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Operator II
Location: Vereeniging, South Africa
Function: Supply Chain
Automation Engineer
The purpose of this position:
The key purpose of this role is to provide structured, strategic and leadership within the automation and control discipline across Heineken Beverages manufacturing operations. The role develops and governs automation standards, architecture, frameworks and lifecycle practices; influences site and project decisions; improves manufacturing reliability and performance; strengthens PCD cybersecurity; and enables the controlled implementation and enhancement of digital manufacturing technologies. The role works across sites and functions to ensure automation solutions are safe, reliable, maintainable, secure, integrated, scalable and aligned with Heineken requirements and long-term business priorities.
Key responsibilities:
Automation Manufacturing Reliability and Continuous Improvement:
Provide cross-site technical leadership to improve the reliability, maintainability and performance of automation and control systems.
• Establish and govern reliability standards, maintenance strategies and performance measures for PLC, SCADA, HMI, industrial networks, drives, instrumentation and associated control infrastructure.
• Analyse systemic failures, repeat breakdowns and automation-related production losses; lead structured root cause analysis and ensure sustainable corrective and preventive actions are implemented.
• Support sites with complex or high-impact automation incidents while strengthening site capability and ownership.
• Identify and prioritise opportunities to improve throughput, quality, energy performance, process stability, OPI and cost through automation and advanced control.
• Develop reusable troubleshooting practices, standard diagnostics, technical guidance and lessons-learned mechanisms across the manufacturing network.
Automation Projects and Obsolescence Management:
Provide technical assurance and lifecycle governance for automation capital projects, upgrades and obsolescence programmes.
• Define automation project requirements, design principles, acceptance criteria and handover standards.
• Review and approve control philosophies, functional design specifications, architectures, software designs, network designs and supplier proposals for compliance with approved standards.
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, FAT, SAT, commissioning, performance verification and operational handover for strategic projects.
• Develop and maintain automation asset lifecycle and obsolescence frameworks, site risk profiles, technology roadmaps and prioritised replacement plans.
Automation Technology, Architecture and Integration:
Define and govern fit-for-purpose automation technologies and integration patterns across the control and manufacturing landscape.
• Own and maintain reference architectures, approved technology standards, software libraries, naming conventions, interface principles and engineering practices for automation and control systems.
• Evaluate emerging and existing technologies against business value, cybersecurity, interoperability, supportability, scalability and lifecycle requirements.
• Ensure reliable integration between field devices, control systems, SCADA, historians, MES, utilities platforms, reporting solutions and approved enterprise services.
• Guide industrial communication and data integration using approved protocols, segmented architectures and clearly defined ownership boundaries between OT and IT.
• Maintain strategic relationships with OEMs, system integrators and technology partners; influence roadmaps and ensure solutions remain aligned with Heineken architecture and support models.
• Create governance mechanisms for deviations, technical decisions, solution assurance and controlled introduction of new technology.
PCD Cybersecurity and Compliance:
Strengthen cybersecurity and compliance within the Process Control Domain through standards, risk management and technical governance.
• Translate Heineken PCD security requirements into practical automation engineering standards, implementation roadmaps and assurance controls.
• Govern secure network segmentation, access control, remote access, backup and restore, patching, malware protection, account management, logging and recovery practices for automation assets.
• Support PCD risk assessments, audits, vulnerability remediation and incident response, ensuring actions are prioritised according to operational and business risk.
• Embed security-by-design into automation projects, system changes, supplier access and technology lifecycle decisions.
• Define evidence, documentation and compliance routines required to demonstrate that controls are implemented, sustained and periodically tested.
• Collaborate with PCD Security, IT, site engineering and external partners to resolve risks without compromising safety, quality or production continuity.
Digital Manufacturing Implementation and Enhancement:
Enable sustainable digital manufacturing solutions by ensuring robust automation data foundations, controlled integration and measurable operational value.
• Provide automation leadership for historian, MES, OPI, energy, condition monitoring, analytics and other approved digital manufacturing initiatives.
• Define data acquisition, contextualisation, tag, interface, time synchronisation, data quality and ownership standards from shop-floor systems to authorised digital platforms.
