Remote Industrial Engineer - Digital Transformation Lead

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Health insurance

Home office allowance

Professional development

Flexible hours

Global team

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Industrial Engineer to lead digital transformation initiatives across global operations. You will drive Industry 4.0 adoption, leverage IoT, AI, and data analytics, and shape the roadmap for digital solutions in manufacturing and supply chains.

You will design data frameworks, build business cases, and guide cross-functional teams to deliver pilots and scale successful digital tools in a fully remote capacity.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field such as Industrial Engineering, Computer Science or Data Science.
• 7+ years of industrial engineering experience with 4+ years in digital transformation and Industry4.0.
• Proven experience implementing IoT, AI/ML, or advanced analytics in industrial settings.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing, automation, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital transformation strategies for industrial operations globally.
• Identify and evaluate IoT, AI, ML, digital twins for manufacturing use.
• Design data acquisition and analytics frameworks for advanced insights and predictive capabilities.
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses for digital projects.
• Collaborate with IT, engineering and operations teams worldwide for seamless integration.
• Oversee pilots and POCs for new digital tools and platforms.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering

Master’s degree in Computer Science

Data Science or related field

Tools

Python

SQL

R

IoT platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a globally recognized leader in industrial automation solutions and is looking for a visionary Remote Industrial Engineer to serve as a Digital Transformation Lead. This role is critical in driving the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, advanced analytics, and digital solutions across our client's global operations. As a fully remote position, you will leverage your expertise to design and implement strategies that enhance operational efficiency, productivity, and decision‑making through digital integration. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of industrial engineering principles, coupled with extensive experience in digital transformation initiatives, IoT, AI, and data science within industrial settings. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of manufacturing and operations from a remote capacity, working with cutting‑edge technologies and influencing strategic direction across the organization. Your role will involve collaborating with distributed teams, identifying digital opportunities, developing roadmaps, and overseeing pilot projects to ensure successful adoption of new digital tools and methodologies. Your passion for innovation and digital solutions will be key to driving impactful change.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of digital transformation strategies for industrial operations.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies (IoT, AI, machine learning, digital twins) for application in manufacturing and supply chains.
• Design and implement data acquisition and analytics frameworks to enable advanced insights and predictive capabilities.
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses for digital transformation projects.
• Collaborate with IT, engineering, and operations teams globally to ensure seamless integration of digital solutions.
• Oversee pilot projects and proof‑of‑concepts for new digital tools and platforms.
• Establish best practices and standards for digital implementation and data management.
• Provide technical guidance and training on digital technologies and methodologies to distributed teams.
• Monitor industry trends and advancements in digital manufacturing and automation.
• Drive a culture of data‑driven decision‑making and continuous innovation.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in industrial engineering, with at least 4 years focused on digital transformation, Industry4.0, and advanced analytics.
• Proven experience in implementing IoT solutions, AI/ML models, or other advanced data analytics in industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, automation, and operational excellence principles.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and project management skills, with experience managing remote and global teams.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools and programming languages (e.g., Python, R, SQL).
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive change within a large organization.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for industrial data is a plus.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance‑based bonus.
• Comprehensive remote work benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous allowance for home office setup and professional development.
• Flexible working hours to accommodate different time zones.
• Opportunities to work with state‑of‑the‑art digital technologies and drive global change.
• Continuous learning opportunities and support for attending virtual conferences and training.
• A truly global and inclusive work environment.
• Direct impact on shaping the digital future of a leading industrial company.
• Company‑provided laptop and necessary software licenses.
• Regular virtual team‑building activities and social events.