Mechanical Engineer (Industrial Utilities & Refrigeration)

WSP · Cape Town

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THE COMPANY:

WSP is one of Africa’s most diverse consulting firms and a proud member of the global WSP Group. As part of our strategic business expansion, we are looking for dedicated, skilled, and motivated individuals who take pride in working with us. We are committed to fostering and maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

KEY ROLE: 

We are strengthening our mechanical offering by appointing a Mechanical Engineer specialising in Industrial Utilities and Refrigeration. The ideal candidate will hold a B.Eng., B.Sc. Eng. Or B.Tech. Eng. Degree in Mechanical or Mechatronic Engineering and have three or more years of relevant consulting engineering experience, preferably involving industrial, manufacturing, food and beverage, cold-chain, clean-room or process facilities.

The role will focus predominantly on the planning, design, specification, procurement support, construction monitoring and commissioning of Industrial utility and Refrigeration systems. Experience in HVAC, medical gases, wet services/public health, fuel systems, fire engineering services and vertical transportation will be advantageous

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Technical Expertise:

• Possess a high level of technical proficiency in the design of industrial utility and refrigeration systems.
• Capable of managing projects from inception to closeout, with the ability to work independently. Guidance from a senior engineer will be provided for complex or high-value projects.
• Undertake the planning, design, specification and integration of industrial utility systems, including:

  • Steam generation, distribution, pressure reduction and condensate recovery

  • Hot-water and cold-water generation and distribution

  • Chilled-water and cooling-water systems

  • Compressed-air systems, including high- and low-pressure applications

  • Process manufacturing gas utilities such as nitrogen (normal and high purity), and helium

  • Industrial refrigeration systems, including natural refrigerants such as ammonia, CO₂, propane, etc. and synthetic refrigerants

  • Cascade and multi-stage refrigeration systems

  • CO₂ refrigeration, recovery, liquefaction and storage systems

  • Process heating and cooling systems

  • Industrial and specialist ventilation systems

  • Specialist piping and fluid-flow systems

  • Utility metering, monitoring and energy-recovery systems

  • Specify appropriate thermal insulated walls, floors and doors for people and material movement

• Design refrigeration and temperature-controlled facilities, including:

  • Cold rooms and freezer rooms

  • Blast freezers and blast chillers

  • Banana, tropical and other controlled-atmosphere ripening rooms

  • Bulk defrosting rooms

  • Specialist relative-humidity and temperature-controlled rooms

  • Food-processing and value-add production facilities

  • Refrigerated warehousing and distribution facilities

  • Post-harvest cooling facilities

• Prepare engineering calculations, equipment selections, datasheets, technical specifications, schedules, tender documentation and Bills of Quantities.
• Be proficient in preparing, reviewing and developing:

  • Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)

  • Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)

  • Utility flow diagrams and system schematics

  • Equipment and line lists

  • Valve schedules and utility schedules

  • Control philosophies, operating narratives and process descriptions

  • Plantroom and equipment layouts

  • Piping layouts, routing and support requirements

  • Interface schedules and tie-in schedules

  • Contractor commissioning documentation   

• Perform engineering calculations relating to:

  • Heat and mass balances

  • Refrigeration loads

  • Thermodynamic cycles

  • Pipe sizing and pressure-drop analysis

  • Pump, fan and compressor selection

  • Steam and condensate system sizing

  • Hydraulic and fluid-flow network analysis

  • Equipment capacity and redundancy requirements

  • Thermal insulation requirements

  • Energy use, heat recovery and system efficiency, system energy modelling

• Specify and evaluate specialist equipment such as boilers, chillers, cooling towers, refrigeration compressors, condensers, evaporators, pumps, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, air compressors, dryers, receivers and water-treatment equipment.
• Develop refrigeration plant process descriptions and control requirements for translation into control and automation programmes.
• Coordinate mechanical utility systems with process, electrical, controls and instrumentation, structural, civil, architectural and fire-engineering disciplines.
• Understanding of pressure systems, pressure vessels and associated safety requirements 
• Familiarity with hazardous-area requirements, where applicable 
• Knowledge of refrigerant safety, ammonia safety and refrigerant environmental requirements 
• Experience with utility consumption analysis and energy optimisation 
• Ability to carry out technical bid evaluations and vendor-document reviews 
• Understanding of control valves, instrumentation, isolation philosophy and plant control interfaces 
• Knowledge of equipment duty/standby philosophy, resilience and redundancy 
• Familiarity with commissioning plans, test procedures and performance verification 
• Knowledge of pipe materials, piping classes, valves, fittings, insulation and corrosion protection 
• Ability to conduct or contribute to plant surveys, utility audits and capacity assessments
• Apply relevant South African and international standards, statutory requirements and recognised industry codes to industrial utility and refrigeration designs.
• Participate in HAZOP, design-risk, constructability and operability reviews where applicable.
• Undertake site inspections, condition assessments, commissioning, performance testing, troubleshooting and optimisation of industrial utility and refrigeration systems.
• Review contractor drawings, technical submissions, method statements, commissioning procedures & results, and operation and maintenance documentation.
• Ensure that designs consider maintainability, operability, reliability, energy efficiency, lifecycle cost and safe access.

