Principal Mechanical Engineer — Industrial Machinery Leader

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive compensation

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Extended paid time off

Budget for professional development

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer for our Pretoria facility. The role involves leading the design of large-scale industrial machinery, mentoring a team of engineers, and driving technical strategy across products and projects.

You will perform advanced analyses, coordinate cross-functional teams, and shape engineering standards while delivering robust, manufacturable solutions for complex systems in an industrial automation context.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of experience in mechanical design and engineering, with focus on industrial machinery or complex systems.
• Proven track record in a Principal or lead engineering role delivering major projects.
• Expertise in advanced CAD software (Siemens NX, SolidWorks) and simulation tools (ANSYS, ADAMS).
• Strong knowledge of mechanisms, kinematics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and machine design.

Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptual design and detailed engineering of large-scale industrial machinery, including automation systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to mechanical engineering teams, fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
• Conduct advanced engineering analyses, including dynamic simulations, thermal management, and reliability studies.
• Oversee material and component selection balancing performance, cost and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product development and integration.
• Develop and implement validation and testing strategies for new designs and product enhancements.
• Drive development of technical standards, best practices, and design tools within the department.
• Represent the engineering team in product strategy meetings and interface with customers and suppliers.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Project management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

PhD or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

ANSYS

ADAMS

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer for our Pretoria facility. The role involves leading the design of large-scale industrial machinery, mentoring a team of engineers, and driving technical strategy across products and projects.

You will perform advanced analyses, coordinate cross-functional teams, and shape engineering standards while delivering robust, manufacturable solutions for complex systems in an industrial automation context.