Factory Maintenance Engineer (Harrismith)

Location: Harrismith Factory

Qualification: Engineering Degree or Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Experience: Minimum 3 years’ experience in engineering management / maintenance within a manufacturing environment, with leadership experience preferred. FMCG or food processing experience will be advantageous.

Closing date: 29 July 2026

Position Summary

Nestlé has over 308 000 employees worldwide. More than being the world’s number one food and beverage brand, we’ve successfully launched, and sustained, hundreds of thousands of careers. We’re now looking for a Factory Maintenance Engineer to join our team at Harrismith Factory.

The Factory Maintenance Engineer will support and participate in the implementation and execution of the factory maintenance program aimed at eliminating unplanned stops, optimizing maintenance cost and increasing asset intensity. This role will also drive line reliability, improve equipment performance and support energy-saving and sustainability initiatives within the factory.

A day in the life of a Factory Maintenance Engineer:

Safety:

•  Lead in ensuring Zero harm for his/her reporting line and production plant. Enforce reliable Safety Culture and KSRs
•  Establish and review non-routine plans for handling breakdowns and other emergencies such as fire, power failure, etc.
•  Ensure adherence to Safety and Health Regulations and legal requirements
•  Ensure good governance of machine safety and improvements

Manage existing assets – Planned Maintenance:

•  Actively participate in maintenance routines to ensure that maintenance activities are scheduled and executed in time with high quality.
•  Support and participate in the implementation of maintenance methodologies (PM pillar, foundations), usually member of PM pillar.
•  Master and coach breakdown analysis.
•  Responsible for ensuring effective utilization of AMM system

Autonomous Maintenance:

•  Support the implementation of Autonomous Maintenance (AM) pillar methodologies or the respective Key Standard Routines (KSR)
•  Support production to eliminate quality defects, safety risks and chronic technical issues through problem solving approach.
• Troubleshoot with the team to ensure all aspects of the line deliver the required output.
• Lead initiatives to improve line efficiency, equipment speed and overall performance.

Manage existing assets – Budget Management:

• Provide input for annual maintenance budget based on activities (Zero base budget)
• Manage effectively allocated CAPEX and OPEX spend for specific project 
•  Assist with the reporting and tracking of the maintenance budget. Analyze over/under spending in responsibility and propose corrective actions.
• Deliver optimal maintenance outcomes while managing cost and resource priorities effectively.

Build Engineering Capability:

• Support and participate in the competence building plan (CBP) for the maintenance team.
•  Build up maintenance methodologies competencies within Engineering, on the topics from Roles and Responsibilities matrix
•  Assist with the technical training program for all factory maintenance staff.
•  Build up AMM competencies within Engineering
•  Coordinate multidisciplinary support across mechanical, electrical and automation resources.

New Installations & Adherence to Standards

•  Ensure sufficient spares and minor materials are available to staff to enable prompt and efficient repairs to plant and equipment.
•  Assist Factory Engineering Manager in approval for safe interventions or equipment installations.
•  Ensuring that the plant Instrumentation and Automation operate as per designed specifications and recommendations, the MOS Act and recommendations as per NOSA.
•  Support and participate in implementation of applicable standards.
•  Ensure adherence to applicable standards in the area of responsibility.

Management of Human Resource:

•  Assist in training various technical staff when required to do so, such as apprentices, vocational students, staff from other factories and Head Office.
•  Manage direct reports in terms of employee development and performance management.
•  Understanding of Labor Relation Act

What will make you successful?

• Engineering Degree or Diploma Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
•  Minimum 3 years’ experience in engineering management, maintenance, industrial services or Engineering & Automation, preferably within an FMCG or food processing manufacturing environment.
•  Experience in plant maintenance, machinery and processing equipment, and packaging equipment.
•  Experience with Dry mixing and powder handling technologies, Vertical Form Fill and Seal Fillers and packing lines. Roller Drying and wet mixing technologies will be an advantage
•  At least 2 years’ leadership experience or proven experience leading maintenance teams will be advantageous
•  Good knowledge of Total Productive Maintenance (PM) methodology and Asset Maintenance practices.
•  Good knowledge of Asset Maintenance Management systems, preferably SAP PM module
•  Computer literate (Excel, Word, PowerPoint SAP and AMM)
•  - Good problem-solving skills based on good knowledge of other engineering disciplines (instrumentation, electrical, digitization, process, mechanical etc.)

What’s in it for you?

• An opportunity to lead reliability and efficiency improvements in a key factory environment.
• Exposure to high-speed manufacturing technology and cross-functional collaboration across Engineering, Production and Operations.
• The opportunity to contribute to sustainability, energy reduction and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Career growth and development opportunities within a global organization.