Power Engineer at Optimal Growth Technologies

Role purpose:

• This role is responsible to review, and implementation and advise on electrical power systems for telecommunications infrastructure, with a focus on colocation sites and future technology deployments or upgrades by our customers. The role involves ensuring compliance with SANS 10142-1, applying risk-based engineering principles, and delivering reliable, safe, and cost-effective power upgrades to support network expansion and multi-operator sharing. You will be accountable for the review, approval, and design of power solutions to support our customers network expansions.

Key Accountabilities

• Power Applications & Review
• Review, validate and provide consent for all co-location power application requests coming into various sites.
• Validate the requests for technical and contractual feasibility against load capacity, redundancy, commercial contracts.
• Undertake a comparative site conditions analysis to potentially identify risks and constraints which limit co-location or network expansion.
• Provision clearly documented consent with technical rationales justifying consent, including direct and timely communications of new site requirements to key stakeholder groups.
• Risk-Based Engineering & Compliance Audit
• Utilise risk-based engineering principles for all new power installations and upgrade projects in order to identify, assess and mitigate risks prior to any power installation/upgrade activity.
• Monitor regulatory developments, electrical codes & compliance standards, best-practice, and emerging energy technologies to ensure future compliance of power designs.
• Provide technical authority for electrical power systems safety audits, risk assessments and remediation plans.
• Electrical Survey Report Analysis & Evaluation
• Review and analyse electrical survey reports in order to establish current system performance, load capacity, resiliency, and risks specific to site.
• Review and evaluate system performance against resiliency, redundancy, and availability requirements outlined in SLAs and technical specifications.
• Identify any PSU, bottleneck, equipment malfunction or other compliance deficiencies and recommend a corrective approach.
• Convert complex survey data into concise technical reports and recommendations for management decisions

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with internal teams (engineering, operations, capital projects, network planning) to ensure power upgrades align with the wider network rollout and modernization frameworks.
• Engage with external contractors, electrical utilities, and MNO partners to ensure delivery of projects meets agreed technical standards, timelines, and SLAs.
• Keep stakeholders appraised of project progress, risks, and technical advice through regular updates and briefings.
• Leverage collaborative relationships with cross-functional stakeholders to address issues as they emerge and avoid unnecessary project delays.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Quality and compliance of electrical designs and upgrades.
• Adherence to SANS 10142-1 and SLA obligations.
• Accuracy of load calculations and upgrade recommendations.
• Timely delivery of project scopes, drawings, and project/ technical support.
• Improved reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of site power systems.
• Power Upgrade Design & Implementation
• Design and recommend upgrades to site power designs that meet co-location requirements and future technology releases (5G, etc.)
• Redesign existing installations where possible and available after review for energy efficiency, operational resiliency and life cycle cost avoidance.
• Investigation, analysis and implementation of renewable and hybrid power options (solar, wind, battery storage, diesel hybrid systems) where it makes sense to minimize carbon footprint and enhance sustainability.
• Coordinate with capital projects and engineering design teams to produce detailed engineering drawings, schematics, and system specifications.
• Project Scope of Work (SoW) Development
• Develop supporting technical Scope of Work (SoW) documentation for all proposed upgrades that clearly outlines the design requirements, compliance needs, and implementation processes
• Include risk-based considerations in the SoW documentation to ensure contractors know the critical risks and compliance oversight.
• Provide value to budget estimates, capital planning, and prioritization exercises for upgrades to power infrastructure.
• Ensure SoW documents will be treated as enforceable documents for contractors, project managers, and operations teams.

Technical Competencies

• Strong ability to design, read, and interpret electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Solid knowledge of Telecommunication systems and solutions such as transformers, rectifier systems, batteries, standby generators, hybrid power systems, renewable energy systems and cooling systems.
• Skilled in load analysis, project costing, and risk documentation.
• Ability to integrate energy efficiency and sustainability into system design.

Core Skills & Attributes

• Analytical mindset with strong risk-awareness.
• Excellent attention to detail with a safety-first approach.
• Strong communicator, able to simplify complex technical issues for non-technical audiences.
• Effective collaborator across engineering, operations, and commercial functions.
• Ownership mentality: a results-oriented person with a focus on maintaining technical integrity while meeting commercial needs.
• Ability to adapt to ever-changing technologies and apply promising solutions amid ever-increasing complexity.
• Must have technical / professional qualifications:
• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering\ National Diploma Power Systems, or related field

Experience:

• 3-5 years experience in electrical power systems design, analysis, or auditing.
• Telecom or ICT infrastructure power management experience highly desirable with knowledge on load analysis and trends.
• Strong knowledge of SANS 10142-1 and electrical compliance frameworks.
• Experience with risk-based engineering, electrical load analysis, and project scoping.
• Proven track record in managing power upgrades for colocation and/or future network deployment such as 5G.