Senior Mechanical Engineer - Plant & Equipment

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Relocation aid

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Bonus

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to oversee maintenance, reliability, and optimization of plant equipment near Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. You will lead a team, develop maintenance strategies, manage capital projects, and ensure safety and environmental compliance in a heavy industrial setting.

The role emphasizes leadership, engineering excellence, and a strategic approach to uptime. Hybrid work arrangements are available, with relocation support for successful candidates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, with professional registration preferred.
• 8+ years in mechanical engineering with 5+ years in a supervisory role in mining or processing.
• Proven experience in plant maintenance, reliability engineering, and project management.
• Strong knowledge of rotating equipment, hydraulics, pneumatics, and CMMS.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement mechanical maintenance and reliability strategies.
• Lead engineers and maintenance staff to ensure uptime.
• Oversee RCFA and implement corrective actions.
• Manage equipment installation, upgrades and overhauls within budget.
• Ensure safety and environmental compliance for mechanical operations.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Maintenance strategy

RCFA

Predictive maintenance

Vibration analysis

CMMS

Hydraulics & pneumatics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Pr.Eng registration preferred

Tools

CMMS software

Condition monitoring tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a major player in the mining and minerals processing industry, seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to oversee the maintenance, reliability, and optimization of plant equipment in their operations near Nelspruit, Mpumalanga . This role requires a strategic approach to ensuring the maximum uptime and efficiency of critical mechanical systems and machinery. You will be responsible for leading a team of engineers and technicians, developing maintenance strategies, managing capital expenditure projects for equipment upgrades, and ensuring adherence to stringent safety and environmental standards. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in heavy industrial environments, particularly in mining or processing plants.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive mechanical maintenance and reliability strategies for plant equipment.
• Lead and mentor a team of mechanical engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel.
• Oversee root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Manage projects related to equipment installation, upgrades, and overhauls, ensuring completion on time and within budget.
• Conduct performance analysis of mechanical systems and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations pertaining to mechanical operations.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, including operational and capital expenditure.
• Collaborate with operations, procurement, and engineering departments to optimize equipment lifecycle management.
• Stay updated on best practices in mechanical engineering, condition monitoring, and predictive maintenance technologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in mechanical engineering, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or senior role within heavy industry (mining, processing, or manufacturing).
• Proven experience in plant maintenance, reliability engineering, and project management.
• Strong understanding of rotating equipment, fixed plant machinery, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
• Knowledge of condition monitoring techniques (e.g., vibration analysis, thermography) and CMMS software.
• Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities, with the capacity to manage diverse teams.
• Commitment to health, safety, and environmental best practices.
• Professional Engineer (Pr.Eng) registration is strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary with excellent bonus structures and benefits.
• Comprehensive medical aid, life insurance, and retirement fund.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement and professional development in a leading industry player.
• Challenging and rewarding work environment near Nelspruit, Mpumalanga , with hybrid work arrangements.
• Relocation assistance available for successful candidates.