REFRIGERATION TECHNICIAN

Sea Harvest; Saldanha; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Sea Harvest in Saldanha, a proudly South African integrated fishing and food processing company, seeks a Refrigeration Technician to manage ammonia and Freon systems and related electrical controls.

You will maintain plant rooms, service processing lines, train operators, perform fault-finding, and support commissioning on multi-disciplinary projects. The role requires extensive FMCG experience, CAT A/B advantages, and 7+ years post-qualification experience.

Qualifications

• Qualified Refrigeration Technician with strong electrical/electronic knowledge.
• CAT A and CAT B advantageous.
• Minimum 7 years post-qualification experience.
• Minimum 5 years managing a workshop/technical team in FMCG/food processing.
• Strong experience with ammonia refrigeration systems.
• Understanding of refrigeration vapour compression cycle.
• Experience in a refrigeration services contractor is advantageous.
• Extensive FMCG experience, preferably in the food industry.
• Knowledge of cold storage refrigeration systems.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining main refrigeration plant rooms, distribution piping, valve stations and controls.
• Servicing equipment on processing lines, ice plants, slurry plants and cooling systems.
• Performing scheduled maintenance, ad hoc repairs and project work.
• Train refrigeration operators for energy efficiency and compliance.
• Conduct equipment safety checks and CMMS-based servicing.
• Provide feedback on work, causes of failures, and spares used.
• Report modifications and effects on performance.
• Fault find on electrical/electronic components of refrigeration systems.
• Detect and rectify leaks; ensure regulatory compliance.
• Support commissioning and supervise third-party installations.

Skills

Electrical knowledge

Electrical qualification

CAT A

CAT B

Team management

Ammonia refrigeration

Vapor compression cycle

Contractor experience

FMCG experience

Cold storage knowledge

Education

Refrigeration Technician certification

Electrical/Electronic qualification

Tools

Mycom screw compressors

VSD drives

Ammonia pumps

OMNI panel

Job description

Refrigeration Technician

Sea Harvest is a proudly South African integrated fishing and food processing company, delivering quality seafood and food products to local and international markets. We are committed to sustainability, innovation and the development of our people.

An exciting opportunity exists for a suitably qualified and experienced Refrigeration Technician to join our team.

• DEPARTMENT – ASSET CARE
• SITE / LOCATION – SALDANHA
• REPORTING TO – REFRIGERATIION FOREMAN
• EMPLOYMENT TYPE – PERMANENT
• CLOSING DATE – 25 SEPTEMBER 2026

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Refrigeration Technician will be responsible for the complete scope of refrigeration work, primarily on ammonia systems and some Freon systems, including work on control systems (electrical and electronic)

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Maintaining main refrigeration plant rooms, distribution piping, valve stations, and associated controls.
• Servicing specific refrigeration equipment on processing lines, ice plants, slurry plants, air cooling equipment, and mechanical systems.
• Performing scheduled maintenance, ad hoc repairs, and project work.
• Guiding and training refrigeration shift operators for correct plant operation to achieve maximum energy efficiency and compliance with company specifications.
• Conducting equipment safety checks and reporting as per schedule.
• Servicing equipment according to CMMS schedules.
• Providing detailed feedback on work done, cause of failures, time taken, and spares used.
• Reporting modifications and their effects on equipment performance.
• Fault finding on refrigeration systems, including electrical and electronic components.
• Detecting and rectifying leaks.
• Ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; reporting deviations.
• Handling breakdowns and functional failures, including failure analysis.
• Proposing refrigeration plant design improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Supervising third-party construction/installation and assisting with commissioning.
• Working as part of multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Ensuring safe handling of refrigerant gases.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Qualified Refrigeration Technician with strong electrical/electronic knowledge and experience /
• Refrigeration Technician with an additional electrical/electronic qualification
• CAT A and CAT B is advantageous
• Minimum of 7 years post-qualification experience
• Minimum 5 years continuous experience managing a workshop or technical team ,FMCG / food processing environment experience preferred
• Strong experience with ammonia refrigeration systems
• Understanding of refrigeration vapour compression cycle
• Experience in a refrigeration services company (contractor) is advantageous.
• Extensive experience in FMCG businesses, preferably in the food industry.
• Working knowledge of ammonia refrigeration plants, including:
  • Single-stage Mycom screw compressors with thermosiphon oil cooling
  • VSD drives, ammonia pumps, valves, vessels, controls
  • Evaporative condensers, purges, and other system components
  • OMNI panel knowledge
• Knowledge of cold storage refrigeration systems.
• Familiarity with:
  • Trio skinning machines
  • Self-stacking spiral freezers
  • Belt freezers
  • Water and slurry ice makers
  • Air cooling systems
  • Freon refrigeration units and air conditioning systems
• Strong communication skills at all organizational levels.
• Excellent teamwork skills.
• Health, Safety and environmental conscious
• Experience in root cause analysis (5-why method) and structured problem-solving.
• Ongoing professional development in applicable skills and knowledge is advantageous.