• Ensure digital solutions are industrialised, supportable, cybersecure and integrated into site operating and maintenance routines rather than remaining isolated pilots.
• Partner with operations, engineering, digital, data and IT teams to translate business problems into scalable automation and data solutions.
• Assess solution performance after implementation and drive enhancements based on adoption, reliability, data quality and realised business benefits.
Standards, Governance, Capability and Strategic Influence:
Build a consistent and sustainable automation engineering capability across Heineken Beverages through governance, assurance and knowledge leadership.
• Develop, maintain and deploy automation policies, standards, frameworks, specifications, templates and technical procedures aligned with global and local requirements.
• Establish governance forums, compliance assessments, maturity reviews and performance reporting to provide visibility of automation risks, priorities and progress.
• Influence investment plans and management decisions by presenting clear technical risk, lifecycle, cost and business-impact information.
• Provide coaching, technical mentoring and structured capability development for site automation engineers, technicians, project engineers and relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-site communities of practice, knowledge sharing, benchmarking and replication of proven solutions.
• Define competency expectations and support succession and training for the automation and control discipline.
• Act as a recognised subject matter expert and escalation point, balancing enterprise standardisation with site requirements and operational realities.
Safety, Health, Environment and Quality:
Ensure that automation strategies, designs, changes and work practices protect people, product, plant, information and the environment.
• Apply management-of-change, functional safety, quality, environmental and legal requirements to automation engineering activities.
• Ensure control system modifications are appropriately assessed, tested, approved, documented, backed up and recoverable before release to production.
• Promote safe engineering behaviours and ensure suppliers and partners comply with site and Heineken SHE requirements.
The successful candidate must have the following experience/skills:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics, Process Control, Instrumentation, Automation or a related engineering discipline.
• Relevant professional registration, postgraduate qualification or recognized automation, industrial networking, cybersecurity or project certification would be an added advantage.
• Minimum 10 years relevant experience in industrial automation and control within a manufacturing or process environment, including experience with PLC, SCADA/HMI, industrial networks, drives, instrumentation and system integration.
• Demonstrated experience in automation projects, reliability improvement, technology lifecycle or obsolescence management and cross-functional technical leadership.
• Experience operating across multiple manufacturing sites, developing standards or providing technical governance at business, regional or Centre of Excellence level would be an added advantage.
Click here to apply
Shift Technician
Minimum Requirements
- Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in a manufacturing or FMCG environment.
- Trade Test Certificate (Millwright and/or Mechanical/Electrical)
- Proven experience working on bottling and packaging machinery.
- Strong fault-finding and troubleshooting skills.
- Experience working shifts in a high-speed production environment.
- Knowledge of PLCs, Servo, AC Drives, Conveyors, fillers, labelers, packers, and related packaging equipment will be advantageous.
Key Activities
- Maintains the equipment and works in line with the defined and implemented safety and food safety standards. Following the 5S, and Housekeeping related to the work place.
- Takes care of the process measurement equipment. Supports regular calibrations and periodical checks.
- Takes initiatives and is actively involved in optimizing workplace performance via AM/5S teams and activities. Proposes improvement actions based on standard analyses and sensing (hearing/looking/feeling/smelling) of his/her area of the line.
- Ensures the Packaging process (machines) operates in an efficient and effective manner according to the production plan and specification in standard and non-standard conditions.
- Executes dedicated preventive maintenance activities OTIF and understands principle of FTR (First Time Right), Acts efficiently in case of breakdowns. Captures and interprets performance data and executes corrective actions if needed.
Skills
- Strong fault-finding and troubleshooting abilities on production equipment
- Basic machining and workshop skills, including drilling, cutting, welding, and lathe operations.
