Maintenance Technician: Instrumentation and Electrical

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Maintenance Technician: Instrumentation & Electrical

Location: Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal

Industry: Pharmaceutical / High-Care Manufacturing

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Role

Are you an experienced Maintenance Technician with a strong dual background in Electrical and Instrumentation?

We are seeking a skilled multi-trade technician to join a dynamic engineering team within a cGMP-compliant manufacturing environment. In this role, you will play a critical part in maintaining maximum online availability of plant utilities and process equipment, executing planned preventive maintenance, leading fault-finding efforts, and supporting CAPEX continuous improvement projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Plant Maintenance & Reliability:

  • Perform routine checks and planned preventive maintenance (PPM) on critical process utilities and manufacturing equipment.

  • Facilitate the calibration of control and measuring instruments according to strict production schedules.

  • Analyze breakdowns, execute rapid fault-finding, and implement root-cause repairs to minimize production downtime.

• Breakdown & Standby Support:

  • Serve as part of the engineering standby team to respond promptly to after-hours call-outs.

  • Liaise with third-party contractors for specialized repairs when necessary.

• Compliance & Validation:

  • Ensure all work complies with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and the OSH Act.

  • Prepare detailed incident and deviation reports following any equipment failures.

  • Support validation studies (IQ, OQ, PQ) and commissioning of new unit operations.

• Projects & Optimization:

  • Lead and support small-scale CAPEX projects, plant continuous improvements, and process optimizations.

  • Supervise project contractors during plant upgrades and installations.

• Operations Support & Training:

  • Assist production teams with machine start-ups, basic troubleshooting, and equipment setups.

  • Provide first-line maintenance training and skill evaluation for machine operators.

  • Maintain spare parts records and order necessary inventory to avoid stock outages.

Minimum Requirements

• Education & Trade Qualifications (Either option):

  • Option A: N6 or S4 in Electrical or Instrumentation Engineering AND Trade Tested Millwright, OR Trade Tested Technician with at least two trades (Electrical, Instrumentation, or Electromechanics).

  • Option B: BTech Degree in Electrical or Instrumentation Engineering AND 1 Trade Test.

• Experience:

  • Minimum 3 years of work experience in a process or manufacturing environment.

  • Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience with electrical installations and process instrumentation.

  • Solid background in PLC programming, fault-finding, and SCADA systems.

  • Working knowledge of Refrigeration, HVAC systems, and Cold Chain management.

  • Familiarity with Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).

• Additional Requirements:

  • Valid driver’s license and own reliable transport (essential for standby/call-out duties).

  • Exposure to GMP and experience using SAP PM (or a similar maintenance management system) are strongly advantageous.

  • Sound knowledge of the OSH Act as it pertains to electrical safety.

Key Competencies & Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot independently.

• Excellent technical report writing and oral communication skills.

• High level of accountability, engineering professionalism, and a positive, proactive attitude.

• Strong team player capable of collaborating with cross-functional operations and engineering teams.