Automation Specialist – Namib Mills

An excellent career opportunity exists for interested and qualified candidates to apply for the above-mentioned position at Namib Mills (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

To independently design, implement, maintain, optimize, and support automation and control systems within the company. The role should ensure high equipment availability, food safety compliance, reliable industrial networks, and continuous improvement of automation systems in line with operational, quality, and safety requirements.

KEY FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Automation & Control Systems:

• Independently program, test, and commission automation systems from scratch.
• Create, modify, and maintain PLC, HMI, and SCADA programs for new projects and existing installations.
• Implement automation solutions aligned with food industry standards, production efficiency, and reliability.
• Perform advanced fault finding, diagnostics, and repairs on PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, instrumentation, and control panels.
• Maintain and troubleshoot PLC hardware, I/O modules, communication cards, and operator interfaces.
• Perform system upgrades, expansions, and migrations with minimal production downtime.

PLC, HMI & SCADA Platforms:

• Experience with PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems, including programming, configuration, diagnostics, maintenance, and system integration across platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, OMRON, DELTA, Wonderware (AVEVA), and Ignition.

Industrial Networking & IT Integration:

• Design, maintain, and troubleshoot industrial networks, including Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP/IP, Serial communication where applicable.
• Work closely with the IT Department to ensure secure and reliable industrial networks, proper segmentation between IT and OT systems, system backups, redundancy, and cybersecurity best practices.
• Maintain communication reliability between PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, VSDs, and other field devices.

Drives, Instrumentation & Control:

• Parameterization, commissioning, maintenance, and fault finding of Variable Speed Drives (VSDs).
• Configure and maintain industrial instrumentation (pressure, temperature, flow, level, etc.).
• Install, calibrate, repair, and maintain control and measurement equipment.
• Ensure instrumentation accuracy in line with food quality and safety requirements.

Food Industry Compliance & Best Practices:

• Ensure automation systems comply with food manufacturing standards, including: hygiene and cleanability requirements, traceability and production data integrity and process consistency and repeatability
• Support production systems critical to food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, uptime, and product consistency.

Maintenance, Reliability & Support:

• Perform preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance on automation systems.
• Provide 24/7 standby and call-out support as required.
• Ensure minimal downtime through rapid troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Maintain accurate documentation, backups, and version control of all automation systems.

OEM & Vendor Interaction:

• Communicate independently with OEMs, system integrators, and automation vendors.
• Coordinate remote and on-site support to resolve complex automation issues.
• Evaluate new technologies and recommend suitable solutions for the plant.

Documentation, Safety & Administration:

• Compile, update, and maintain all electrical, electronic, and automation documentation.
• Complete job cards, timesheets, and reports accurately and timeously.
• Adhere to all Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) policies and legal requirements.
• Ensure work areas are kept clean, safe, and compliant with food manufacturing standards.
• Assist with on-the-job training and mentoring of assistants where required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• NTD – National Technical   Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Industrial Automation, Mechatronics or Electronic Engineering.

OR

• Equivalent recognized tertiary qualification in Industrial automation, Mechatronics or Electronics.
• Siemens, Schneider and/or Allen-Bradley programming certification(s) will be an advantage.
• Minimum of 5 years’ proven experience in industrial automation and OT within a manufacturing or FMCG environment.

Technical Knowledge and skills:

• Advanced PLC programming and troubleshooting (Siemens, Rockwell, OMRON, DELTA).
• HMI and SCADA development and fault finding (Wonderware, Ignition).
• Industrial networking and OT/IT integration.
• VSD parameterization, commissioning, and maintenance.
• Instrumentation and control systems.
• Strong fault-finding and root cause analysis skills.

OTHER

• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex automation systems.
• Proven experience implementing automation projects from concept to commissioning.