Control and Automation Technician at The Coca-Cola Company

Job Description    

• Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) has an exciting opportunity in our Engineering department. We are looking for talented individuals with relevant skills and experience for a Control and Automation Technician which is based in Polokwane.

Key Purpose:

• The Control and Automation Technician is required to deliver specialized high-level technical skills to support CCBSA manufacturing operations in Polokwane. This will include debugging and troubleshooting automation control systems and software of PLC's, HMI's, Servo Drive Systems, Industrial control Networks, VSD’s and instrumentation. The Control and Automation Technician must be competent in PLC and HMI software development, to make medium-scale modifications and improvements to the control system. The Control and Automation Technician will assist in creating drawings, including schematics, P&ID, control panel designs. The C&A Technician will develop calibration procedures for process instruments as well as coach understanding of process controls and the troubleshooting thereof. The C&A Technician needs to have a strong electrical background including Servo and Variable speed drives. The C&A technician will report to the Process Control Engineer  in the Packaging-engineering department and will assist in problem solving and C&A asset management to enhance operational performance.

Key Duties & Responsibilities    
Automation and Instrumentation Support

• Perform routine maintenance, calibration, and testing of control systems and instruments.
• Ensure optimal operation of sensors, transmitters, analyzers, and control valves.
• Troubleshoot and resolve breakdowns or anomalies in real-time.

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), SCADA, and Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) Management

• Support the configuration, troubleshooting, and modification of PLC logic.
• Assist in SCADA and HMI maintenance and modifications.
• Maintain program backups and ensure version control of automation software.

Continuous Improvement and Process Optimisation

• Collaborate with Process Engineers and Production to improve process control strategies.
• Contribute to root cause analysis of recurring automation or instrumentation faults.
• Implement changes for energy efficiency, product quality, and operational consistency.

Compliance and Documentation

• Maintain accurate records of calibrations, loop checks, and software changes.
• Adhere to change management procedures and engineering standards.
• Ensure SHEQ and GMP compliance of all C&A work done on plant.

Support for Projects and Commissioning

• Provide technical input during automation-related project installations or plant upgrades.
• Support commissioning, FAT/SAT, and start-up testing of new equipment and software.
• Liaise with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and vendors on technical support when necessary.

Skills, Experience & Education    
Education

• Minimum: N6 in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, or Control Systems
• Preferred: National Diploma or BTech in Electrical Engineering (Light Current) or Instrumentation

Experience

• 3–5 years in a Control & Automation Technician or Instrument Technician role in a manufacturing or FMCG environment
• Proven hands-on experience with PLCs , SCADA systems and industrial instrumentation
• Experience with process troubleshooting, control loop tuning, and automation diagnostics
• Exposure to production utilities and bottling/packaging environments advantageous

Skills

• PLC programming and diagnostics
• SCADA configuration and fault finding
• Field instrumentation calibration and maintenance
• Variable Speed Drives (VSD) operation and diagnostics
• Industrial communication protocols
• Strong understanding of control logic, PID loops, and process control systems
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical drawings, and instrumentation loop diagrams
• SAP PM familiarity for job feedback and maintenance logging
• SHEQ, GMP, and food safety awareness in a regulated manufacturing environment

Deadline:12th August,2025