Control & Automation Engineer (Expat)
SET Consulting · South Africa
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Start free — we apply for you →Control & Automation Engineer (Expat) 
 Location: Lunsar, Sierra Leone Employment Type: Full-time | Site-based (Accommodation provided) 
 A well-established mining operation in West Africa is seeking an experienced Control & Automation Engineer (Expat) to join its Engineering & Maintenance team. This role is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of control and automation systems across the plant. 
 Key Responsibilities 
 
 • Ensure all control and automation activities comply with site safety standards, statutory requirements, and best engineering practices
 • Provide hands-on technical support during maintenance, breakdowns, shutdowns, and commissioning activities
 • Maintain and improve the reliability and availability of PLC, SCADA, HMI, instrumentation, and industrial network systems
 • Lead fault finding, root cause analyses, and implementation of corrective actions for automation-related issues
 • Plan and coordinate maintenance activities with Operations, Projects, OEMs, and IT teams
 • Supervise and support technicians, providing technical leadership and mentorship
 • Manage control system documentation, backups, version control, and system governance
 • Identify and implement system upgrades, obsolescence management, and automation improvements
 
 Key Deliverables 
 
 • High availability and reliability of automation and control systems
 • Safe, compliant execution of automation activities with minimal unplanned downtime
 • Successful commissioning, upgrades, and optimisation of plant control systems
 • Well-maintained technical documentation and control system standards
 • Development and upskilling of national technical staff
 
 Minimum Requirements 
 
 • Degree in Instrumentation, Electronics, or Control Engineering
 • Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Control & Instrumentation or Automation Engineer role, preferably in mining or heavy industry
 • Strong hands-on experience with PLC programming, SCADA/HMI configuration, and system commissioning
 • Proven experience in fault finding, breakdown support, and root cause analysis
 • Solid understanding of industrial networks, control system architectures, and cybersecurity principles
 
 Technical Skills & Experience (Advantageous) 
 
 • PLC platforms: Schneider (Control Expert / Unity), Modicon M580, Rockwell (RSLogix / Studio 5000)
 • SCADA & Historian systems: AVEVA Plant SCADA, Ignition, or similar
 • Industrial databases and SQL reporting
 • Edge computing / high-availability platforms
 • VSDs, safety systems, field instrumentation
 
 Personal Attributes 
 
 • Strong leadership and mentoring ability
 • Excellent communication and coordination skills
 • High level of planning, organisation, and accountability
 • Willingness to work in a remote, site-based environment
 
 Application Notice 
 This is an Expat position offering on-site accommodation. 
 If you do not receive feedback within two (2) weeks of submitting your application, please consider your application unsuccessful.