Mechanical Engineer

The Mechanical Engineer will be accountable to supervise a team of maintenance technicians and support staff to fulfill the day to day mechanical maintenance activities at the power and desalination plant.  In addition to supporting the management of the major outages of the plant through the provision of a gas turbine long-term service agreement, ensuring that the plant meets Safety, Environmental, availability, reliability, efficiency, and budgetary targets.

Functions/ Task:             



Safety at Work

• Ensures the compliance of IMS. Ensure a safe working environment for himself, his colleagues and contractors while working on any equipment


• Obtains a Permit to Work for each job as necessitated by the safety and associated Procedures


• Ensures all  Method Statements Work Instruction and Procedures are followed by himself and Contractors while undertaking any work


• Ensures that all appropriate tools are available to ensure work can be carried out safely on equipment


• Supervises Mechanical Technicians and Contractors to ensure Safety Rules and HSE procedures are followed


• Reports any unsafe conditions in accordance with procedure

Maintenance Task Planning and Execution

• Ensures maintenance tasks are completed by the Technicians as per Work Orders generated in CMMS


• Ensures work done notes on maintenance carried out is documented in CMMS


• Produce reports as necessary on any maintenance activity


• Plans for and ensures that maintenance of all mechanical equipment is in accordance with OEM manuals and best practices for the equipment


• Along with the Lead Engineer, ensures mechanical maintenance planning is correctly scheduled so that all equipment is maintained as per recommended intervals


• Reviews Mechanical Maintenance Procedures and suggests where they can be improved

Equipment Failure Trouble Shooting and Repair

• Supports the 24-hour operation by being regularly available for call-out at short notice


• Attempts all possible means of reducing equipment downtime and ensuring high plant availability


• Performs trouble shooting activities as necessary to determine failure conditions and rectifies defects found;


• Records and reports to the Lead Engineer all rectification jobs undertaken


• Generates reports of equipment failures


• Performs Root Cause Analysis of Failures


• Works with Plant Operations Personnel for resolving problems encountered with mechanical equipment.

Reporting and Planning and Budgeting

• Discusses planned and unplanned jobs undertaken with the Lead Engineer


• Works with the Lead Engineer for outage planning and execution


• Assists the Lead Engineer in planning and budget preparation processes.

Spares, Consumables and Use of Tools and Equipment

• Ensures adequate inventories of spares and consumables are maintained


• Places requisitions for purchase of required spares and consumables


• Ensures necessary tools and equipment is available to all Technicians


• Ensures appropriate certification of all tools is done on a routine basis


• Ensures all tools and equipment are appropriately maintained and are in good working condition

Provision of technical advice:

• Delivers technical advice to colleagues and Contractors to ensure safety and the proper execution of Plant Maintenance Practices


• Applies engineering knowledge and skills to review and update task lists for equipment. 


• Implements initiatives to address inconsistencies in CMMS scheduling, practices and documentation.

Staff Development:

• Coaches Mechanical Technicians on a range of mechanical equipment, Safe Work Procedures and Operational Techniques to ensure proper execution of Plant Routines


• Prepares and delivers Technical Training, including modules on GT & ST, alignment techniques, valves, pump repairs, compressors, dryers, HRSG component inspections and BOP plant equipment.

Frame works, Boundaries, & Decision Making Authority:

• The jobholder operates under the general guidance of the Lead Engineer on all routine issues related to plant operations and team management


• The jobholder is free to plan and manage own areas of activity within policy/procedural boundary limits Any extraordinary issues arising outside of set policies and procedures are referred to the Engineering Manager/Lead Engineer for discussion and approval of recommended actions

Accountable for Outcomes:



Continuous on-the-job application of safety rules and HSE procedure

Frequency of Safety Incidents and near misses. 

Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)

No HSE compliance breaches.

Closed out Work Orders

Efficiency at work

Quality of Work

Quality of reports

Efficiency troubleshooting

RCA and follow-up action

Accuracy of outage planning

Accuracy of forecast budget

Downtime due to unavailability of necessary spares and consumables

Condition and quantity of available tool and equipment

Quality and accuracy of documentation

Skill of Technicians and quality of work

Staff feedback