- Experience with high-speed bottling and packaging line machinery
- Competence in preventative and breakdown maintenance within a production environment
- Working knowledge of pneumatic and hydraulic systems
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, schematics, and equipment manuals
- Hands-on experience with conveyors, fillers, cappers, labellers, and related packaging equipment
- Understanding of alignment, bearings, gearboxes, and drive systems
- Experience within a beverage or FMCG manufacturing environment
- Knowledge of food safety standards and hygiene practices (GMP/HACCP)
- Ability to perform effectively under pressure in a fast-paced production environment
- Willingness and ability to work shift patterns and respond to breakdowns promptly
- Strong adherence to safety procedures, including lockout/tagout compliance
- Good communication and teamwork within multidisciplinary maintenance and production teams
Click here to apply
QA Analyst Sensory
Applications are invited for the above-mentioned position in the Quality Assurance Laboratory, based at Heineken Beverages Springs Cidery. The successful incumbent will report to the QA Specialist Lab.
Key Performance Areas would include, but are not limited to:
- Reduction in sensory cost of non-compliance
- Reduction in product retention/release
- Enable growth
- Prioritized sensory panel expansion within budget
- Sensory governance framework delivered and maintaining the LSS standards
- Trend analysis on site sensory performance
- Overall site sensory competence maintained at >90%
- Drive superior product quality delivery within Springs Cidery
- Lab excellence delivered
- Training and assessment schedules developed and executed
- Lab SLA targets achieved >90%
- Top 3 improvement projects supported
- Drive business efficiency and growth
- Initiating internal process improvements and the implementation thereof.
- Effective utilization of resources and systems
- Instilling a quality culture in his/her area of responsibility and sphere of influence.
- Building and maintaining effective and trusting relationships with internal customers and peers.
- Enhancing customer experience by achieving and/or exceeding targeted customer service levels
- Drive manufacturing reliability enabling capital & asset efficiency
- Performing all relevant administrative and process duties.
- Initiating and assisting in problem solving.
- Improve manufacturing cost competitiveness
- Innovation initiatives capitalized
- Step change environmental sustainability
- Utilities usage reduction initiatives supported
- Growing the business through support of cross-functional improvement and new development projects.
- Participating in TPM practice implementation.
- Deliver growth, profitability and shareholder return objectives
The successful candidate must have the following qualification, skills and experience:
- At least a diploma in biological or food science / BSc degree or equivalent
- At least 2 years relevant work experience in the fast-moving consumer goods environment preferably in the alcoholic beverage industry
- Previous working experience with a Food Safety Management System
- Advanced computer skills and excellent communication skills are also needed
- Must be self-motivated and able to work without supervision
- Ability to work under pressure
- Methodical, accurate and conscientious worker
- Working knowledge of safety procedures and housekeeping standards
- Have reliable transport
Click here to apply
Production Planner
Applicants are invited for the above-mentioned position to be based in the Planning Department, Springs. The successful candidate will report to the Master Planner.
Key Performance Areas would include, but are not limited to:
- Effective production planning of Cellar processing.
- Optimal weekly planning rhythms.
- Optimal capacity utilization of Cellar processing
- Assist with compilation of Cellar volumes budgets/forecasts.
- Adhere to suppliers MOQ (minimum order quality) and lead times.
- Engagement with internal stake holders by on site and at head office (Central Planning, Material Planning and Logistics department)
- Issuing of bulk loading plans and management of OTIF deliveries
- Drive Service Levels and Working Capital Management (Stock levels)
- Reduce the cost of inventory in Bulk stock holding, including bulk consumables.
- Ensure Planning Master Data Accuracy
- Manage slow moving and obsolete materials.
- Support and Drive Innovation & Supply Chain Excellence
- Lead and govern bulk change control (New Products, Product Upgrades)
- Ensure process orders are set to TECO after final movements have been completed by all departments.
- Drive innovation and business improvements in support of operational goals.
The Successful candidate must preferably have the following experience/skills:
- A tertiary qualification in Industrial Engineering, Production Planning, Logistics or Supply chain management is a requirement.
- 2-3 years of experience within a Production planning environment
- High level of SAP acumen regarding SAP Planning tools
- Advance level of competency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint)
- Strong analytical abilities
- Strong attention to detail is essential.
- High level of problem-solving abilities
- Future-orientated and able to generate contingency plans.
- Good verbal/ written communication skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with site management and planners.
