Automation and Control Technician

Join National Brands Limited (NBL) and be part of a legacy that has shaped South Africa’s biscuit tradition for over 170 years. With two iconic factories in Isando and Westmead, we produce beloved brands like Bakers Tennis®, Blue Label Marie®, and Choice Assorted®; creating moments of joy for generations of South Africans. At NBL, you’ll work in a dynamic, forward-thinking environment where innovation, quality, and teamwork thrive.

Why Join National Brands Limited (NBL)?

• Make an Impact: Contribute to producing South Africa’s favourite biscuit brands, influencing daily life.
• Innovative Growth: Be part of a forward-thinking environment that encourages product and process improvement.
• Career Development: Access a range of roles and growth opportunities at one of NBL’s 5 world-class facilities.
• Collaborative Culture: Work in a supportive, team-driven environment where your contributions matter.

An exciting opportunity exists for an Automation Technician at NATIONAL BRANDS LIMITED Isando Biscuits. The purpose of the role is to provide technical support for all aspects of automation fault finding and improvement. Coordinate planned automation maintenance with engineering and external resources. Support the Automation Software Specialist in the research & development of site-wide automation possibilities.

Line Manager: Production Software Specialist

Job Specification:

Key Performance Areas:

1. Assist with day-to-day software-related breakdowns with recommendations to reduce

• Attend to software-related breakdowns in the factory
• Recommend actions to reduce and/or eliminate automation breakdowns
• Compile reports on attended breakdowns to isolate and eliminate common and frequent issues
• Provide technical support and training to site on an ad-hoc basis

2. Investigation of plant breakdown incidents - trends, alarms, reports etc.

• Investigate previous plant breakdowns using available tools such as trends, alarms etc.
• Recommend and implement modern and robust solutions to assist with the investigation of breakdowns.
• Assist Finance and Logistics departments regarding stock losses using SCADA reports and Historian in relation to SAP

3. Minor plant modifications - upgrade of HMIs, PLCs, drives etc.

• Assist engineering foremen with minor plant changes that need code modifications
• Upgrade and migrate obsolete automation equipment after failure.
• Proactively migrate redundant software programs to suit newer equipment

4. Ensure spares and backups are current.

• Perform software backups as envisioned on the software backup procedure document
• Ensure all plant software backups are up-to-date
• Perform periodic spares audits and identify critical spares

5. Assist instrumentation technicians with PLC, HMI, Drive and SCADA fault finding

• Assist engineering personnel with fault finding using PLC/SCADA
• Mentor Instrument Technicians and graduates with control system skills

Minimum Requirements:

Experience:                                                                   

• Minimum 3 - 5 years’ experience in a similar role within a FMCG environment

Qualifications:

• National Diploma in Electrical, Electronic, and Instrumentation Engineering

Additional Requirements:

• PLC Programming (Siemens S7, Allen Bradley)
• SCADA (Wonderware InTouch)
• HMI (Siemens, Omron, Proface) Programming
• AC/DC – Drives and Servo experience
• Industrial networking protocols (Profinet, Profibus, and Modbus)
• MS Office & SQL Server

Take the Next Step with NBL

Join our team, make a real impact, and contribute to the success of South Africa’s favourite biscuit brands. Apply now and become part of a team that’s dedicated to quality ingredients and a touch of Bakers® magic!