Automation Technologist

Job Advert Summary

To assist the Automation Asset Manager to act as the custodian for automation plants and sub-plants of the water supply infrastructure. This individual is responsible for ensuring that these assets are specified, installed, operated, and maintained to provide expected levels of service at minimum lifecycle cost.

Minimum Requirements

• Formal engineering qualifications (BTech or BEngTech (C&I) degree)
• Candidate Registration (or eligibility to be registered) with the Engineering Council of SA as a Candidate Professional Technologist (Cand. PrTechEng)
• 3 years’ experience in industrial automation (measurement, control and instrumentation) engineering / infrastructure management

Desirable qualifications are:

• Advanced Management Programme
• Professional Registration with the Engineering Council of SA as a Professional Engineering Technologist (PrTechEng)
• Membership of a fraternal voluntary association

Primary Duties

• Assist the Automation Asset Manager to lead and manage all activities of the section that will result in optimal lifecycle performance of the specific category of assets
• Assist the Automation Asset Manager to develop, compile, execute and manage the section business plan that supports the departmental and divisional business plan
• Assist the Automation Asset Manager to develop and maintain generic standards for asset performance and availability, maintenance regimes, rates of deterioration, lifespan, etc.
• Provide and update plans and costs for the management of each asset, for incorporation into the integrated Asset Management Plan
• Manage and lead the process relating to the review and improvement of standards and specifications for the asset category
• Participate along with other asset assessors and maintenance staff in:

oCondition assessment and performance measurement of assets to agreed standards and frequencies

oRegular audits of maintenance activities

oProviding a maintenance support service to operating sites

• Manage, specify and review improvements to design specifications, operating and maintenance regimes.
• Review and recommend specification and design of new assets to ensure lifecycle performance is adequately addressed
• Assist in developing and preparing the annual budget for Automation asset management, and practice financial management and control
• Assist the Automation Asset Manager to manage the development of self and other staff by monitoring performance, coaching and mentoring, career path and succession planning
• Initiate and lead Automation asset management related projects and activities
• Provide effective input to section’s supplementary budget requirements and prepare RFQs to effect the related spend
• Participate and encourage a culture of teamwork and achievement, through the application of frequent feedback and communication with other staff

Knowledge

• Specification, design, operation, and maintenance of the asset category (i.e., automation engineering)
• Financial and economic principles, including life cycle costing
• Condition assessment and performance measurement techniques and evaluation
• Asset rehabilitation technology
• Principles of plant maintenance and reliability
• Principles of asset management

Skills

• Technical report writing and development of specifications
• SCADA and HMI installation and commissioning
• PLC programming and configuration, I/O installation, and commissioning
• Installation and wiring of instruments to the PLC and control panel I/Os
• Electrical control panel construction, installation and commissioning
• Control panel fault tracing, redesign, and re-wiring
• System alarm reporting and logging
• Industrial networking and telemetry systems
• Production of P&ID and As-Built drawings

Attitude

• Customer service
• Critical evaluation
• Sound decision making
• Planning and organising
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• People management
• Self-management
• Conceptual thought and well developed analytical and coordinating skills
• Problem solving
• Project management planning principles, tools and techniques
• Networking skills
• Spatial analysis and interpretation