Graduate Application Engineer – Industrial Automation

About the role

SA Power Services is seeking a Graduate Application Engineer to join its Engineering team in Johannesburg. The role offers recent graduates the chance to develop technical expertise in industrial automation through hands‑on projects and structured mentoring.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in designing, developing and implementing industrial automation solutions.
• Prepare technical proposals, system designs, costings and quotations.
• Develop and modify PLC and HMI applications for control systems.
• Support commissioning, testing and troubleshooting of automation projects.
• Contribute to servo and motion‑control applications.
• Consult with customers to translate requirements into functional solutions.
• Produce technical documentation, commissioning guides and operating manuals.
• Collaborate with Integration, Sales and Engineering teams and attend site visits.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechatronic Engineering.
• Strong interest in industrial automation and control systems.
• Basic understanding of PLC programming and control principles.
• Analytical, problem‑solving and communication skills.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel nationally and internationally.

Required skills

• PLC programming (IEC 61131‑3 languages).
• HMI/SCADA development.
• Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Profinet).
• Servo and motion‑control systems.

What we offer

• Structured mentoring and on‑the‑job training.
• Hands‑on experience with leading automation technologies.
• Exposure to a variety of projects across multiple industries.
• Collaborative environment with experienced engineers.