Site Engineer

Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers Limited; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,250,000; Full time

Job summary

Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers Limited seeks an experienced Maintenance Engineering leader for the Parow site. You will oversee reliability, efficiency, and safety across print and packaging machinery, collaborating with production and management to maximise uptime and quality in a high-volume environment.

The role requires 5–10+ years in engineering maintenance, a strong safety mindset, and hands-on PLC/automation exposure.

Qualifications

• National Diploma or BTech in Electrical or Mechatronics engineering.
• 5–10+ years engineering maintenance in high-speed manufacturing.
• Experience in printing, packaging, FMCG or similar automated environments.
• Strong OH&S understanding and compliance experience.
• Diagnostics and automation exposure (PLC, drives).
• Reading technical drawings and machine manuals.
• Leadership, planning, and clear communication at all levels.
• Budgeting, supplier negotiation, and cost-control mindset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance plans.
• Monitor machine performance, downtime trends and root cause analyses.
• Maintain spare parts plans and critical stock strategy.
• Provide hands-on support for breakdowns and urgent issues.
• Maintain and optimise presses, finishing lines and auxiliary equipment.
• Oversee equipment installations, upgrades, relocations and commissioning.
• Collaborate on major Capex projects with Group Engineering.
• Ensure compliance with OH&S, SANS, fire prevention and guarding standards.
• Lead artisans, technicians and apprentices; manage shift maintenance.
• Drive cost reduction in energy, spares usage and contractor spend.
• Participate in audits and maintain documentation of service records.

Skills

Leadership

Planning & prioritisation

Effective communication

People management

Coaching

Data‑driven decision making

Budgeting & supplier negotiation

Diagnostics & automation exposure

OH&S understanding

Education

National Diploma or BTech / Degree in Electrical or Mechatronics

Tools

PLC programming

Automation software

Electrical testing tools

Job description

This role will have overall engineering and maintenance responsibility for CTP’s Parow site, which comprises the CTP Newspapers, CTP Printers, and SA Litho Labels printing and packaging divisions. The incumbent will ensure the reliability, efficiency, and safety of all plant machinery, equipment, and infrastructure across the site, supporting the operational requirements of each division. The role requires close collaboration with production and operational management to maintain high equipment availability, consistent product quality, and uninterrupted production in a high-volume print manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Strategy & Uptime

• Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance plans.
• Monitor machine performance, downtime trends, and implement root cause analysis.
• Maintain spare parts plans and critical stock strategy.

Machinery & Technical Support

• Provide hands‑on support for breakdowns and urgent technical issues.
• Maintain and optimise all presses, finishing lines and auxiliary equipment and systems

Asset Lifecycle & Capex

• Manage equipment installations, upgrades, relocations, and commissioning.
• Support evaluation of machinery upgrades vs refurbishment vs replacement.
• Work with Group Engineering on major Capex projects.

Compliance, Safety & Standards

• Ensure compliance with:
  • Occupational Health & Safety Act
  • SANS electrical & safety standards
  • Fire prevention and machinery guarding
• Maintain service records and statutory inspections (boilers, lifts, pressure vessels, etc.).
• Participate in internal/external safety and engineering audits.
• Manage lock‑out procedures, risk assessments, and environmental controls.
• Incumbent will be required to be appointed as a GMR2.

Team Management & Skills Development

• Lead and coach artisans, technicians, and apprentices.
• Manage shift maintenance responsiveness.
• Promote continuous improvement culture (Lean, TPM, 5S).

Cost & Resource Management

• Drive cost reduction across:
  • Energy and utilities
  • Spares consumption
  • Contractor usage
• Manage maintenance budget & suppliers.

Collaboration

• Work closely with:
  • General Managers
  • Production Managers
  • Quality & SHE
  • Planning and Procurement
• Contribute to operational meetings with data‑driven insights.

Qualifications & Experience

• National Diploma or BTech / Degree in Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering
• 5–10+ years engineering maintenance experience in high‑speed manufacturing
• Preferably from printing, packaging, FMCG, or equivalent automated production environment
• Strong understanding of Occupational Health & Safety
• Technical
  • Strong understanding of lithographic and finishing equipment
  • Diagnostics and automation exposure (PLC, drives)
  • Mechanical/electrical troubleshooting
  • Reading technical drawings and machine manuals
• Leadership
  • People management and coaching capability
  • Strong planning and prioritisation
  • Effective communication at all levels
• Commercial
  • Budgeting and supplier negotiation skills
  • Analytical and data‑driven decision making