Senior Electrical & Automation Design Engineer

Job Title: Senior Electrical & Automation Design Engineer
Location:
Southern Suburbs - Western Cape
Industry: Water Treatment | Industrial Automation | Engineering
Type: Full-Time / Environment:
Fast-paced, project-driven, engineering-focused

About the Role
Our client, a leader in sustainable water and wastewater treatment solutions, is seeking a Senior Electrical & Automation Design Engineer to join their engineering team. This role is ideally suited to a technically strong, hands-on engineer who enjoys taking ownership of projects from initial concept and design through to installation, commissioning, and final handover. Working across a variety of industrial water treatment projects, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing robust electrical and automation solutions while supporting the delivery of technically complex systems throughout the full project lifecycle.

Working closely with Mechanical, Process, Project Management and Operations teams, the role requires strong electrical design capability, PLC and SCADA programming expertise, and a proactive approach to solving technical challenges both in the workshop and on client sites.

What you’ll be doing

• Design electrical control systems and develop detailed electrical schematics using EPLAN (preferred) or similar electrical CAD software.
• Develop and maintain PLC software using Siemens TIA Portal and/or Rockwell Studio 5000 platforms.
• Design, develop and configure SCADA and HMI applications for industrial process control systems.
• Produce electrical panel layouts, wiring diagrams, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and supporting manufacturing documentation.
• Select appropriate electrical and automation components while supporting procurement activities.
• Perform Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), workshop testing, and system validation prior to delivery.
• Provide installation support, commissioning, start-up assistance, and technical troubleshooting on customer sites.
• Diagnose and resolve electrical and automation faults during commissioning and operational support.
• Develop, improve and maintain company electrical engineering standards, documentation, and best practices.
• Collaborate closely with Mechanical, Process and Project Engineers to ensure seamless integration of multidisciplinary designs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable electrical standards, safety regulations, and engineering quality requirements.
• Prepare technical documentation, operating manuals, test reports, and commissioning documentation.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives through standardization and optimisation of electrical and automation designs.
• Travel to project sites as required to support installation, commissioning, testing, and client handover activities.

What you’ll need

• BEng, BTech or National Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' experience within industrial automation or control systems engineering (8+ years preferred).
• Strong experience in industrial electrical design and schematic development.
• Proficiency in EPLAN or similar electrical design software.
• Experience programming PLCs using Siemens TIA Portal and/or Rockwell Studio 5000.
• Practical experience developing SCADA and HMI systems.
• Strong understanding of industrial instrumentation including:
• 4–20 mA instrumentation
• RTDs
• Modbus
• Profinet
• Ethernet/IP
• Industrial communications networks
• Experience with MCCs, Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), motor control systems, and industrial control panels.
• Ability to perform electrical fault finding, commissioning, and system optimisation.
• Strong understanding of electrical standards, control philosophies, and industrial automation best practices.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and take ownership of engineering deliverables.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel for commissioning and site support when required.
• South African citizen or legally eligible to work in South Africa.

Suitable Industry Backgrounds
Candidates with experience in one or more of the following industries are encouraged to apply:

• OEM Machine Building
• Industrial Automation
• Water &…