OVERVIEW

Senior Mechanical Engineer – Integrated Sugar Factory Operations

Location: East Africa
Industry: Sugar Manufacturing | Agro-Industrial Processing | Power & Utilities
Level: Senior Engineering Leadership
Reporting to: Head of Engineering / Factory General Manager

A Strategic Engineering Leadership Opportunity

My Client an established, large-scale Sugar Factory in East Africa is seeking a highly experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to play a pivotal leadership role within a fully integrated sugar manufacturing operation.

This is not a routine maintenance role — it is a high-impact engineering leadership position focused on safeguarding asset reliability, improving operational performance, and driving long-term engineering excellence in a complex, continuous-process industrial environment.

We are specifically interested in accomplished engineering professionals who have built their careers within African sugar manufacturing environments, and who understand the operational realities, technical challenges, and leadership demands of large-scale sugar production across the continent.

This opportunity offers:

• Strategic influence over critical factory assets and long-term engineering direction.
• A senior decision-making platform within a major agro-industrial operation.
• Exposure to integrated sugar operations including milling, boilers, turbines, power generation, and refinery systems.
• The ability to lead transformation, reliability improvement, and modern engineering practices.
• A strong platform for seasoned engineers looking to make a measurable operational impact.

Remuneration Structure:

• Salary : Highly competitive Salary paid: in US$ 8000 + Net offshore (highly negotiable)
• Local living allowance
• Annual incentive bonus structure
• Housing / Accommodation provided ( single / Family status)
• Medical insurance
• Company vehicle
• Annual Leave
• Annual return Air tickets to point of origin congruent to leave cycle

Role Purpose

The Senior Mechanical Engineer will provide leadership and technical direction across all mechanical engineering activities supporting sugar production. The role focuses on maximising mechanical reliability, reducing production downtime, and ensuring operational continuity through robust maintenance systems, technical mentorship, and engineering innovation.

The incumbent will serve as a key engineering leader during both production campaigns and planned shutdowns, ensuring equipment integrity across the entire sugar process chain.

Key Strategic Responsibilities

Mechanical Reliability Leadership

• Provide senior-level oversight of all mechanical assets across the factory including:
  • Cane preparation and handling systems
  • Milling tandems and extraction systems
  • Boilers, pressure systems, and steam infrastructure
  • Turbines and power generation equipment
  • Pumps, gearboxes, compressors, conveyors, and rotating machinery
  • Evaporation, crystallisation, and refinery systems
  • Packaging and utilities infrastructure
• Drive reliability-centred maintenance practices and long-term asset integrity strategies.
• Reduce unplanned downtime through engineering-led improvements.

Engineering Strategy & Maintenance Excellence

• Lead preventative and predictive maintenance frameworks.
• Oversee major overhaul programs and off-crop shutdown planning.
• Introduce modern reliability tools including condition-based monitoring and failure trend analysis.
• Enhance maintenance planning disciplines and CMMS utilisation.
• Improve engineering standards and maintenance culture across teams.

Operations Partnership & Performance Optimisation

• Partner closely with factory operations leadership to improve throughput and recovery performance.
• Drive mechanical solutions that optimise process efficiency and plant utilisation.
• Provide rapid, technically sound leadership during critical breakdown scenarios.

Utilities & Energy Systems

• Provide senior oversight of high-pressure steam systems, boilers, and turbine operations.
• Improve energy efficiency, steam balance, and mechanical performance of utility systems.
• Support sustainable engineering initiatives and cost optimisation.

Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead multidisciplinary maintenance teams including supervisors, artisans, and specialists.
• Mentor emerging engineers and strengthen engineering capability within the organisation.
• Drive engineering accountability, safety culture, and technical discipline.
• Influence cross-functional collaboration between maintenance and production teams.

Safety, Compliance & Governance

• Ensure strict compliance with engineering safety standards and legal requirements.
• Champion safe working practices and risk-based engineering decision-making.
• Participate in incident investigations and technical risk mitigation programs.

Candidate Profile — Critical Requirements

We are specifically seeking engineering leaders who meet the following profile:

Experience (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

• 10–20+ years’ experience within sugar factory environments (critical).
• Proven track record in large integrated sugar operations within:
  • Southern Africa
  • East Africa
  • West Africa
• Extensive exposure to continuous-process factory operations.
• Experience managing maintenance during high-pressure production campaigns.
• Demonstrated leadership in plant-wide mechanical reliability improvement.

Technical Background

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
• Deep expertise in rotating equipment, milling systems, steam and power generation, and heavy mechanical systems.
• Strong understanding of reliability engineering principles.
• Experience with large shutdown planning and execution.
• Familiarity with modern maintenance systems and engineering analytics.

Leadership Attributes We Are Looking For

• Respected technical authority within sugar engineering environments.
• Calm, solutions-driven leadership under operational pressure.
• Strategic thinker who can balance long-term reliability with immediate production demands.
• Strong mentoring capability with a people-development mindset.
• Culturally adaptable with experience working in diverse African operational contexts.

What Will Differentiate You

Highly attractive candidates will likely have:

• Experience across multiple African sugar operations or multi-site groups.
• Exposure to engineering modernisation initiatives.
• Strong power generation or boiler systems knowledge.
• Demonstrated success reducing downtime and improving extraction efficiency.
• A reputation as a practical, hands-on engineering leader.

The Opportunity

This position offers a rare chance to:

• Shape engineering performance at a strategic level.
• Work within one of Africa’s key agro-industrial sectors.
• Lead meaningful engineering transformation.
• Apply decades of sugar industry expertise where it matters most — on operational outcomes.

Ideal Candidate Motivation

This role is best suited to an experienced engineer who:

• Wants to influence factory-wide performance rather than manage only day-to-day maintenance.
• Values operational impact over corporate hierarchy.
• Is motivated by engineering excellence within a challenging industrial environment.

Application Considerations

Interested candidates should ideally provide:

• Detailed CV with head and shoulders photo outlining sugar factory experience and operational exposure.
• Details of major plants, capacities, and engineering responsibilities held.
• Professional engineering registrations (where applicable).
• References confirming leadership and technical capability.

Applications should be sent : Att Butch Mollett – Email: gordon@zjr.co.za Mobile / WhatsApp: +27 83 689 4769