Digital Capability

• Skilled in engineering calculation and modelling tools applicable to industrial utilities, refrigeration, thermodynamics, fluid flow and heat transfer.
• Proficient in the preparation and coordination of PFDs, P&IDs, plant layouts, piping layouts and mechanical services models.
• Competent in AutoCAD and familiar with Revit, Navisworks, Autodesk Construction Cloud and other approved digital-delivery platforms.
• Experience with pipe-network, hydraulic, thermal or process-simulation software will be advantageous.
• Experience with refrigeration-selection software and manufacturer equipment-selection tools will be advantageous.
• Experience with HVAC load-calculation software, ventilation design, psychrometric analysis and HVAC modelling tools will be advantageous.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for engineering calculations, equipment schedules, utility balances and technical evaluations.
• Demonstrates digital literacy and effectively applies technology, data and digital-engineering tools relevant to industrial utility and refrigeration design.
• Applies BIM principles and supports multidisciplinary model coordination, clash detection and digital information management.
• Uses digital tools and data to improve project delivery, collaboration, quality, efficiency and client outcomes.
• Maintains high standards of digital information management and data quality in accordance with company digital-governance requirements.

• Continuously develops digital capability and contributes to a culture of innovation, automation and improvement

  Client Care & Marketing:

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, earning respect and trust.
• Understand clients’ needs and deliver tailored solutions.
• An established client base is advantageous.

Time & Team Management:

• Demonstrate strong leadership in communication, resource management, and teamwork.
• Ability to work unsupervised, managing time, quality, and effort to deliver high-quality results within time and cost constraints.

Project & Financial Management:

• Handle project scoping, scope monitoring, and cost control related to mechanical systems.
• Proficient in preparing tender documentation and managing the tender process.
• Competent in the formulation of Bills of Quantities (BOQs).
• Oversee contractor and contract management within the mechanical discipline.

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving:

• Apply logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions.
• Make sound judgments and decisions using both deductive and inductive reasoning.
• Use scientific principles to solve complex engineering problems.
• Able to research new technologies and apply sound engineering judgement to implement.

Communication Skills:

• Effectively convey information, both written and oral.
• Possess excellent communication and technical report-writing skills.

Quality Assurance & Site Supervision:

• Ensure quality control (QA/QC) throughout project stages.
• Provide site supervision and monitor construction processes.
• Troubleshoot issues on existing installations.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

• Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behaviour consistent with the company’s health, safety, environmental and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you
• Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm
• Embracing, displaying and promoting the company values and ensuring a safe working environment is maintained at all times, whether in the office environment, on construction sites or in the general environment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Must have a B.Eng., B.Sc. Eng. or B.Tech. Eng. degree in Mechanical or Mechatronic Engineering.

• Must have a minimum of three years’ post-graduate experience in consulting engineering, industrial projects, process facilities or a related engineering environment. 

• Must have relevant design and construction-monitoring experience in industrial utility and/or refrigeration systems. 

• Experience should include three or more of the following: 

  • Industrial refrigeration systems
  • Ammonia refrigeration
  • Commercial refrigeration
  • Cold-storage and refrigerated distribution facilities
  • Steam and condensate systems
  • Compressed-air systems
  • Chilled-water and cooling-water systems
  • Process heating and cooling
  • Specialist piping and fluid-flow systems
  • Industrial ventilation

• Must be able to develop and interpret PFDs and P&IDs. 

• Must have experience in engineering calculations, equipment selection, technical specifications, tender documentation and construction monitoring. 

• Must have an understanding of mechanical control philosophies and controls and instrumentation interfaces. 

• Experience in two or more of the following sectors will be advantageous: 

  • Food and beverage
  • Cold-chain and refrigerated distribution
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Clean rooms and controlled environments
  • Data centres
  • Warehousing and logistics
  • Breweries and wineries
  • Process and industrial facilities

• Must have a basic understanding and working knowledge of Revit. 

• Must have a good understanding of document-management and common-data-environment platforms such as Autodesk Construction Cloud. 

• Experience in HVAC, medical gases, wet services/public health, fire engineering services, fuel systems and vertical transportation will be advantageous. 

• Previous experience within a consulting engineering organisation will be preferred. 

• Professional registration as a Pr Eng or Pr Tech Eng, or eligibility for professional registration, will be advantageous.

KEY COMPETENCIES AND GENERIC SKILLS:

• Code B drivers licence (preferably own car)

• Computer literacy (programming skills will be advantageous)

• Experience in various Autodesk products (AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, Autodesk Forma suite)

• Must be self-motivated 

• Team player

• Excellent communicator and good discussion and problem resolution skills 

• A self-starter who can run with and manage his own projects with the guidance of a senior engineer

• Skilled in thermodynamic and pipe network design principles 

• Must be responsible and have a high level of self-sufficiency and be able to apply common sense 

• Must have a questioning and inquisitive mind

• Willing and able to travel

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