Senior Instrumentation Technician - Port Elizabeth

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Provident fund

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Instrumentation Technician for an on-site role in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The role focuses on ensuring reliable operation of process control systems, calibration, and maintenance across plant areas.

Ideal candidates will have 7+ years of instrumentation experience in petrochemical settings, strong troubleshooting skills, and proficiency with PLC/DCS and SIS concepts. Safety and precision are essential in this hands-on position.

Qualifications

• National Diploma in Instrumentation Technology, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent trade qualification.
• Minimum 7 years of experience as an Instrumentation Technician in an industrial plant environment.
• Proven experience with calibration of field instruments and control valves.
• In-depth knowledge of PID control, PLC/DCS systems, and SIS principles.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for complex instrumentation and control system issues.

Responsibilities

• Install, calibrate, maintain, and repair instrumentation and control systems.
• Troubleshoot faults in control loops, PLCs, DCS, and SIS.
• Perform preventative maintenance for instrumentation.
• Read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, loop diagrams, and manuals.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and safety procedures.
• Document maintenance activities and calibration records.
• Provide technical guidance to junior technicians and operators.
• Adhere to site safety regulations at the Port Elizabeth plant.

Skills

Instrumentation maintenance

Calibration of field instruments

Troubleshooting

Reading P&IDs

Safety compliance

Education

National Diploma in Instrumentation Technology / Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLC/DCS systems

SIS (Safety Instrumented Systems)

Electrical schematics

P&IDs

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major player in the petrochemical industry located in **Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape**, is looking for a Senior Instrumentation Technician to ensure the accurate and reliable operation of their process control systems. This role is critical for maintaining the safety, efficiency, and quality of production processes. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of instrumentation, calibration, troubleshooting, and maintenance of complex process control equipment, sensors, and actuators. You will be involved in both routine maintenance and complex diagnostic and repair tasks across various plant areas. This is a hands‑on, on‑site position within a challenging industrial environment in **Port Elizabeth**, offering the opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technology and contribute significantly to the operational success of a key industry player in the **Eastern Cape**.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, calibrate, maintain, and repair a wide range of instrumentation and control systems, including pressure, temperature, flow, and level transmitters.
• Troubleshoot and diagnose faults in control loops, PLCs, DCS, and safety instrumented systems (SIS).
• Perform routine preventative maintenance tasks on instrumentation to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
• Read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, loop diagrams, and technical manuals.
• Ensure all instrumentation work complies with industry standards and company safety procedures.
• Work with various types of instrumentation, including analogue and digital devices, smart transmitters, and control valves.
• Participate in plant shutdowns and turnarounds, carrying out planned maintenance and modifications.
• Document all maintenance activities, calibration records, and repair reports accurately.
• Provide technical support and guidance to junior technicians and operators.
• Adhere strictly to all site safety regulations and procedures specific to the **Port Elizabeth** plant.

Requirements

• National Diploma in Instrumentation Technology, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent trade qualification (e.g., Red Seal Instrumentation Technician).
• Minimum of 7 years of experience as an Instrumentation Technician in an industrial plant environment, preferably petrochemical or chemical processing.
• Proven experience with calibration of field instruments (pressure, temperature, flow, level) and control valves.
• In-depth knowledge of PID control, PLC/DCS systems, and SIS principles.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting P&IDs, electrical schematics, and instrumentation loop diagrams.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for complex instrumentation and control system issues.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to safety.
• A valid driver\'s license is required for potential site movements within the **Eastern Cape**.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary, reflecting seniority and expertise.
• Comprehensive medical aid and provident fund contributions.
• Performance-based bonuses and incentives.
• Opportunities for further training and professional development in advanced instrumentation technologies.
• Subsidized site amenities and canteen services.
• A secure and challenging role within a leading industrial enterprise in **Port Elizabeth**.