Senior Remote Industrial Automation Engineer

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Professional development opportunities

Remote work tools and support

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Industrial Automation Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of automated systems for a remote engineering team. The role emphasizes robotics, PLC/SCADA programming, and data acquisition to improve throughput and reduce costs.

You will mentor junior engineers, architect scalable automation solutions, and collaborate with cross-functional teams across engineering, production, and maintenance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Industrial engineering or related field; Master's preferred.
• Minimum 6 years progressive experience in industrial automation engineering.
• Proficiency in PLC programming (Siemens/Allen-Bradley), HMI/SCADA development, and robotics programming (FANUC/KUKA).
• Strong understanding of industrial networks, data acquisition, and control systems.
• Experience with process control, system integration, and troubleshooting complex automated machinery.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with proven remote work ability.
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and commission automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and robotics.
• Develop automation strategies and roadmaps aligned with business goals.
• Lead integration of new automation technologies into existing processes.
• Troubleshoot automation issues remotely in collaboration with on-site teams.
• Create and maintain technical documentation such as P&IDs and electrical schematics.
• Conduct feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses for projects.
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers and technicians.
• Stay current with Industry 4.0 and related technologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a virtual environment.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA development

Robotics programming

Data acquisition

Industrial automation design

Mentorship/leadership

Project management

Remote collaboration

Industry 4.0 concepts

Engineering fundamentals

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

FANUC robotics

KUKA robotics

HMI/SCADA tooling

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Industrial Automation Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of automated systems for a remote engineering team. The role emphasizes robotics, PLC/SCADA programming, and data acquisition to improve throughput and reduce costs.

You will mentor junior engineers, architect scalable automation solutions, and collaborate with cross-functional teams across engineering, production, and maintenance.