MV Electrical Engineer

JOB PROFILE: MEDIUM VOLTAGE (MV) ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

1. JOB PURPOSE

To provide specialist technical engineering services to ensure a safe, reliable, efficient and compliant electricity supply and distribution system within the factory. The role is responsible for managing medium-voltage up to 6.6kV electrical infrastructure, maintaining compliance with applicable legislation and electricity supply licence requirements, managing relationships with electricity suppliers (such as ESKOM and City Power, the service provider of the City of Johannesburg municipality), and coordinating online and offline maintenance programmes as part of the AECI MV Electrical department to optimise plant availability and operational reliability.

2. KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Electricity Supply and Distribution

• Provide technical engineering services to ensure an adequate, reliable and continuous electricity supply in accordance with applicable electricity licence conditions, supply agreements and statutory requirements.
• Manage relationships with electricity suppliers (such as ESKOM and City Power, the service provider of the City of Johannesburg municipality), to optimise plant availability, operational reliability as well as quality and continuity of electricity supply and distribution system.
• Monitor electricity supply performance, power quality, demand, consumption and system capacity to identify and address potential operational risks, and coordinating online and offline maintenance programmes as part of the AECI MV Electrical department
• Investigate electricity supply interruptions, voltage fluctuations, power quality issues and electrical network failures, and implement appropriate corrective and preventative measures.
• Provide technical advice on electricity supply capacity, network upgrades, load management and infrastructure development to support current and future factory operations.

MV Electrical Infrastructure and Asset Management

• Manage the integrity, availability and performance of medium-voltage electrical infrastructure, including substations, transformers, switchgear, protection systems, cables and associated equipment.
• Develop and maintain electrical asset management strategies, maintenance plans and lifecycle replacement programmes.
• Ensure that electrical equipment is operated and maintained in accordance with approved engineering standards, manufacturer specifications and applicable legislation.
• Identify critical electrical assets and implement risk-based maintenance and reliability improvement initiatives.

• Oversee electrical infrastructure inspections, testing, condition assessments and technical audits.Identify critical electrical spares and ensure appropriate maintenance planning to reduce equipment downtime.

Maintenance Planning and Coordination

• Coordinate and oversee online and offline electrical maintenance programmes to ensure equipment reliability and minimise unplanned production interruptions.
• Develop maintenance schedules, outage plans and shutdown programmes in collaboration with production, engineering and maintenance teams.
• Ensure that maintenance activities are properly planned, resourced, executed and documented.
• Monitor maintenance performance, equipment failures and recurring defects, and implement corrective actions to improve plant availability.
• Coordinate contractors and specialist service providers undertaking MV electrical maintenance, inspections, testing and repairs.
• Ensure that maintenance work is performed in accordance with approved procedures, risk assessments, permit-to-work systems and electrical safety requirements

Electricity Supply and Utility Management

• Manage technical relationships with electricity suppliers, including Eskom and City Power.
• Coordinate technical engagements relating to electricity supply interruptions, network constraints, supply quality and infrastructure upgrades.
• Monitor electricity supply performance and investigate recurring supply-related disturbances.
• Liaise with utility representatives regarding planned outages, maintenance activities, connection requirements and supply agreements.
• Ensure that factory electrical infrastructure complies with the technical requirements of the relevant electricity supply authority.
• Identify opportunities to improve electricity supply efficiency, resilience and continuity.

Electrical Safety, Legal Compliance and Risk Management

• P Ensure compliance with applicable occupational health and safety legislation, electrical installation requirements, electricity supply licence conditions and relevant engineering standards.
• Maintain appropriate electrical safety procedures for the operation and maintenance of MV installations.
• Ensure that switching operations, isolations, earthing and access to electrical equipment are performed by authorised and competent personnel in accordance with approved procedures.
• Identify, assess and mitigate electrical risks associated with MV equipment, installations, maintenance activities and operational changes.
• Investigate electrical incidents, equipment failures and near misses, and implement corrective and preventative actions.

