Industrial Engineer

Job Description

• The Industrial Engineer drives operational efficiency and productivity across the quick-service restaurant QSR network by applying industrial engineering principles to optimise processes, labour deployment and capacity planning.
• The role analyses workflow, service times and resource utilisation to design and implement standardised operating procedures, reduce waste, and improve throughput, cost and customer experience across restaurant operations.
• Working closely with Operations and store teams, the Industrial Engineer leads continuous-improvement initiatives and translates data-driven insights into practical, measurable performance gains.

Responsibilities

• Process analysis & optimisation – map and analyse restaurant, kitchen and service workflows to identify bottlenecks, eliminate waste and improve flow.
• Labour & capacity modelling – develop labour standards, staffing models and capacity plans that match demand patterns and optimise workforce deployment.
• Work measurement & standards – conduct time-and-motion studies and establish standard operating procedures and productivity benchmarks.
• Continuous improvement – lead improvement initiatives to reduce cycle time, equipment downtime, cost and variability while maintaining quality, safety and food-safety standards.
• Layout & equipment optimisation – design and evaluate restaurant and kitchen layouts and equipment configurations to maximise efficiency and speed of service.
• Data analysis & reporting – collect, analyse and report operational data service times, throughput, waste, labour to inform decision-making.
• Project management – manage improvement projects from feasibility and cost-benefit analysis through to implementation and hand-over.
• Stakeholder collaboration & training – partner with operations teams to roll out new standards and train store teams on optimised processes.

Requirements

• A minimum of 2–3 years' experience as an Industrial Engineer, preferably within a quick-service restaurant QSR, retail, hospitality or other high-volume operations environment.
• Demonstrated experience in process optimisation, work study, labour and capacity modelling, and continuous improvement Lean / Six Sigma.
• Practical experience managing improvement projects end-to-end and partnering with operational stakeholders to implement and sustain change.
• Bachelor's Degree – BEng / BSc Eng, NQF Level 7 required
• Lean Six Sigma certification – Green or Black Belt advantageous
• Project Management certification advantageous
• Experience with Industrial engineering principles, methods and tools , time-and-motion and work-measurement techniques, and workforce/demand modelling, Process mapping, simulation and layout design.
• Data analysis and statistical tools e.g. Excel, Power BI
• Experience with Health, safety and food-safety standards advantageous
• Own vehicle and a valid driver's license.
• Willing to travel throughout South Africa.

Closing Date 10 August 2026