- Ability to persevere with tasks and display resilience when confronted with adversity.
Click here to apply
Automation Technician
We Go Places! How about you?
Immediate Superior: Maintenance Team Leader
Location: Springs
Function: Supply Chain
Sub Function: Manufacturing
Type of Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 31/07/2026
Applications are invited for the above-mentioned position to be based in Springs Production
The successful candidate will report directly to the Maintenance Team Leader.
Key Performance Areas would include, but are not limited to:
- Knowledge of wiring diagrams
- Reading and understanding of electrical drawings in a plant environment
- Methodical fault finding / detection and maintenance of electrical motors, pumps, control panels and distribution boards to required standards,
- Excellent working knowledge of sensor control, VSD, HMI, switch gear, AC motors, relay logic, temperature controllers, industrial instrumentation, etc.
- Basic understanding of PLC input/outputs
- Repairs of production machinery including site related electrical work
- Adhere to all safety procedures, policies and regulations – total compliance OHS Act
- Excellent housekeeping
- Active involvement in mini business operating activities.
The successful candidate must have the following experience/skills:
- Matric
- Trade Certificate – Automation
- N6
- 3-5 relevant working experience in the FMCG electrical / automation environment
- Working experience with bottling machinery will be a distinct advantage
- Familiar with S7 and high-speed machinery
- Must be self-motivated, innovative and able to work without or limited supervision
- Support business improvements, operational and segment goals
- Able to work and cope under pressure and make decisions where necessary
- Possess good communication skills on all levels
- Must be responsible and punctual – adhere to Heineken Values
- Must be willing and able to work shifts and overtime if required
- Strong ability to do problem solving, fault-finding and knowledge of various problem-solving methods
- To reflect good leadership behavior – towards colleagues, superior and company values.
Click here to apply
Process Engineer
Applications are invited for a Process Engineer position in our Engineering team based in Springs. This person will report to the Engineering Manager and be responsible in supporting operational excellence by applying engineering expertise to optimize production processes, improve equipment performance, drive sustainability initiatives, and lead continuous improvement across the plant.
Key Performance Areas would include, but are not limited to:
- Conduct detailed mass and energy balances to verify process capability, identify inefficiencies, and support optimization and project development.
- Develop, maintain, and analyse PFDs and P&IDs to support process understanding, modification, and compliance with engineering standards.
- Lead and support capital and operational projects, including scope development, design reviews, contractor management, FATs/SATs, and commissioning.
- Perform operational analysis of equipment and processes, including downtime studies, efficiency tracking and reviews, and performance benchmarking.
- Form part of a multi-disciplinary problem-solving team, applying structured methodologies defined by TPM. Conduct hydraulic calculations (pressure drop, line sizing, pump selection) to support design changes, troubleshooting, and system upgrades.
- Apply chemical, mechanical, and process engineering principles to optimize plant operations, improve throughput, and address equipment or process deviations.
- Implement and embed global best practices to standardize processes, drive the sustainability agenda, improve safety performance, and elevate operational excellence.
- Drive the plant’s sustainability agenda, including water and energy reduction initiatives, waste minimization, and circularity projects.
- Collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, Safety, and Operations teams to ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
- Lead or support data-driven decision making through statistical analysis, trending, and interpretation of process and production data.
- Champion process safety, ensuring process risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated through engineering controls and safe operating practices.
- Participate in technology evaluations, feasibility studies, and trials to introduce improved processes, automation, or equipment innovations.
- Support accurate utility usage analysis (steam, water, compressed air, refrigeration) and identify areas for optimization and conservation.
- Maintain rigorous documentation and engineering governance, including change control, drawings updates, and standards compliance.
The successful candidate must have the following qualification, skills and experience:
- Degree in Engineering (BTech/BEng)
- Must have 5-8 years experience
- Demonstrated project ownership with measurable technical contributions and field exposure
- Leadership ability
Ability to facilitate problem solving in a team forumThe Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, the Company actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply. Heineken Beverages (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates and values inclusion and diversity. You must be fully eligible to live and work in South Africa to apply
Click here to apply
We wish you all the best with your applications
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