Technical Lead Engineer: Digitization/Control Systems, Pretoria

JOB PURPOSE

To serve as the senior technical authority within the Digitisation function, providing engineering leadership, technical governance, and architectural oversight across PLC, SCADA, industrial networks, historian, and reporting systems.

The incumbent is accountable for technical integrity, compliance with specifications, and adherence to ISO 9001 quality standards across all software and network deliverables.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical Leadership&Engineering Governance

Act as the technical lead across all digitisation and control system projects.

Define and enforce engineering standards, software development methodologies, and network design principles.

Review and approve PLC, SCADA, historian, reporting, and industrial network designs prior to implementation.

Provide structured technical guidance and mentorship to engineering personnel.

Ensure engineering outputs fully comply with client specifications and contractual technical requirements.

SYSTEMS AND NETWORK ARCHITECTURE AUTHORITY

Oversee system architecture design for PLC, SCADA, HMI, historian, and reporting platforms. Design and approve industrial communication network architectures, including:

Fibre optic backbone networks

Ethernet-based control networks

Industrial protocol implementations

Define fibre network topology, redundancy strategies (ring, star, hybrid), and segmentation principles.

Ensure appropriate selection and configuration of fibre media, switches, and network infrastructure components.

Validate integration strategies between OEM equipment, third‑party systems, and plant‑wide control architectures.

TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE&QUALITY ASSURANCE:

Ensure all engineering and network deliverables meet defined technical specifications.

Enforce adherence to ISO 9001 Quality Management System standards.

Approve QCP documentation for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).

Take technical responsibility for successful execution of software FAT.

Provide technical oversight during commissioning of PLC, SCADA, and network infrastructure systems

CLIENT&OEM TECHNICAL INTERFACE

Act as primary technical authority in engagements with clients and OEM suppliers.

Lead technical design reviews and architecture validation sessions.

Ensure OEM equipment integration aligns with approved control system and network architectures.

Resolve complex technical escalations during implementation and commissioning phases.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma in Electrical, Electronic, Computer, or Mechatronic Engineering.

Professional registration advantageous.

EXPERIENCE

Minimum 8–12 years’ experience in industrial automation and control systems engineering.

Proven experience in PLC, SCADA, and fibre network design and commissioning.

Demonstrated experience in industrial communication network architecture (Ethernet and fibre‑based systems).

Experience leading Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) for software and integrated control systems.

Strong exposure to multi‑vendor automation environments.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES PLC Platforms (Advanced Level)

Siemens

Rockwell (Allen‑Bradley)

Schneider Electric

SCADA / Supervisory Platforms (Advanced Level)

AVEVA / Wonderware

Ignition

Siemens

Schneider

Industrial Network&Fibre Design

Advanced understanding of fibre optic communication principles (single‑mode and multi‑mode).

Design of redundant fibre network topologies for industrial environments.

Configuration of managed industrial switches and network segmentation.

Implementation of industrial Ethernet architectures.

Network performance optimisation and fault diagnostics.

Additional Technical Expertise:

Industrial historian architecture and data acquisition principles.

Reporting systems and relational database fundamentals (SQL‑based environments).

Commissioning methodologies for PLC, SCADA, and network infrastructure.

Structured programming and modular software design principles.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

Strong systems‑thinking and architectural mindset.

High technical credibility and influence within engineering teams.

Detail‑oriented with strong quality and compliance focus.

Effective communicator at engineering, client, and OEM levels.

Decisive technical problem‑solving capability under operational pressure.

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