Company: Nestlé
Location: Harrismith, Free State, South Africa
Closing Date: 25 September 2025
Qualification: Diploma/Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
Experience: 3–5 years
Position Summary
Nestlé, the world’s leading food and beverages brand with over 150 years of excellence, is looking for a Technical Assistant to join the team at our Harrismith Factory. This role requires a proactive professional to assume full engineering responsibility for assigned departments during production. The successful candidate will support the Plant Engineer/Manager with engineering issues, maintenance, capex, inspections, and efficiency improvements to ensure smooth plant operations.
Key Responsibilities
Staff Management
• Manage attendance, planned/unplanned absences, and ensure continuous engineering support.
• Train staff to perform their functions and provide relief when necessary.
• Communicate job requirements, schedules, and company updates.
• Ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and Nestlé safety practices.
• Performance management of subordinates.
Operations
• Conduct inspections, monitor and analyze MSA results and line efficiencies (SAM reporting).
• Identify opportunities for energy saving and effluent control.
• Maintain functional control over departmental workshops and housekeeping.
• Work with production teams to resolve operational issues.
Maintenance & Improvement
• Take full engineering responsibility for assigned production departments.
• Ensure plant services continuity during production.
• Manage external service providers when in-house work is not possible.
• Participate in hygiene and safety audits, implement corrective actions.
• Lead preventive maintenance scheduling, spare parts management, and CDM processes.
• Attend production review and scheduling meetings.
• Support cross-disciplinary maintenance activities to ensure equipment availability.
• Prepare proposals and manage costs for Extraordinary Maintenance and Capex budgeting.
• Control maintenance budgets for assigned cost centers.
Product Development & Plant Improvement
• Investigate and recommend plant/building improvements.
• Support the manufacturing of new products with Applications Group.
• Assist in the installation, commissioning, and training of new equipment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches.
Building Maintenance
• Inspect and maintain all buildings in sound and hygienic condition.
• Action defects promptly and implement hygienic engineering principles.
Requirements – What Will Make You Successful
• Diploma/Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• 3–5 years’ experience in a similar technical/engineering role.
• Proficiency in MS Office, AMM, Kronos, and SAP.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently under pressure and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Location: Harrismith, Free State, South Africa
Closing Date: 25 September 2025
Apply Now
If you are a results-driven engineer passionate about technical excellence and innovation, apply today to join Nestlé and make an impact at our Harrismith Factory.
