Remote Lead Industrial Automation Engineer – PLC & Robotics

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Professional growth & certifications

Company equipment provided

Generous leave

Job summary

WhatJobs Direct is seeking a Lead Industrial Automation Engineer to spearhead remote automation initiatives for clients near Centurion, Gauteng. You will design, implement, and manage advanced automated systems, lead a remote team, and mentor junior engineers from a home office.

The role demands deep PLC/SCADA and robotics knowledge, strong leadership, and excellent communication to coordinate across clients and internal stakeholders in a distributed setup.

Qualifications

• 7+ years progressive experience in industrial automation engineering
• 2+ years in lead or supervisory role
• Proven expertise in PLC programming and HMI/SCADA development

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and implementation of automation systems (PLCs, SCADA, robotics, HMI)
• Oversee integration of new automation technologies into processes
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and budgets for remote automation projects
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to remote engineers and technicians
• Conduct detailed system analysis and troubleshooting for complex automation challenges
• Ensure systems meet performance, safety, and quality standards
• Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to define automation requirements
• Develop and maintain documentation (P&IDs, schematics, software code)
• Stay current with emerging automation technologies and best practices
• Conduct remote commissioning and testing with on-site teams when needed
• Evaluate and recommend automation hardware and software solutions

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Tools

Siemens PLC

Rockwell PLC

HMI/SCADA

Profinet

Ethernet/IP

Job description

WhatJobs Direct is seeking a Lead Industrial Automation Engineer to spearhead remote automation initiatives for clients near Centurion, Gauteng. You will design, implement, and manage advanced automated systems, lead a remote team, and mentor junior engineers from a home office.

The role demands deep PLC/SCADA and robotics knowledge, strong leadership, and excellent communication to coordinate across clients and internal stakeholders in a distributed setup.