Position Title
Maintenance Shift Electrician
Department
Engineering and Maintenance
Reporting To
Maintenance Electrical Supervisor / Maintenance Electrical Superintendent
Location
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Employment Type
Permanent (Shift Work)
POSITION PURPOSE
The Maintenance Shift Electrician is responsible for providing electrical maintenance support on a shift basis to ensure the safe, reliable, and continuous operation of all electrical systems and production equipment within the steel manufacturing facility. The incumbent performs preventative, predictive, corrective, and emergency breakdown maintenance while ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, company engineering standards, and SHERQ policies.
The role requires rapid fault diagnosis, effective troubleshooting, and quality repairs to minimise production downtime and maintain plant availability.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Electrical Maintenance
- Perform preventative, predictive, corrective, and breakdown maintenance on plant electrical equipment.
- Diagnose and repair electrical faults to minimise production downtime.
- Inspect electrical installations to ensure safe and reliable operation.
- Replace defective electrical components and equipment.
- Conduct routine testing and inspections.
- Maintain electrical equipment in accordance with manufacturer specifications and company standards.
Production Equipment Support
Provide electrical maintenance for:
- Electric Arc Furnace (EAF)
- Ladle Furnace (LF)
- Continuous Casting Machine (CCM)
- Scrap charging systems
- Scrap Shredder Plant
- Water Treatment Plant (WTP)
- Cooling water systems
- Dust extraction systems
- Overhead cranes
- Conveyor systems
- Hydraulic power units
- Compressors
- Pumps
- Billet handling systems
- Auxiliary production equipment
Electrical Systems
Maintain and troubleshoot:
- Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) systems (within authorised limits)
- Industrial motors
- Motor Control Centres (MCCs)
- Variable Speed Drives (VSDs)
- Soft starters
- Industrial lighting systems
- Power distribution panels
- Switchgear
- Control panels
- UPS systems
- Standby generators
- Electrical protection systems
Automation Support
- Assist with troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment.
- Identify electrical faults affecting automation systems.
- Support Automation and Instrumentation Technicians during repairs.
- Verify electrical inputs and outputs on PLC systems.
- Assist with commissioning following repairs.
Preventative Maintenance
- Execute scheduled preventative maintenance tasks.
- Inspect electrical equipment for wear and deterioration.
- Tighten electrical connections where required.
- Test protective devices and safety circuits.
- Record maintenance findings.
- Report potential failures before breakdowns occur.
Breakdown Maintenance
- Respond immediately to electrical breakdowns during shift.
- Diagnose faults using appropriate test equipment.
- Carry out safe and effective repairs.
- Restore equipment to operational condition.
- Escalate complex faults where necessary.
- Provide technical feedback to supervisors.
Shutdown Maintenance
- Participate in planned plant shutdowns.
- Perform major electrical maintenance activities.
- Replace obsolete or damaged equipment.
- Assist with commissioning and functional testing.
- Complete shutdown work within planned schedules.
Maintenance Planning and Documentation
- Complete maintenance work orders accurately.
- Record all maintenance activities in SAP PM or the CMMS.
- Report equipment defects and recurring failures.
- Recommend improvements to maintenance plans.
- Ensure maintenance records are accurate and up to date.
Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality (SHERQ)
- Comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
- Follow Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
- Conduct pre-task risk assessments.
- Wear prescribed PPE at all times.
- Report hazards, incidents, and near misses.
- Maintain excellent housekeeping standards.
- Support ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 compliance.
Continuous Improvement
- Participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).
- Recommend improvements to electrical systems.
- Assist in reducing equipment downtime.
- Support energy efficiency initiatives.
- Contribute to reliability improvement programmes.
Any other duties which may be reasonable required, due to the operational requirements of the business.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements
- Grade 12 (Matric).
- Recognised Trade Test as an Electrician (Red Seal).
Preferred Qualifications
- National Diploma or N6 in Electrical Engineering.
- Wireman's Licence (where applicable).
Advantageous Qualifications
- Medium Voltage Switching Authorisation.
- PLC fault-finding training (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric or equivalent).
- Variable Speed Drive (VSD) training.
- SAP PM user training.
- First Aid Certificate.
- Basic Firefighting Certificate.
- Working at Heights certification.
- Confined Space Entry certification.
- Valid Code B Driver's Licence.
EXPERIENCE
Minimum Requirements
- Minimum 5 years' post-trade experience as an industrial electrician.
Preferred Experience
- Steel manufacturing or heavy industrial environment.
- Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), Ladle Furnace (LF), and Continuous Casting Machine (CCM) operations.
- Industrial motor control systems.
- MV/LV power distribution.
- Variable Speed Drives (VSDs).
- SAP PM or equivalent CMMS.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
The incumbent must have knowledge of:
- Industrial electrical systems.
- Electrical fault diagnosis.
- Motor control circuits.
- Variable Speed Drives (VSDs).
- PLC-controlled equipment.
- Electrical drawings and schematics.
- Preventative maintenance principles.
- Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA).
- Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
- Electrical Installation Regulations.
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 requirements.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Technical Skills
- Electrical fault finding.
- Electrical maintenance and repairs.
- Motor control troubleshooting.
- Reading electrical drawings.
- Electrical testing and measurement.
- Preventative maintenance.
- SAP PM / CMMS proficiency.
- Technical reporting.
- Safe isolation of electrical equipment.
- Problem-solving.
Behavioural Competencies
- Attention to detail.
- Analytical thinking.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Teamwork.
- Communication skills.
- Accountability.
- Adaptability.
- Time management.
- Safety awareness.
- Commitment to continuous improvement.
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs)
Key Performance Area
Performance Measure
Equipment Availability
Achievement of electrical plant uptime targets
Breakdown Response
Timely response and restoration of equipment
Preventative Maintenance
Completion of scheduled maintenance tasks
Electrical Safety
Compliance with OHSA, LOTO, and company safety procedures
Work Quality
Repairs completed to engineering standards with minimal repeat failures
Documentation
Accurate completion of maintenance records and work orders
Plant Reliability
Reduction in recurring electrical faults
Housekeeping
Compliance with 5S and housekeeping standards
Continuous Improvement
Participation in reliability and improvement initiatives
SHERQ Compliance
Zero lost-time incidents and full compliance with company standards
DIRECT REPORTS
This position does not normally have direct reports but may provide guidance to:
- Electrical Assistants
- Electrical Apprentices
- Maintenance Assistants
- Contractors
AUTHORITY LEVEL
The Maintenance Shift Electrician is authorised to:
- Perform electrical maintenance and repairs within competency and authorisation levels.
- Isolate electrical equipment in accordance with approved Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
- Recommend repairs, component replacements, and maintenance improvements.
- Stop work where unsafe conditions or equipment failures present an immediate risk.
- Verify completion of electrical maintenance work within delegated authority.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Heavy industrial steel manufacturing environment.
- Rotating shift work, including nights, weekends, public holidays, standby duties, and emergency call-outs.
- Exposure to high temperatures, molten steel operations, electrical hazards, dust, vibration, noise, confined spaces, elevated work areas, and moving machinery.
- Combination of workshop and plant floor activities.
- Mandatory use of prescribed PPE.
Pay: R60,00 - R70,00 per hour
Work Location: In person
