CHIEF ENGINEER (GRADE A): MATERIALS

This position offers an experienced professional engineer the opportunity to lead materials engineering within the Western Cape Government’s Department of Infrastructure. As Chief Engineer (Grade A) for Materials, the successful candidate will operate at a senior technical level, providing strategic direction and expert oversight for the specification, testing, and performance management of road and construction materials. The role sits within a public-sector engineering environment where the quality and durability of materials directly affect the safety, lifespan, and cost-effectiveness of the province’s road network. The post is an OSD-graded engineering role, reflecting its senior status and the high level of technical accountability expected.

Applicants must hold an appropriate engineering degree, such as a B Eng or BSc (Eng), or an equivalent recognised qualification, and must have at least six years of post-qualification engineering experience. Compulsory registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a Professional Engineer is a firm requirement, as is a valid code B driving licence. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical knowledge with strong leadership and management capability. Required competencies span both technical and generic domains, including programme and project management, engineering design and analysis, legal and operational compliance, maintenance skills, and computer-aided engineering applications. On the leadership side, the role demands strategic capability, problem solving, decision making, team leadership, financial management, people management, conflict management, negotiation skills, and change management.

The core duties revolve around ensuring engineering design and analysis effectiveness, maintaining operational efficiency, and upholding governance standards. The Chief Engineer will be responsible for allocating, controlling, monitoring, and reporting on all resources, as well as managing financial and people-related matters within the materials unit. A key part of the role is to ensure that material design standards, specifications, and quality control processes are applied and continuously improved. The incumbent will lead innovation and improvements in road materials, support asset management through the use of materials performance data, and provide technical advice on materials for development applications, abnormal loads, and their impact on the road network. The role also includes guiding laboratory testing, field investigations, and material monitoring to support sound engineering decisions, as well as providing technical consulting and fostering a high-performance culture within the team.

Shortlisted candidates should note that the selection process includes two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise testing technical and generic suitability, and an integrity assessment covering ethical conduct. Candidates will also be required to submit duly completed vetting and supporting documentation before the interview date, and failure to do so within the prescribed timeframe may result in exclusion from the process. The Western Cape Government applies employment equity targets in its selection process, and by applying, candidates consent to reference checks with previous employers, including enquiries about disciplinary records and reasons for leaving. This is a demanding senior engineering role for a professional who is ready to shape materials standards and contribute to the long-term resilience of provincial infrastructure.