Reporting to the Supervisor, Control Systems at the Astron Energy Refinery in Cape Town, the Control Systems Specialist provides critical technical support for the maintenance, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of refinery-wide control systems. Working under the direction of the Supervisor – Control Systems, this role helps ensure equipment availability, operational safety, and compliance through hands-on system support, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and participation in reliability, maintenance, and capital project activities.

Daily Operations & Technical Support

·       Perform troubleshooting, maintenance, and repairs on Control Systems including Yokogawa DCS and ESD, PLCs, SCADAs, and other Black Box Solutions to ensure optimal performance and uptime.

·       Support shift and after-hours reliability through participation in the on-call rotation.

·       Follow established procedures for documenting work activities, system issues, and resolutions.

 

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

·       Collaborate closely with Operations, IT, OT Specialists, TSD, Maintenance, and Reliability teams to resolve issues and support integrated systems.

·       Support communication and knowledge sharing across departments to ensure alignment on control system performance and reliability goals.

·       Provide control system support for calibration and integration of tank gauging systems in coordination with the Tank Team.

 

System Maintenance & Strategies

·       Assist in implementing maintenance strategies that support reliability, availability, and safety of control systems.

·       Participate in planned and unplanned maintenance activities, ensuring that systems are patched, updated, and configured according to site standards.

·       Monitor and adhere to the site’s sparing philosophy by identifying spares usage and reporting critical needs.

Performance Monitoring & Analysis

·       Conduct data analysis of system-generated trends, alarms, and reports to support proactive troubleshooting and reliability improvements.

·       Participate in condition monitoring and preventive maintenance programs for control systems.

·       Identify root causes of system issues through critical thinking and collaboration with field teams.

 

Project Support & Implementation

·       Support the development of control system graphics, logic configurations, and documentation in alignment with functional control specifications.

·       Assist with the execution of small-scale capital and maintenance projects within defined scope, cost, and timelines.

·       Participate in control system upgrades, replacements, and modifications as part of the site’s Asset Management Life Cycle.

·       Adhere to the Management of Change (MOC) process and ensure that technical changes are well-documented and communicated.

 

Safety & Compliance

·       Support execution and verification of Emergency Shutdown System (ESD) tests and function checks as directed by the Supervisor.

·       Ensure compliance with process safety and instrumentation-related safety-critical elements (SCEs).

·       Participate in safety audits, plant walkdowns, and reviews to identify and mitigate control system risks.

 

Advisory & Development

 

·       Provide input to investigations and reliability studies where control systems are involved.

·       Share expertise and knowledge with technicians, apprentices, and operations personnel to strengthen team capability.

·       Offer technical support for Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), MOCs, and other risk management processes.

 

General Expectations

·       Manage multiple priorities and respond to urgent system issues as required.

·       Communicate progress and potential delays to the Supervisor in a timely manner.

·       Embrace a strong safety culture by participating in safety observations and initiatives.

·       Required Time Spent – 80% Office – 20% Field

Professional Qualifications & Certifications

• National Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Control and Instrumentation – Light Current) preferred (NQF-6), or relevant N-level qualification combined with practical refinery experience (NQF-4).
• Trade Test in Instrumentation is advantageous.
• Additional technical certifications in DCS, PLC, SCADA, or industrial automation systems are desirable.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 7 years' experience in the petrochemical, refining, or related industrial sector, specifically in Control & Instrumentation (C&I) roles.
• Hands-on experience supporting automation and control systems in high-risk, process-driven environments.
• Exposure to Astron Refinery equipment, processes, and standards is a significant advantage.

Work Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated experience supporting and maintaining DCS (Yokogawa), SCS (Yokogawa), SCADA, PLCs, and specialized Black Box automation systems.
• Familiarity with refinery operations, process instrumentation, and control room support.
• Working knowledge of motor control, power distribution systems, and industrial network infrastructure.
• Proficient in system troubleshooting, fault diagnosis, and implementing sustainable solutions in collaboration with operations and maintenance teams.
• Experience supporting industrial IT/OT environments, including interface with client-server systems, patch management, and cybersecurity awareness.
• Strong communication skills – able to interpret and convey complex technical issues clearly to various stakeholders.
• Sound analytical thinking and data interpretation skills, especially using trends, alarms, and system logs for root cause analysis.

Application deadline:

21 September 2025