VACANCY: MECHANICAL INTERN (12 MONTHS)
1. Position Overview
The Mechanical Intern will provide technical and operational support to the Mechanical Engineering Department while gaining practical exposure to industrial mechanical equipment, maintenance activities, repair methodologies, fault finding, inspections, quality control, and engineering documentation.
The position is intended to develop the intern's practical engineering competence by combining theoretical mechanical engineering principles with hands-on experience in workshop and site environments. The intern will work under the supervision of experienced engineering and technical personnel and will participate in the inspection, assessment, maintenance, repair, testing, installation, and commissioning of mechanical equipment.
Particular exposure may include pumps, rotating equipment, electric motors, gearboxes, valves, pipework, shafts, bearings, mechanical seals, impellers, couplings, fabricated components, and associated mechanical systems.
2. Key Responsibilities
Mechanical Inspections and Assessments
The Mechanical Intern will assist with:
- Stripping and inspection of mechanical and rotating equipment.
- Visual assessment of components for corrosion, erosion, cavitation, wear, cracking, distortion, mechanical damage, and abnormal deterioration.
- Inspection of shafts, bearings, mechanical seals, impellers, casings, volutes, wear rings, couplings, fasteners, and associated components.
- Recording equipment condition before, during, and after dismantling.
- Taking dimensional measurements using appropriate measuring equipment.
- Comparing measured dimensions against drawings, manufacturer specifications, tolerances, and acceptable engineering limits.
- Identifying components requiring repair, machining, refurbishment, or replacement.
- Assisting senior personnel with root-cause investigations following mechanical equipment failures.
Pump and Rotating Equipment Maintenance
Assist qualified personnel with:
- Inspection and refurbishment of centrifugal and submersible pumps.
- Assessment of pump casings, volutes, impellers, shafts, mechanical seals, bearings, and coupling arrangements.
- Bearing removal and installation.
- Mechanical seal inspection and replacement.
- Shaft and coupling inspections.
- Equipment alignment activities.
- Cleaning and preparation of mechanical components.
- Reassembly of equipment in accordance with approved procedures.
- Lubrication and oil replacement.
- Verification of clearances and mechanical tolerances.
- Hydrostatic, rotational, performance, or operational testing where applicable.
Workshop Activities
The intern will gain practical workshop exposure by assisting with:
- Equipment dismantling and reassembly.
- Component cleaning and preparation.
- Basic fitting and mechanical assembly.
- Measurement and dimensional verification.
- Identification of damaged or worn components.
- Preparation of components for machining, welding, coating, or specialist repair.
- Inspection of repaired components before final assembly.
- General workshop engineering practices.
- Correct use and care of hand tools, measuring instruments, and workshop equipment.
All workshop activities must be performed under appropriate supervision and in accordance with company safety procedures.
3. Site Work
The Mechanical Intern may be required to attend client sites and assist with:
- Mechanical equipment inspections.
- Pump station inspections.
- Removal and installation of pumps and associated equipment.
- Equipment alignment and commissioning.
- Site measurements and verification.
- Recording equipment nameplate information.
- Collection of operational and maintenance data.
- Investigation of mechanical failures.
- Preparation of site inspection records.
- Verification of completed mechanical work.
The intern must comply with all client-specific health, safety, environmental, permit-to-work, and access requirements.
4. Engineering Documentation
The Mechanical Intern will assist with preparing and maintaining:
- Inspection reports.
- Strip-and-assess reports.
- Mechanical repair reports.
- Equipment condition assessments.
- Technical recommendations.
- Equipment registers.
- Measurement and dimensional inspection records.
- Photographic inspection records.
- Job cards and workshop documentation.
- Material and component lists.
- Technical specifications.
- Repair scopes of work.
- Quality control documentation.
- Testing and commissioning records.
Reports must clearly document the observed condition, identified defects, probable causes where determinable, recommended corrective actions, and final repair status.
5. Engineering Drawings and Technical Information
The intern should develop the ability to:
- Read and interpret mechanical engineering drawings.
- Understand sectional and assembly drawings.
- Interpret dimensions, tolerances, fits, and clearances.
- Assist with preparation or updating of basic mechanical drawings.
