Remote Senior Industrial Engineer - Automation & AI

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work support

Occasional travel to Limpopo/Polokwane

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa is seeking a Senior Industrial Engineer to drive digital transformation and automation across Polokwane and Limpopo. The role is remote-first, enabling collaboration with teams nationwide while supporting on-site operations when needed.

You will identify opportunities, build business cases, and lead the design, deployment, and optimization of automated systems with strong ROI. A focus on Industry 4.0, IoT and AI/ML is essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and 7+ years in industrial engineering with automation and digital transformation.
• Proven track record leading automation projects in manufacturing environments.
• Deep understanding of Industry 4.0 concepts, IoT, robotics, AI/ML, and data analytics.
• Proficiency with simulation software and digital modeling tools.
• Strong project management skills including planning, execution and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification and assessment of opportunities for digital transformation and automation within manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies such as IoT, AI, ML, robotics and advanced analytics for implementation.
• Develop business cases and proposals for automation initiatives with clear ROI.
• Collaborate with IT, engineering and operations to design, integrate and deploy automated systems and digital tools.
• Oversee implementation of automation projects ensuring integration with minimal disruption.
• Develop digital models and simulations of manufacturing processes to predict performance and optimize design.
• Establish KPIs to measure effectiveness of digital and automation solutions.
• Provide technical guidance and training on new technologies and systems.
• Stay updated on Industry 4.0 trends and cybersecurity/data governance policies.

Skills

Project management

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Remote collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

Job description

Placements24 in South Africa is seeking a Senior Industrial Engineer to drive digital transformation and automation across Polokwane and Limpopo. The role is remote-first, enabling collaboration with teams nationwide while supporting on-site operations when needed.

You will identify opportunities, build business cases, and lead the design, deployment, and optimization of automated systems with strong ROI. A focus on Industry 4.0, IoT and AI/ML is essential.