Technical Assistant

WATEN Process Engineering (Pty); Emfuleni Local Municipality; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A consulting firm specializing in water engineering is offering a temporary graduate assignment in Gauteng. The successful candidate will receive mentorship from experienced professionals while gaining hands-on project experience. Responsibilities include data analysis, technical support, and project administration. A degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related fields is required, along with strong Excel and technical writing skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Water & Sanitation required.
• Strong Excel knowledge with formulas, lookups, and pivot tables.
• Clear technical writing and presentation skills are essential.
• SA work authorisation and a valid driver’s licence are advantages.

Responsibilities

• Compile and clean plant, lab, and SCADA data.
• Assist with Process Flow Diagrams and equipment lists.
• Support site visits and sampling during operations.
• Create client-ready documents in Word and PowerPoint.
• Maintain project calendars and deliverable trackers.

Skills

Excel

Technical writing

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry

Bachelor’s degree in Water & Sanitation

Job description

Company Description

WATEN Process Engineering (Pty) is a South African consulting firm specializing in sustainable water and wastewater process engineering for municipalities and industry. We assist teams from feasibility to reliable operations, solving compliance issues and unlocking circular value through water reuse and sludge beneficiation. Our services encompass feasibility studies, process design, resource recovery, operational support, regulatory readiness, and training. With over 20 years of practical experience, we focus on delivering measurable gains in compliance, throughput, and cost-performance.

Job Description

• This is a temporary graduate assignment that may transition into a 12-month renewable contract based on performance.
• We are seeking graduates who have completed their degree and are currently not in permanent employment, but are seeking hands‑on project experience while awaiting a permanent position.
• The successful candidate will receive direct mentorship from the Managing Director and the Lead Process Engineer at WATEN Process Engineering (Pty) Ltd.

Responsibilities

• Data, Analysis & Modeling - Compile and clean plant, lab, and SCADA data, and conduct quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). Build and update mass balances and simple sizing sheets.
• Design & Technical Support - Assist with Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Block Flow Diagrams, equipment lists, and preliminary layouts. Gather vendor information and prepare technology screening and benchmarking summaries.
• Operations & Fieldwork - Support site visits and sampling. Assist in drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), checklists, and troubleshooting/optimization guides.
• Documentation & Communication - Create client-ready sections in Word, figures in PowerPoint, and tables in Excel and Word. Take meeting minutes, track action items, and maintain organized shared folders.
• Project Administration - Maintain project calendars, stakeholder/contact lists, and deliverable trackers. Contribute to proposal and bid inputs.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Water & Sanitation (or closely related).
• Strong Excel (formulas, lookups, pivot tables, charts) knowledge.
• Clear technical writing and presentation skills.
• SA work authorisation. A valid driver’s licence is an advantage.