EU projects.

Support odour management plans and site assessments relating to Best Available Technology (BAT).

Produce detailed technical reports where required.

Understand the capabilities of the product range across different industrial applications and identify when a standard solution is unsuitable.

Escalate projects to R&D where a bespoke or technically different solution is required.

Provide clear explanations of system functionality, maintenance requirements and long-term operation.

Technical Drawings & Client Support

Create Bluebeam review mark-ups for the CAD Engineer to develop plant layouts.

Provide clear guidance on duct routing, plant sizing and equipment positioning.

Attend client meetings alongside the sales team to provide technical expertise and support.

Respond to technical queries from the sales team and customers.

Help ensure technical requirements are clearly understood throughout the sales process.

Project Handover

Attend project handover meetings to ensure the agreed scope and quotation are fully understood.

Provide clarity around technical drawings, specifications and requirements to the delivery team.

Remain available after handover to resolve any technical questions or areas requiring clarification.

Ownership & Reporting

Take full ownership and accountability for your responsibilities throughout the sales-stage process.

Provide timely, accurate and clear reporting.

Ensure technical and commercial information is maintained to a high standard.

Work within established processes while continually identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.

AI & Technology

Confidently use AI tools such as Claude or equivalent to support technical research, drafting, calculations and document production.

Apply sound engineering judgement to review, validate and verify AI-assisted outputs before they are used in customer-facing or technical work.

Continuously improve the use of company systems, AI and Microsoft Excel to improve efficiency across the sales-stage process.

Key Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent engineering qualification.

Minimum 2 years' experience in a similar engineering industry.

Strong technical mindset with a creative, solution-focused approach to engineering challenges.

Ability to understand customer requirements and translate them into practical engineering solutions.

Strong commercial awareness, including an understanding of cost optimisation and CAPEX/OPEX considerations.

Highly organised and process-driven.

Strong Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Excel and Word.

Excellent written and spoken English.

Strong communication and listening skills with the ability to interact confidently with clients and colleagues.

Comfortable working under pressure and managing tight deadlines.

Strong attention to detail and a high level of accountability.

A proactive, can-do attitude with a genuine willingness to learn and develop.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be someone who is:

Technically strong and enjoys solving complex engineering challenges.

Commercially minded and understands that good engineering solutions also need to make business sense.

Creative and solutions-focused, rather than simply identifying problems.

Organised and process-driven, with excellent attention to detail.

Client-focused, with the confidence to communicate technical concepts clearly.

Adaptable and eager to learn, particularly within a growing business.

Comfortable using technology and AI to improve productivity while maintaining strong professional judgement.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a growing engineering environment where you will play an important role in shaping projects before they reach delivery.

You will have the opportunity to work across technical design, commercial optimisation, customer engagement and project handover, giving you broad exposure to the full project lifecycle.