Control & Automation Engineer (Expat)

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POSITION INFO:
Control & Automation Engineer (Expat) Location: Lunsar, Sierra Leone Employment Type: Full-time | Site-based (Accommodation provided) A well-established mining operation in West Africa is seeking an experienced Control & Automation Engineer (Expat) to join its Engineering & Maintenance team. This role is responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of control and automation systems across the plant. Key Responsibilities Ensure all control and automation activities comply with site safety standards, statutory requirements, and best engineering practices Provide hands-on technical support during maintenance, breakdowns, shutdowns, and commissioning activities Maintain and improve the reliability and availability of PLC, SCADA, HMI, instrumentation, and industrial network systems Lead fault finding, root cause analyses, and implementation of corrective actions for automation-related issues Plan and coordinate maintenance activities with Operations, Projects, OEMs, and IT teams Supervise and support technicians, providing technical leadership and mentorship Manage control system documentation, backups, version control, and system governance Identify and implement system upgrades, obsolescence management, and automation improvements Key Deliverables High availability and reliability of automation and control systems Safe, compliant execution of automation activities with minimal unplanned downtime Successful commissioning, upgrades, and optimisation of plant control systems Well-maintained technical documentation and control system standards Development and upskilling of national technical staff Minimum Requirements Degree in Instrumentation, Electronics, or Control Engineering Minimum 5 years’ experience in a Control & Instrumentation or Automation Engineer role, preferably in mining or heavy industry Strong hands-on experience with PLC programming, SCADA\/HMI configuration, and system commissioning Proven experience in fault finding, breakdown support, and root cause analysis Solid understanding of industrial networks, control system architectures, and cybersecurity principles Technical Skills & Experience (Advantageous) PLC platforms: Schneider (Control Expert \/ Unity), Modicon M580, Rockwell (RSLogix \/ Studio 5000) SCADA & Historian systems: AVEVA Plant SCADA, Ignition, or similar Industrial databases and SQL reporting Edge computing \/ high-availability platforms VSDs, safety systems, field instrumentation Personal Attributes Strong leadership and mentoring ability Excellent communication and coordination skills High level of planning, organisation, and accountability Willingness to work in a remote, site-based environment Application Notice This is an Expat position offering on-site accommodation. If you do not receive feedback within two (2) weeks of submitting your application, please consider your application unsuccessful.