- Company
- Sappi
- Location
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Job type
- Permanent
- Closing date
- 4 November 2026 (1 day left)
About this role
Sappi, a global producer of woodfibre products, is hiring an Instrument Technician for its Ngodwana site. You will lead technical work on instrumentation, automation and industrial control systems in a pulp and paper plant. The aim is to keep equipment reliable, processes stable and the plant safe.
What you’ll do
- Make sure work follows Sappi’s safety rules, the OHS Act, environmental standards and process safety regulations.
- Lead risk assessments and incident investigations, and keep calibration and maintenance records ready for audits.
- Lead the fault-finding and repair of DCS, PLC, SCADA and instrumentation failures.
- Solve fieldbus and network problems on Profibus PA and Profibus DP systems.
- Take part in shutdown planning, control system backups and configuration changes, and advise management on technical risk.
- Drive root cause analysis, Lean and other improvement projects, and advise on equipment upgrades.
- Guide artisans, operators and apprentices, and manage contractor performance. You will also join standby duty and attend breakdown call-outs.
What you need
- National Diploma or N6 in Instrument Mechanics, or an Advanced Diploma in Electrical Engineering.
- At least 8 years of instrumentation maintenance experience in a heavy industrial or continuous manufacturing environment.
- Proven skills in instrumentation, process control, automation and industrial networking.
- Advanced fault-finding experience on DCS, PLC, SCADA and Profibus PA/DP systems.
- A valid driver’s licence.
- Advantageous: experience in pulp and paper manufacturing, or a working knowledge of the IMS maintenance system.
Is this job for you?
This job suits an experienced instrument specialist who likes to lead and solve problems on a live plant. You should be comfortable working on shifts, supporting emergency call-outs and guiding other technical staff. You should also care about safety and accurate records.
Tips before you apply
- Have your N6 or diploma certificate, ID, driver’s licence and proof of registration ready to upload.
- Describe your 8 years of experience in detail. List the plant types, control systems and Profibus work you have handled.
- Show examples of leading root cause analysis, shutdowns or audits, with clear results where you can name them.
Before you apply
- Tailor your CV for this Instrument Technician role with our free AI CV builder.
- Write a matching cover letter in two minutes.
- Practise common interview questions so you're ready if they call.
Source: Sappi's official vacancy page (view original). EmploymentHub is not the employer and does not handle applications.
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