Power Engineer

Optimal Growth Technologies; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A telecommunications infrastructure company in Johannesburg is seeking a Power Engineer to oversee the review and design of electrical power systems for network expansions. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with safety standards and engaging with stakeholders to deliver power upgrades. The ideal candidate will have a degree in electrical engineering and 3-5 years of relevant experience. Competitive salary and project work with large scale telecommunication clients offered.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years experience in electrical power systems design, analysis, or auditing is required.
• Telecom or ICT infrastructure power management experience is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of SANS 10142-1 and electrical compliance frameworks is essential.

Responsibilities

• Review, validate and provide consent for co-location power application requests.
• Utilise risk-based engineering principles for new power installations.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure power upgrades align with network rollout.

Skills

Design and interpretation of electrical schematics

Telecommunication systems knowledge

Analytical mindset

Attention to detail

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelors degree in electrical engineering or National Diploma in Power Systems

Job description

Overview

Role title: Power Engineer

Contract duration: 12 month

Location: Bryanston

Role purpose: This role is responsible to review, and implementation and advise on electrical power systems for telecommunications infrastructure, with a focus on colocation sites and future technology deployments or upgrades by our customers. The role involves ensuring compliance with SANS 10142-1, applying risk-based engineering principles, and delivering reliable, safe, and cost-effective power upgrades to support network expansion and multi-operator sharing. You will be accountable for the review, approval, and design of power solutions to support our customers network expansions.

Key Accountabilities

Power Applications & Review

• Review, validate and provide consent for all co-location power application requests coming into various sites.
• Validate the requests for technical and contractual feasibility against load capacity, redundancy, commercial contracts.
• Undertake a comparative site conditions analysis to potentially identify risks and constraints which limit co-location or network expansion.
• Provision clearly documented consent with technical rationales justifying consent, including direct and timely communications of new site requirements to key stakeholder groups.

Risk-Based Engineering & Compliance Audit

• Utilise risk-based engineering principles for all new power installations and upgrade projects in order to identify, assess and mitigate risks prior to any power installation/upgrade activity.
• Monitor regulatory developments, electrical codes & compliance standards, best-practice, and emerging energy technologies to ensure future compliance of power designs.
• Provide technical authority for electrical power systems safety audits, risk assessments and remediation plans.

Electrical Survey Report Analysis & Evaluation

• Review and analyse electrical survey reports in order to establish current system performance, load capacity, resiliency, and risks specific to site.
• Review and evaluate system performance against resiliency, redundancy, and availability requirements outlined in SLAs and technical specifications.
• Identify any PSU, bottleneck, equipment malfunction or other compliance deficiencies and recommend a corrective approach.
• Convert complex survey data into concise technical reports and recommendations for management decisions

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with internal teams (engineering, operations, capital projects, network planning) to ensure power upgrades align with the wider network rollout and modernization frameworks.
• Engage with external contractors, electrical utilities, and MNO partners to ensure delivery of projects meets agreed technical standards, timelines, and SLAs.
• Keep stakeholders appraised of project progress, risks, and technical advice through regular updates and briefings.
• Leverage collaborative relationships with cross-functional stakeholders to address issues as they emerge and avoid unnecessary project delays.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Quality and compliance of electrical designs and upgrades.
• Adherence to SANS 10142-1 and SLA obligations.
• Accuracy of load calculations and upgrade recommendations.
• Timely delivery of project scopes, drawings, and project/ technical support.
• Improved reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of site power systems.

Power Upgrade Design & Implementation

• Design and recommend upgrades to site power designs that meet co-location requirements and future technology releases (5G, etc.)
• Redesign existing installations where possible and available after review for energy efficiency, operational resiliency and life cycle cost avoidance.
• Investigation, analysis and implementation of renewable and hybrid power options (solar, wind, battery storage, diesel hybrid systems) where it makes sense to minimize carbon footprint and enhance sustainability.
• Coordinate with capital projects and engineering design teams to produce detailed engineering drawings, schematics, and system specifications.
• Project Scope of Work (SoW) Development
• Develop supporting technical Scope of Work (SoW) documentation for all proposed upgrades that clearly outlines the design requirements, compliance needs, and implementation processes
• Include risk-based considerations in the SoW documentation to ensure contractors know the critical risks and compliance oversight.
• Provide value to budget estimates, capital planning, and prioritization exercises for upgrades to power infrastructure.
• Ensure SoW documents will be treated as enforceable documents for contractors, project managers, and operations teams.

Technical Competencies

• Strong ability to design, read, and interpret electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Solid knowledge of Telecommunication systems and solutions such as transformers, rectifier systems, batteries, standby generators, hybrid power systems, renewable energy systems and cooling systems.
• Skilled in load analysis, project costing, and risk documentation.
• Ability to integrate energy efficiency and sustainability into system design.

Core Skills & Attributes

• Analytical mindset with strong risk-awareness.
• Excellent attention to detail with a safety-first approach.
• Strong communicator, able to simplify complex technical issues for non-technical audiences.
• Effective collaborator across engineering, operations, and commercial functions.
• Ownership mentality: a results-oriented person with a focus on maintaining technical integrity while meeting commercial needs.
• Ability to adapt to ever-changing technologies and apply promising solutions amid ever-increasing complexity.

Must have technical / professional qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering\ National Diploma Power Systems, or related field

Experience:

• 3-5 years experience in electrical power systems design, analysis, or auditing.
• Telecom or ICT infrastructure power management experience highly desirable with knowledge on load analysis and trends.
• Strong knowledge of SANS 10142-1 and electrical compliance frameworks.
• Experience with risk-based engineering, electrical load analysis, and project scoping.

Proven track record in managing power upgrades for colocation and/or future network deployment such as 5G.