Principal Electrical Design Engineer/Technologist

PURPOSE OF ROLE

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Electrical Design Engineer / Technologist to join our Oil, Gas and Power Engineering team. This is mostly a 100% technical role, in which you will provide specialist technical inputs and support to ensure professional and compliant designs are produced on time, within budget, and to specifications. You will be required to produce and oversee quality engineering outputs that satisfy all requirements (Client, Codes, and Standards) by adhering to internal engineering processes. Provide technical leadership and design oversight within the electrical department and assist the Head of Discipline (HOD) and Engineering Manager to create strategic roadmaps and drive priorities to meet various objectives.

You will provide technical guidance and advice to the engineering team, with no direct reports in the functional organogram structure. However, the role involves providing guidance to Senior Engineers/Technologists, Engineers/Technologists, Junior Engineers/Technologists, and Engineers in Training (EITs), and may act as Lead Electrical Engineer on projects managing up to 10 team members and overseeing designs performed by sub-contractors within the project organogram.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

New Business Development, Tenders and Proposals

• Act as Technical Proposal/Tender Lead when appointed.
• Develop and review User Requirement Specifications (URS) and Operational Requirement Specifications (ORS) with clients.
• Lead concept development, feasibility checks and value engineering exercises.
• Review technical outputs from other Electrical Engineers and adjudicate supplier offers.
• Develop Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and estimate engineering effort for EPC and EPCM projects.
• Compile technical specifications and adjudicate supplier offers.
• Estimate engineering effort and provide input to project schedules.
• Identify technical and commercial risks.

• Develop and review basic and detailed designs:
  • Develop and Review Electrical Design Basis Documents.
  • Develop and Review Single Line Diagrams for LV (essential) and MV (beneficial) Systems.
  • Develop and Review Load Flow Studies.
  • Electrical Equipment Sizing and Selection.
  • Develop and Review Electrical Equipment Technical Specifications.
  • Develop and Review Electrical Design Reports and Calculations.
  • Develop and Review Electrical Field Designs.
  • Review Electrical Field Design Drawings (Cable Racking, routing and terminations).
  • Participate in HAZOP, FMECA, LOPA studies.
  • Participate in 3D Model Reviews.
  • Perform Constructability, Maintainability and Operability Studies.
  • Review Electrical Equipment Layout Drawings.
  • Develop and Review Electrical Scope of Work for sub-contractors and Technical Installation Requirements for Electrical Equipment.
• Perform specialist reviews for complex and state-of-the-art designs.
• Oversee and review sub-contractor/OEM Electrical designs to ensure compliance and timely delivery.
• Approve designs performed by the Lesedi Electrical Design Team.
• Ensure designs are aligned with industry best practices.
• Identify and apply required codes and standards.
• Oversee sub-contractor designs for compliance and timely delivery.
• Foster integration between engineering disciplines.

Design Integration

• Interface with other engineering disciplines (Process, Mechanical, C&I, Civil, Structural) to ensure integrated design delivery.
• Participate in Integrated Design Reviews.

• Provide specialist technical guidance and advice to the engineering team.
• Mentor Engineers in Training (EITs) and Junior Engineers/Technologists.
• Transfer knowledge and promote best practices within the discipline.
• May be appointed as Lead Electrical Engineer on specific projects.

• Provide technical support during installation, commissioning, and handover phases.
• Develop and Review FAT procedures.
• Attend FATs and SATs.
• Support system/plant performance testing.
• Develop as-built documentation.
• Contribute to lessons learned registers.

• Participate in client technical negotiations.
• Provide specialist technical input into contracts including inclusions, exclusions, and assumptions.

QUALIFICATION

• Essential: Sc / B.Eng (Preferred) or B.Tech in Electrical Engineering
• Essential: Registered as a Professional Engineer (Preferred) or Technologist
• Preferred: Sc / M.Eng / M.Tech in Engineering
• Preferred: Leadership Diploma or formal Leadership training

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 15 years relevant design engineering experience.
• 5 to10 years in the Industrial, Power Generation or Oil & Gas Industry within an EPC or EPCM Environment.

COMPETENCIES

Technical Knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of the Engineering Design Life Cycle with the EPC or EPCM Environment.
• Excellent knowledge of applicable Electrical codes and standards.
• Excellent knowledge of the OHS Act and its Regulations.
• Good knowledge of ISO quality systems principles.
• Excellent understanding of the relevant industries.
• Essential Knowledge Areas:
  • LV Switchgear and Reticulation Systems.
  • MV Switchgear and Reticulation Systems.
  • MV/LV Generators.
  • MV/LV Motors (Electrical machines in general).
  • MV / LV Transformers.
  • Detailed Electrical cable sizing.
  • Electrical equipment sizing, i.e CBs, etc.
  • Protection grading or discrimination.
  • Type 1 and type 2 co-ordination.
  • Detailed electrical system studies, using e.g. ETAP, DigSilent, Easy Power.
  • Good knowledge of codes and standards applicable to LV design (SANS, IEC).
  • Field Design of LV and MV Electrical Reticulation Systems.
• Beneficial Knowledge Areas
  • Commissioning of LV and MV Systems.
  • Site Engineering (construction support and site inspections of Electrical Installations).
  • Basic understanding of HV System Design and Power Evacuation.
  • Grid Code Compliance Studies and Tests.

Commercial and Financial Knowledge

• Good knowledge of contract management and types of contracts (NEC, FIDIC).
• Excellent knowledge and application of project delivery models (EPC, EPCM).
• Good understanding and application of financial aspects of projects.

• Computer literate (MS Office).
• Discipline Specific Software Applications.
• Good leadership and mentoring skills.
• Able to communicate clearly with good verbal communication skills.
• Excellent written communication skills (studies and report).
• High degree of analytical thinking.
• Adaptable and flexible.
• Financial savviness.
• Good administrative and organizational skills.
• Technically very competent.

• Strong commitment to professional and compliant engineering practices.
• Proactive and self-motivated with excellent problem-solving abilities.
• Team-oriented with the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Strong attention to detail and quality focus.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Client-focused with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Should you not hear from us within 21 days of the closing of the advert, kindly regard your application to have been unsuccessful.