CONTROL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST: MATERIALS LABORATORY

The Control Engineering Technologist position within the Materials Laboratory of the Department of Infrastructure, Western Cape Government, offers a senior technical leadership opportunity for a registered professional who thrives on managing complex engineering challenges. This OSD-graded role sits at the intersection of applied materials science, laboratory quality assurance, and infrastructure delivery, requiring a candidate who can provide authoritative technological guidance to engineers and associated professionals. The incumbent will operate within a provincial government context, ensuring that road construction materials and testing methods meet rigorous statutory and regulatory standards while supporting the broader objectives of public infrastructure development and maintenance.

To be considered for this role, applicants must hold a Bachelor of Technology in Engineering or an equivalent relevant qualification, coupled with at least six years of post-qualification experience as an engineering technologist. Compulsory registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa as a Professional Engineering Technologist is non-negotiable, and a valid code B driving licence is required. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a blend of technical and generic competencies, including project management, technical design and analysis, computer-aided engineering applications, and a deep understanding of legal compliance and technical report writing. Expertise in road construction materials, testing methods, applicable standards, laboratory accreditation systems, and materials data analysis is essential. Equally important are problem-solving, decision-making, team leadership, change management, financial management, customer focus, and people management skills, as the role demands both technical authority and the ability to lead personnel and assets effectively.

The core duties are multifaceted. The successful candidate will manage technological advisory services by planning support for engineers and associate professionals, promoting safety standards in line with statutory requirements, and solving broadly defined technological challenges using proven techniques. They will also be responsible for developing, maintaining, and managing current technologies, monitoring and evaluating technological designs, and updating existing technical manuals, standard drawings, and procedures to incorporate new innovations. Quality assurance is a key focus, with the technologist expected to ensure that technical designs conform to specifications and to make recommendations for approval by the relevant authority. Administrative responsibilities include contributing to the budgeting process, compiling and submitting reports, providing inputs to the operational plan, and ensuring the development, implementation, and maintenance of databases. The role also involves supervising technological and related personnel and assets. Research and development form a continuous thread, requiring ongoing professional development, literature studies to improve expertise, and liaison with relevant bodies and councils on engineering-related matters.

Shortlisted candidates should note that the selection process includes interviews, the submission of vetting and supporting documentation within a specified timeframe, and two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise testing technical and generic suitability, and an integrity assessment on ethical conduct. The selection process will be guided by the employment equity targets of the department, and by applying, candidates consent to reference checks with previous employers, including enquiries about disciplinary records and reasons for leaving. This is a demanding but rewarding position for a professional technologist seeking to make a tangible impact on public infrastructure through rigorous materials laboratory leadership and engineering excellence.