SUMMARY:
Senior Draughtsperson / Lead Project Engineer
ð Johannesburg, South Africa
Closing Date: 31 August 2026
About the Opportunity
An established multinational engineering organisation is seeking an experienced Senior Draughtsperson / Lead Project Engineer to provide technical leadership and drive the successful delivery of medium to large-scale engineering projects.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in leading technical design activities, supervising project engineering teams, managing stakeholder relationships, and supporting projects through the full lifecycle, including design, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a technically strong professional who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced engineering environment.
POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities: Technical Leadership & Project Delivery Lead project teams on medium to large engineering projects, providing technical guidance within your area of expertise. Support Project Managers and Senior Project Engineers on complex multidisciplinary projects. Manage the technical scope of allocated projects to ensure successful achievement of objectives, timelines, and quality standards. Proactively identify, escalate, and resolve technical challenges and project risks. Ensure adherence to engineering processes, standards, and best practices throughout project execution. Design & Engineering Management Lead and facilitate internal and external concept, design, and technical review meetings. Supervise project design activities, ensuring quality, traceability, and installation readiness. Review and approve technical designs, drawings, specifications, and engineering documentation. Prepare technical specifications and documentation for procurement activities, including third-party suppliers and subcontractors. Apply sound engineering principles to resolve technical issues arising during design, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning phases. Stakeholder & Customer Engagement Build and maintain effective working relationships with customers, suppliers, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders. Participate in project meetings and provide technical expertise to cross-functional teams. Clarify technical requirements and ensure alignment between all project stakeholders. Support Project Managers in managing claims, variations, deviations, and technical change requests. Team Leadership & Development Provide technical supervision, coaching, and support to team members. Guide engineering and draughting teams to ensure high-quality deliverables. Contribute to team performance evaluations and development planning. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Continuous Improvement Develop installation documentation, commissioning notes, and technical handover packages. Capture lessons learned and implement best practices across projects. Drive improvements in engineering processes, project execution, and technical standards. Minimum Requirements Qualifications Higher Technical Education qualification (Technical College or equivalent). MDDOP qualification. Proficiency in English (written and verbal). Technical Skills Strong proficiency in: MS Office Suite 2D and 3D CAD software AutoCAD Plant 3D Architectural and Piping Design Systems Plant design experience will be highly advantageous. Sound understanding of manufacturing and engineering principles. Strong risk identification and risk management capability. Experience Minimum of 3 years' experience as a Technical Project Engineer or in a comparable engineering leadership role. Proven experience leading technical project activities and engineering teams. Demonstrated ability to manage engineering deliverables across project lifecycles. Key Competencies: Leadership & Collaboration Strong leadership and team management capabilities. Ability to lead and collaborate within international and multidisciplinary engineering teams. Capability to work effectively within a matrix organisational structure. Communication & Relationship Management Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong stakeholder engagement and customer relationship management abilities. Confidence in communicating with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and internal teams. Planning & Problem Solving Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills. Strong decision-making and sound professional judgement. Excellent planning, prioritisation, and time management skills. Ability to deliver under pressure and meet demanding project deadlines. Business Acumen Good understanding of engineering business processes and financial principles. Industry knowledge and awareness of current engineering practices. Adaptability and resilience in a changing business environment. Why Join Our Client? This is an exciting opportunity to join a respected engineering environment where you will: Lead technically challenging and impactful projects. Work alongside highly skilled multidisciplinary teams. Influence engineering excellence and project success. Contribute to innovation, continuous improvement, and best practice development. Further develop your leadership and technical expertise within a dynamic organisation. Apply Now If you are a technically accomplished engineering professional with strong leadership capabilities and a passion for delivering high-quality engineering solutions, we encourage you to apply. Only suitably qualified candidates will be contacted.
