Senior Electrical Maintenance Engineer - Industrial Plants

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Medical aid

Retirement fund contribution

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Electrical Maintenance Engineer for an industrial facility in East London, Eastern Cape. You will oversee the maintenance and operational integrity of electrical systems, including high- and low-voltage networks, control systems, and plant machinery.

You will lead a maintenance team, develop proactive strategies, manage contractors during shutdowns, ensure safety compliance, and drive continuous improvement to reduce downtime.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in electrical maintenance in industrial manufacturing or process plant.
• Electrical engineering degree or diploma.
• Experience with PLCs, HMIs, and VSDs; knowledge of high/low voltage distribution.
• Strong leadership, diagnostics, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage maintenance strategies (preventive, predictive, corrective).
• Lead and train a team of electrical maintenance technicians.
• Troubleshoot faults on industrial machinery, PLCs, HMIs, and power distribution networks.
• Oversee inspections, audits, and safety compliance (LOTO, OHSA).
• Coordinate with contractors during shutdowns and capital projects.

Skills

Electrical maintenance

Team leadership

Safety compliance

RCM principles

Education

Electrical Engineering degree (or Diploma)

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

HMI

VSDs

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent industrial manufacturing group, is seeking a Senior Electrical Maintenance Engineer to oversee the maintenance and operational integrity of electrical systems and equipment at their facility in East London, Eastern Cape . This pivotal role involves ensuring the continuous and safe operation of all electrical infrastructure, including high-voltage systems, control systems, and plant machinery. You will lead the maintenance team, implement proactive maintenance strategies, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance reliability and reduce downtime. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in industrial electrical maintenance, a strong understanding of safety protocols, and excellent leadership abilities. This is a chance to make a significant contribution to a vital industry in the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive electrical maintenance strategies, including preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Lead, train, and supervise a team of electrical maintenance technicians, ensuring efficient task allocation and performance monitoring.
• Troubleshoot and repair complex electrical faults on industrial machinery, control systems (PLCs, VSDs), and power distribution networks.
• Conduct regular inspections and audits of electrical installations and equipment to ensure compliance with safety standards and operational requirements.
• Manage spare parts inventory, ensuring availability of critical components and optimizing stock levels.
• Oversee and manage electrical contractor activities during planned shutdowns or major repair works.
• Analyze maintenance data to identify trends, root causes of failures, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure all maintenance activities are performed in accordance with safety regulations (e.g., OHSA) and company policies.
• Participate in capital project planning and execution related to electrical system upgrades and installations.

Requirements

• National Diploma or Degree in Electrical Engineering (Heavy Current or Industrial).
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in electrical maintenance within an industrial manufacturing or process plant environment.
• Proven experience with industrial control systems, PLCs (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley), HMI, and VSDs.
• Strong knowledge of high-voltage and low-voltage power distribution systems.
• Familiarity with safety procedures, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and risk assessments.
• Experience in leading and motivating technical teams.
• Excellent diagnostic, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Good understanding of reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) principles.
• Strong communication and report-writing abilities.
• Based in or willing to relocate to East London .

Benefits

• Our client provides a competitive salary, supplemented by performance bonuses, comprehensive medical aid, and a substantial retirement fund contribution.
• This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, blending essential on-site operational leadership with the flexibility for off-site planning and reporting.
• Professional development and training are actively encouraged.