Instrumentation Technician

Job description

Job Location: Mossel Bay Company: Nestlé SA Position: Instrumentation Technician (Mossel Bay) Minimum Qualification: N4 Instrumentation with Trade Test or B-Tech in Electrical & Instrumentation Engineering Minimum Experience: 2 Years as an Instrumentation Technician. Closing Date: 15 September 2026 Position Summary With a history spanning over 150 years, Nestlé didn’t become the world’s leading food and beverages brand by chance. Perfection is at the heart of what we do, and our people are always looking for the next big idea to cement our status. We are now looking for an Instrument Technician to be based in Mossel Bay Factory. In this role, you will be responsible for improving the performance and reliability of machinery and assets, while reporting to the Automation Engineer. You will maintain onsite instrumentation to ensure full compliance with food safety standards and support Plant Asset Intensity requirements. Key responsibilities include attending to instrumentation faults and breakdowns in the factory, calibrating instrumentation such as metal detectors and X-ray equipment, and ensuring all instrumentation systems operate effectively. This role requires strong technical understanding, clear and open communication, sound problem-solving skills, and a strong drive to deliver excellent results. A day in the life of an Instrumentation Technician: Carry out planned maintenance in allocated sections as instructed by the Automation Engineer. Conduct daily plant inspections and report any defects identified. Report all defects found, propose remedial actions, and close defects where possible. Apply trade skills in a professional manner by working cleanly and precisely. Complete and sign work sheets daily after each task has been completed. Complete the defect list and checklist as instructed by the Automation Engineer. Ensure that all instruments are calibrated and that the instrument calibration system is updated after each calibration. Update the system and actively search for instruments that are not listed or tracked. Collaborate with area owners to identify upcoming calibration windows. Ensure that all tags related to a particular instrument are clearly displayed and that instruments are clean and in good working order. Attend breakdowns and/or assist Automation, Electrical, or Mechanical teams with problem-solving where required. Perform quick and efficient fault-finding, think and act under pressure, and provide regular feedback to the Automation Engineer. Test the machine or equipment after repairs have been completed. Be proactive in preventing breakdowns. Understand the difference between preventative and predictive maintenance. Collaborate across different functions and coach operators on correct methods. Control spares and ensure that all critical spares are available. Execute installations professionally using trade skills and instruction manuals. Work safely, report unsafe behaviors, and ensure that safety comes first. Unsafe working conditions must be reported immediately. Ensure that installations conform to legal standards. File drawings and Programme documentation neatly. Strictly follow the lockout procedure when working on machines. Maintain all instrument panels to a well-kept standard. Use prescribed personal protective equipment. Follow housekeeping and 5S rules. Clean work benches and the workshop according to the cleaning roster. Keep instrument drawings in their cubicles and ensure they remain clean. Follow up on breakdowns that occur during afternoon and night shifts, with the intention of finding permanent and sustainable solutions. Participate in projects as set out by the project team, including the planning, development, and implementation phases. Develop software for small projects and process improvements. What will make you successful? Minimum N4 Instrumentation with Trade Test or National Diploma in Instrumentation Minimum 2 years’ experience in instrumentation. Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders. Demonstrate a sense of urgency whilst never compromising safety or product quality. Experience of hazardous area ratings and installations The ability to understand, find fault & change electrical installations. In particular, low voltage. <380 volt. The ability to install, fault-find and parameterize Variable speed drives (VSD) (Preferably Allen Bradley) Knowledge of controls systems, data interfaces and communications protocols The ability to Program PLC’s (Preferably Allen Bradley) PLC 5 (RSLogic 5 Software) SLC 500 (RSLogic 500 Software) ControlLogic (RSLogic 5000 Software) The ability to Program HMI’s & SCADA’s (Preferably Allen Braddley HMI’s and Wonderware SCADA) The ability to fault find industrial communication protocols: Ethernet ; IO Link ; Device net ; 4-20mA etc. In-depth knowledge of PID control and the ability to “Tune” loops. Computer literate (Excel, Word, Power point) Strong analytical & problem-solving skills Willingness to perform standby duties