- Interpret equipment datasheets and manufacturer's documentation.
- Identify materials and mechanical components from specifications.
- Develop basic bills of materials where required.
Exposure to CAD software may be provided depending on project requirements.
6. Quality Control
The Mechanical Intern will assist the engineering and quality teams with:
- Inspection of incoming equipment.
- Inspection of repaired and manufactured components.
- Verification of dimensions against approved drawings.
- Recording inspection measurements.
- Monitoring workmanship during repair activities.
- Checking equipment assembly against approved procedures.
- Identifying and reporting non-conforming work.
- Maintaining traceable inspection records.
- Assisting with final equipment inspections prior to dispatch.
The intern must understand that no component or repair should be accepted solely on visual appearance where dimensional, material, or functional verification is required.
7. Health and Safety
The Mechanical Intern is required to:
- Comply with company and client health and safety requirements.
- Wear the prescribed personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Participate in toolbox talks and risk assessments.
- Follow lock-out and isolation procedures where applicable.
- Report unsafe conditions, equipment, or working practices.
- Maintain good housekeeping within workshop and site environments.
- Never operate machinery or equipment without appropriate authorization and training.
- Understand hazards associated with rotating equipment, lifting operations, stored energy, electrical equipment, pressure systems, chemicals, welding, and workshop machinery.
Safety requirements take precedence over production or programme pressures.
8. Technical Development
During the internship, the candidate should progressively develop competence in:
- Pump fundamentals and pump operation.
- Rotating equipment maintenance.
- Bearings and lubrication.
- Mechanical seals and sealing arrangements.
- Shaft and coupling systems.
- Fits, tolerances, and clearances.
- Engineering materials.
- Corrosion and wear mechanisms.
- Basic failure analysis.
- Mechanical equipment alignment.
- Engineering measurement techniques.
- Preventive and corrective maintenance.
- Workshop repair methodologies.
- Engineering drawings.
- Technical report writing.
- Quality assurance and quality control.
- Occupational health and safety.
9. Minimum Requirements
The preferred candidate should:
- Hold or be studying toward a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, BTech, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
- Have a basic understanding of mechanical engineering principles.
- Demonstrate an interest in maintenance, pumps, rotating equipment, manufacturing, and industrial engineering.
- Have basic computer literacy, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Be capable of reading basic engineering drawings.
- Be willing to work in both workshop and site environments.
- Be willing to perform practical mechanical work under supervision.
- Have good written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrate attention to detail and a willingness to learn.
A valid driver's licence would be advantageous where regular site attendance is required.
10. Personal Competencies
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Technical curiosity and willingness to learn.
- Logical problem-solving ability.
- Attention to detail.
- Professional conduct.
- Good communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively within a technical team.
- Ability to follow engineering instructions and procedures.
- Good record-keeping discipline.
- Awareness of quality requirements.
- Strong commitment to workplace safety.
- Accountability for assigned responsibilities.
- Ability to accept technical feedback and implement corrective guidance.
11. Performance Expectations
Performance will be evaluated according to the intern's:
- Technical development and progression.
- Quality and accuracy of work.
- Ability to follow instructions.
- Accuracy of measurements and inspection records.
- Quality of technical documentation.
- Understanding of mechanical equipment.
- Compliance with health and safety requirements.
- Attendance and punctuality.
- Professional conduct.
- Initiative and willingness to learn.
- Ability to work effectively with engineers, artisans, technicians, and other personnel.
12. Internship Development Objective
The primary objective of the Mechanical Engineering Internship is to provide structured workplace exposure that enables the intern to develop from an academically trained candidate into a technically competent engineering professional.
The intern should progressively gain practical understanding of the complete equipment maintenance lifecycle:
Inspection → Dismantling → Assessment → Failure Identification → Repair Recommendation → Component Repair/Replacement → Quality Inspection → Reassembly → Testing → Installation → Commissioning → Final Technical Reporting
Where appropriate, work assignments should be structured to provide meaningful practical engineering exposure and contribute toward the candidate's future professional development and engineering competency.
Pay: R11 281,56 - R15 000,00 per month
Location:
- Brackenfell, Western Cape 7560 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