• Ensure that statutory inspections, testing, technical records and required documentation are maintained and available for audit.

Technical Engineering and Continuous Improvement

• Provide specialist technical support to factory operations, engineering and maintenance teams on MV electrical systems and associated infrastructure.
• Conduct technical investigations and root-cause analyses of electrical failures and recurring reliability issues.
• Develop and implement engineering solutions to improve electrical system reliability, energy efficiency, safety and operational performance.
• Evaluate new technologies, equipment specifications and engineering designs for electrical infrastructure upgrades and capital projects.
• Review technical drawings, specifications, commissioning plans and contractor deliverables to ensure compliance with engineering requirements.
• Support energy management initiatives, electricity cost optimisation and initiatives to reduce electrical losses and improve power utilisation.

Project and Contractor Management

• Provide technical input into electrical engineering projects, plant modifications, infrastructure upgrades and capital expenditure proposals.
• Prepare or review technical scopes of work, specifications, cost estimates and project execution plans.
• Coordinate contractor activities and monitor performance against approved technical, safety, quality, cost and schedule requirements.
• Participate in the commissioning, testing and handover of new or modified electrical installations.
• Ensure that engineering changes are appropriately assessed, authorised, documented and incorporated into the factory's electrical asset records.

Reporting and Stakeholder Management

• Compile and maintain reports on electrical system performance, maintenance activities, supply interruptions, equipment reliability and compliance.
• Monitor relevant engineering performance indicators, including electrical downtime, maintenance compliance, equipment availability and electricity consumption.
• Communicate electrical supply risks, maintenance requirements and operational constraints to relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, maintenance, procurement, finance, external electricity suppliers and regulatory authorities, where applicable.

• Provide technical recommendations to management to support operational planning, risk mitigation and long-term infrastructure sustainability.
• Build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external electricity supply authorities.

3. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications:

• National Diploma in Electrical Engineering / Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering,
• Must have a Government Certificate of Competence (GCC) - Electrical.
• Registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) will be an advantage.
• Code B driver’s licence

Experience:

• Minimum 3-5 years' relevant electrical engineering experience within a manufacturing or factory electrical engineering environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing medium-voltage electrical distribution systems, preferably up to 6.6kV.
• Experience in electrical maintenance planning, power distribution, protection systems and equipment reliability.
• Experience engaging with electricity suppliers, municipalities and external service providers.
• Experience in engineering project management, technical specifications and contractor management.
• Working knowledge of applicable South African electrical legislation, regulations and engineering standards.
• Knowledge of applicable South African electrical legislation, occupational health and safety requirements and relevant engineering standards.
• Intermediate MS Projects

4. TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCIES

• Medium-voltage electrical distribution systems and power networks.
• Electrical protection systems, switchgear, transformers and circuit breakers.
• Power system analysis, fault identification and electrical fault-level assessments.
• Electrical maintenance and reliability engineering principles.
• Electrical testing, inspection and condition-monitoring techniques.
• Electrical safety, isolation procedures and MV switching protocols.
• South African electrical legislation, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Engineering project management and technical design reviews.
• Root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies.
• Technical reporting, engineering documentation and stakeholder management.

5. BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

• Strong technical judgement and analytical thinking.
• Planning, organising and prioritisation.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Communication and technical report writing.
• Accountability and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and respond to operational emergencies.
• Continuous improvement and innovation.
• Leadership, collaboration and knowledge sharing.

6. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal Stakeholders:

• Engineering and Maintenance Departments.
• Factory and Operations Management.
• SHE Department.
• Project Engineering Teams.
• Procurement and Supply Chain.
• AECI MV Electrical Department.

External Stakeholders:

• Eskom.
• City Power.
• Electrical contractors and specialist service providers.
• Engineering consultants.
• Regulatory and statutory authorities.

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