REFRIGERATION TECHNICIAN

Sea Harvest; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Sea Harvest invites a qualified Refrigeration Technician to join the Asset Care team at Saldanha. You will manage ammonia and Freon systems, control systems, and supervise shift operators, ensuring safe, efficient operation across processing lines.

The role emphasizes maintenance planning, problem solving, and collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams to uphold quality and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years post-qualification experience.
• Qualified Refrigeration Technician with strong electrical knowledge.
• Experience in FMCG/food processing is preferred.
• Ammonia refrigeration systems expertise is essential.
• Contractor experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Maintain main refrigeration plant rooms and associated controls.
• Service equipment on processing lines, ice and slurry plants, air cooling systems.
• Perform scheduled maintenance and ad hoc repairs.
• Guide shift operators for energy efficiency and compliance.

Skills

Electrical & electronic knowledge

Ammonia refrigeration experience

FMCG/food processing experience

Team leadership / workshop management

Problem solving / root cause analysis

Education

CAT A certification

CAT B certification

Electrical qualification

Tools

Mycom screw compressors

VSD drives

OMNI panel knowledge

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.