Instrumentation Technician - Pretoria West at RCL Foods

Purpose of the role: 

• The Instrument Technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, calibration, fault finding, and optimisation of instrumentation, PLC, SCADA, and automation systems supporting milling and packaging operations. The role ensures reliable process control, accurate data acquisition, historian integrity, and compliance with safety, food safety, and engineering standards.

Minimum Requirements    

• National Diploma, Trade qualification, or equivalent in Instrumentation, Mechatronics, or Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum 3–5 years experience in an FMCG, milling, or industrial processing environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with Siemens S7 PLCs using TIA Portal.
• Proven experience with Profibus communication networks.
• Working knowledge of Wonderware InTouch SCADA systems.
• SQL database programming experience is essential, particularly for historian data logging and reporting.
• Experience with industrial weighing systems, preferably Bühler scales and flow readers, will be a strong advantage.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, instrument loop diagrams, electrical schematics, and OEM documentation.
• Strong analytical, fault-finding, and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication skills and ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and mentor & coach apprentices 
• High safety, quality, and food safety awareness.
• Willingness to work rotational standby, and emergency callouts with own vehicle within 1 hour response time to site.

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Install, maintain, calibrate, and fault-find field instrumentation including pressure, level, flow, temperature, and weighing systems.
• Provide instrumentation, PLC, and automation breakdown support to milling and packaging plants.
• Support Siemens S7 PLC systems using TIA Portal, including diagnostics, backups, and controlled program changes.
• Maintain and troubleshoot industrial communication networks, including Profibus.
• Support and maintain Wonderware InTouch SCADA systems, including alarms, trends, and graphics.
• Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot SQL database queries and scripts for historian data logging (essential).
• Ensure reliable historian data capture, data accuracy, and system availability.
• Ensure critical instrumentation and automation spares are identified, available, and correctly managed.
• Learn, maintain, and support Bühler scales and flow readers used in milling and packing operations.
• Participate in planned preventative maintenance (PPM) for instrumentation and automation systems.
• Accurately complete detailed job cards, maintenance reports, and CMMS records for all work performed.
• Participate in rotational standby routines and respond to breakdown callouts as required.
• Strictly adhere to LOTOTO (Lock Out, Tag Out, Try Out) procedures and permit-to-work systems.
• Ensure compliance with the OHS Act, GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards.
• Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) using tools such as 5-Why and Fishbone.
• Support shutdowns, audits, automation upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Implement small projects and drive back up procedures

Deadline:10th April,2026