Senior Automation Engineer - PLC/SCADA & Robotics (Hybrid)

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Pension fund

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development & certs

Exposure to diverse projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer for a hybrid role based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, ZA. Design, implement and maintain PLC, HMI and SCADA systems to improve efficiency, safety and product quality across industrial applications.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechatronics and 5+ years in industrial automation, with hands-on PLC programming (Siemens TIA Portal, Allen-Bradley Studio 5000), VFDs, servo drives, and robotics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation engineering.
• Proficiency in PLC programming and HMI/SCADA development.
• Experience with Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus.
• Knowledge of VFDs, servo drives, and basic robotics.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Willingness to work a hybrid schedule.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and implement PLC and HMI systems for industrial automation processes.
• Develop and integrate SCADA systems for monitoring and control of plant operations.
• Configure and commission VFDs, servo drives, and robotic components.
• Troubleshoot and resolve automation system issues, minimizing downtime.
• Collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Develop and maintain system documentation (P&IDs, electrical drawings, programming code).
• Conduct feasibility studies and recommend improvements for existing automation systems.
• Stay current with new automation technologies and industry best practices.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechatronics

Tools

Siemens TIA Portal

Allen-Bradley Studio 5000

HMI/SCADA development

VFDs/servo drives

Robotics

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer for a hybrid role based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, ZA. Design, implement and maintain PLC, HMI and SCADA systems to improve efficiency, safety and product quality across industrial applications.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechatronics and 5+ years in industrial automation, with hands-on PLC programming (Siemens TIA Portal, Allen-Bradley Studio 5000), VFDs, servo drives, and robotics.