Lead Project Enegineer

Cape Town, South Africa | Posted on 06/03/2026

Copper Quail’s objective is to become a trusted partner within our clients’ organizations in Africa, understanding not only the people at their heart, but also their culture and ethos. We are Recruitment Advisors, specializing in Executive Search, Contingency Recruitment, Headhunting, Outsourced Labour and training. Using our significant market knowledge across, experience and judgement to help our clients employ the best qualified individuals for each position in Africa.

We’re known for our successful track record, responsiveness and discretion. We have a high performance culture and employ only experienced recruiters. These knowledgeable professionals provide a high level of service, deliver effective solutions and foster successful relationships through regular conversations with clients and candidates.

Our client, a well‑established international EPCM business, is on the hunt for a seasoned Lead Project Engineer with 15+ years behind them in mining construction to step into a senior role within their fast‑paced Cape Town team.

With a global footprint and a strong presence in mining, energy, and heavy industrial projects, the group is known for delivering complex engineering and project delivery work to a high standard. You’ll work shoulder to shoulder with some of the industry’s sharpest technical minds on major projects — the kind of platform that can genuinely take a career global.

• Pull together multidisciplinary engineering inputs and keep the technical picture aligned across every design package
• Track and manage engineering deliverables to keep them on schedule, on budget, and to spec
• Make sure designs hold to client specifications, industry codes, and regulatory requirements
• Help shape engineering standards, design criteria, specifications, and technical documentation
• Build and maintain project execution plans, schedules, and engineering work breakdowns
• Drive scope definition, change control, and interface resolution between disciplines and stakeholders
• Work with vendors to clarify technical requirements, scrutinise vendor data, and confirm compliance with project specs
• Run vendor document reviews and fold vendor information cleanly into the design deliverables
• Lend technical support through construction and commissioning
• Embed safety‑in‑design thinking and risk‑reduction measures into every deliverable
• Champion compliance with SANS and international design codes

• Degree in Mechanical, Civil, or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent) from a recognised institution
• 10–20 years’ postgraduate experience in a comparable role, underpinned by a solid mining construction background
• ECSA registration as a Professional Engineer or Professional Engineering Technologist is a plus
• South African citizen or permanent resident, based in Cape Town
• Exceptional written and verbal communication
• A natural at building and holding strong relationships with clients, vendors, and colleagues
• Sharp technical, analytical, and problem‑solving instincts
• Comfortable running with minimal oversight while keeping deliverable quality high
• A track record of hitting high standards within tight budget and schedule constraints

• Hands‑on exposure to international projects within a leading EPCM group
• A career‑defining role with mentorship from genuine industry experts
• Flexible working to fit around family, study, or other commitments
• Cover for professional memberships, plus access to discount and reward programmes
• A culture that takes career progression and technical growth seriously