Engineering Manager

Location: Turffontein

Leading pharmaceutical manufacturer is looking for an Engineering Manager to join their team in Johannesburg. Pharmaceutical or FMCG industry experience is essential together with a GCC qualification. Automation PLC’s experience is essential.

Job purpose
The Engineering Manager is responsible for ensuring the continuous and reliable operation of all utilities, facilities, and production equipment at the site. This role ensures that engineering systems support optimal production efficiency, OEE, and product quality, while maintaining compliance with SAHPRA, GMP, and safety regulations. The incumbent provides strategic leadership in engineering, drives innovation, manages Capex projects, and develops a skilled engineering team with effective succession planning.

Qualifications and Experience Required :

• Grade 12 / Matric) and BSc Engineering / BTech / National Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering is essential
• GCC (Government Certificate of Competence) – mandatory.
• Professional registration (Pr.Eng/Pr.Tech) with ECSA is preferred.
• Minimum 10 years’ progressive engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a senior engineering or facilities/maintenance management role within a pharmaceutical, FMCG environment.
• Automation PLC’s experience is essential
• Strong experience in facilities management, utilities management, and equipment reliability.
• Demonstrated experience in cGMP, SAHPRA compliance, and ISO quality management systems.
• Proven ability to manage large engineering teams and implement succession planning.
• Track record in Capex planning, project execution, and financial control.

Operational Continuity & Production Support

• Ensure continuous availability and reliability of all production equipment and utilities to meet production schedules and OEE targets.
• Monitor daily operational performance (OEE, uptime, throughput) and intervene to resolve bottlenecks or resource constraints.
• Provide engineering support during start-ups, line changes and product introductions to minimize downtime and ensure smooth handover to Production.
• Maintain an on-call escalation framework for 24/7 response to critical breakdowns and major incidents.

Utilities & Systems Management

• Take ownership for the operation and reliability of core site utilities (steam boilers, compressed air, chilled water, HVAC, purified/pharmaceutical water systems, wastewater treatment, site electrical distribution).
• Ensure utility control philosophies, setpoints and operating procedures are documented, validated and followed.
• Drive optimization initiatives for energy use, water consumption and utility efficiency.

Maintenance Strategy & Execution

• Develop and oversee preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance programmes (CMMS-driven), ensuring ≥ planned PM adherence and effective backlog control.
• Implement and mature condition-based and predictive maintenance methods (vibration, thermography, oil analysis) to reduce unplanned downtime.
• Schedule and lead major shutdowns and turnarounds—plan scope, resource allocation, contractor engagement, safety, and handover.

Project Delivery & Capital Works

• Lead engineering input for capital projects, facility upgrades and equipment installations: define scope, prepare CAPEX justifications, manage vendors, and oversee commissioning/qualification activities.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on budget and on schedule and that handover documentation, drawings and O&M manuals are completed.

Compliance, Validation & Quality Systems

• Ensure engineering activities support a SAHPRA/GMP-compliant manufacturing environment — maintain equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), calibration and validation documentation.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to manage deviations, change controls, CAPAs and ensure engineering corrective actions are implemented and verified.
• Maintain audit readiness: prepare engineering responses for internal and external inspections and ensure timely closure of findings.

Financial & Resource Management

• Prepare and manage the Engineering Opex and Capex budgets, forecasting requirements, and reporting on spend vs budget.
• Implement cost control initiatives and evaluate lifecycle cost when approving repairs…