Electrical & Instrumentation Project Engineer

As an Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) Project Engineer, you take ownership of the full project lifecycle for the electrical and instrumentation scope within a demanding, continuously running production environment. From initial budgeting and design through procurement and on-site execution, you make sure every project is delivered safely, on time, and within budget. You work closely with project managers, process engineers, and maintenance teams, and you're just as comfortable behind a technical drawing as you are on the plant floor coordinating contractors.

Description

As an E&I Project Engineer, you take a project from first estimate to final handover. Your responsibilities include:

• Preparing cost estimates for the purchase, installation, commissioning, and documentation of E&I equipment, and monitoring spending to report accurately to the project manager
• Contributing to overall project planning by estimating material lead times and required labour hours
• Processing purchase orders for E&I materials and services, and checking deliveries before approving payment
• Keeping project documentation organised, issuing weekly planning updates, and tracking hours spent per project
• Maintaining daily contact with site foremen to align priorities and resolve issues during execution, occasionally leading contractor teams of up to around thirty specialists during peak periods
• Stepping in personally on complex problems during installation or commissioning, bringing in outside expertise where needed
• Inspecting installations during execution and checking completed work and documentation against specification after delivery
• Reviewing supplier and contractor quotations against technical specifications, then placing orders in coordination with the project and purchasing managers
• Mapping out existing and required E&I infrastructure ahead of each project to support accurate budgeting
• Translating approved project requirements into detailed specifications and scopes of work, ensuring alignment with NEN, ATEX, and CE requirements

Requirements

You're a structured, hands-on engineer who's equally comfortable with a spreadsheet and a set of technical drawings. You take ownership of your projects from budget to delivery, you communicate clearly with people at every level — from contractor foremen to plant management — and you don't shy away from a difficult decision under time pressure.

• A Bachelor's degree (or Red Seal equivalent) in Electrical Engineering or Instrumentation & Control
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a highly automated process environment
• Solid knowledge of and experience with process automation systems
• Broad process knowledge, or the ability to build it quickly, across a large industrial site
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Familiarity with NEN, ATEX, and CE standards for electrical and instrumentation work (or willingness to obtain this)
• High proficiency with standard engineering and office software, including spreadsheets, drawing tools, and project planning applications
• Valid driver's license
• Fluency in both English and Afrikaans

What we offer

At Employ IR, we believe in giving you the freedom and support to build a meaningful career abroad. We create an environment where you can use your skills to the fullest while growing personally and professionally. We offer:

• Base salary between €4.357 – €7.500 gross per month (based on experience)
• 8% holiday allowance on top of your annual salary
• Work-related expenses fully covered, including relocation to the Netherlands
• Company vehicle (also available for private use)
• 25 vacation days and additional ATV leave days per year (full-time basis)
• Solid pension contribution
• A safe, stable and supportive working environment
• A high degree of freedom and flexibility, including the possibility to work from home

About the client

Our client operates in the agrifood processing sector, specializing in the conversion of wheat and maize into starch, glucose, and ethanol—products essential for food, feed, and industrial applications. Located in the Netherlands, the site is part of a larger, global agribusiness enterprise with extensive experience and a broad product portfolio spanning sweeteners, industrial starches, and animal nutrition.

More information

About Employ IR:

Employ IR is a Dutch recruitment agency dedicated to connecting skilled South African professionals with leading technical employers in the Netherlands. Our focus is on long-term career growth, professional fulfilment, and personal well-being. We support our candidates through every step of relocation and integration, ensuring a successful transition into Dutch working life.

Interested?

If you are excited about contributing your technical and maintenance skills to high-impact projects in the Netherlands, we’d love to hear from you. Simply apply now to express your interest. Know someone else who might be a good fit? Feel free to share this vacancy