Design / Quality Engineering Technician – Killarney Gardens, Cape Town - Salary: R18 000 to R22 000

Design / Quality Engineering Technician Killarney Gardens, Cape Town - Salary: R18 000 to R22 000 per month (Cost to Company, depending on experience)

About the Opportunity

Are you a highly organized technical professional who bridges the gap between the drawing board and the factory floor? Our client, a leading international manufacturing group specializing in high-quality plastic extrusion and component engineering, is seeking a versatile Design/Quality Engineering Technician to join their Cape Town operation.

This is not a pure draughtsman desk-job. It is a multi-faceted role that combines AutoCAD design, product costing/RFQs, supplier procurement, and continuous production improvement. If you thrive in an engineering workshop environment and have a keen eye for manufacturing efficiency, this is the career step for you.

Key Responsibilities

1. Tooling & Specification Design (AutoCAD)

• Draft, modify, and manage precise AutoCAD drawings for all in-house tooling (including punch tools, crush cut dies, punch housings, and product bond test blocks).
• Design custom jigs to optimize second-operation manufacturing and production lines.
• Draft, revise, and update detailed technical product profile and specification sheets.

2. Product Costing, Estimation & Global Liaison

• Conduct internal RFQs for new projects to ensure accurate estimation, calculation, and costing.
• Calculate technical machine metrics, including material/product weights and optimal machine line speeds.
• Compile comprehensive engineering and data reports for the sales team to facilitate accurate commercial pricing.
• Liaise directly with the groups international UK engineering division regarding global tool development and cross-border costings.

3. Workshop Operations, Procurement & Maintenance Support

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives on the factory floor to optimize production uptime and efficiency.
• Compile and analyze line stoppage and machine downtime reports to present actionable insights to the Plant Manager.
• Coordinate directly with the Maintenance Supervisor to ensure swift mechanical repairs.
• Source quotations from local suppliers for dies, tools, and critical engineering spares; manage procurement by raising formal purchase orders.
• Assist in maintaining inventory tracking for critical engineering store shelf-spares and overall maintenance planning.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: Proven experience working within an engineering workshop or manufacturing environment (plastic extrusion, molding, or toolmaking environments highly advantageous).
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD is essential. Ability to read and generate highly detailed technical specifications.
• Analytical Skills: Strong mathematical capability to calculate raw material weights, machine lines speeds, and compile financial costing reports.
• Procurement/Admin: Prior experience raising purchase orders, sourcing supplier quotes, and managing tool/spare inventory.
• Soft Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate locally with workshop staff and globally with international technical teams. Must be proactive, highly organized, and able to report directly to senior plant management.