NBI Maintenance Technician: Instrumentation and Electrical X2

In pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing environments, maintenance is about more than keeping equipment running. Electrical faults, inaccurate instruments or control-system failures can interrupt production and potentially affect tightly controlled manufacturing processes. This makes technicians with strong electrical, instrumentation and automation capabilities particularly important.

National Bioproducts Institute (NBI) is recruiting two Maintenance Technicians specialising in Instrumentation and Electrical systems. The positions are aimed at qualified and experienced technical professionals who can maintain critical process and utility equipment, perform calibration, troubleshoot PLC and SCADA systems, and support commissioning and engineering projects within a GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.

NBI Maintenance Technician: Instrumentation and Electrical X2: Quick Overview

• Company: National Bioproducts Institute NPC (NBI)
• Position: Maintenance Technician: Instrumentation and Electrical
• Number of positions: 2
• Field: Electrical / Instrumentation / Automation
• Experience: 2+ or 3+ years depending on qualification route
• Automation: Allen-Bradley CompactLogix / Studio 5000
• SCADA/HMI: Rockwell FactoryTalk View SE and ME
• Maintenance: Preventative and breakdown maintenance
• Calibration: Critical measuring and control instruments
• Systems: SAP PM
• Environment: GMP manufacturing
• Standby: Required
• Projects: Commissioning, qualification and CAPEX support

About the NBI Maintenance Technician Positions

National Bioproducts Institute works in the manufacture and supply of therapeutic proteins and diagnostic products.

The Maintenance Technician’s primary objective is to ensure the availability and reliability of utilities and process equipment on which GMP manufacturing depends.

The successful candidates will provide electrical and instrumentation expertise across:

• Planned maintenance
• Breakdown maintenance
• Calibration
• Fault finding
• Automation systems
• Standby support
• Installation
• Commissioning
• Equipment qualification
• Engineering projects
• Continuous improvement

This is an experienced technical position rather than an apprenticeship or entry-level technician programme.

Three Qualification Routes

NBI provides three different academic and experience pathways into the position.

Route 1: N6 + Trade Tests

Candidates can qualify with:

N6 in Electrical or Instrumentation Engineering

plus the required trade-test combination and:

More than 3 years of relevant experience.

The trade-test requirement is particularly important. Candidates need either:

Instrumentation + Electrical trade tests

or:

Millwright trade test + Instrumentation trade test.

An N6 by itself therefore doesn’t satisfy this particular route.

Route 2: National Diploma

The second pathway is:

National Diploma / Diploma in Engineering Technology in Electronic or Electrical Engineering

or an equivalent NQF-registered qualification.

Candidates using this route need:

3 years of relevant experience.

Route 3: BEngTech / B-Tech

Candidates may also qualify with:

BEngTech or former B-Tech in Electronic or Electrical Engineering

or an equivalent NQF-registered qualification.

This route requires:

2 years of relevant experience.

Candidates should assess themselves against the specific route matching their qualification rather than combining requirements from different routes.

Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Experience

One of the most specialised requirements is demonstrated competence or training involving:

Allen-Bradley CompactLogix programming using Studio 5000 Logix Designer

and:

Rockwell FactoryTalk View SE and View ME.

This isn’t simply a generic requirement for “PLC knowledge.”

NBI has identified specific automation platforms, so candidates with relevant experience should name these systems explicitly on their CV.

For example:

Automation Systems: Allen-Bradley CompactLogix | Studio 5000 Logix Designer | FactoryTalk View SE | FactoryTalk View ME

Only list systems you genuinely know.

Electrical and Instrumentation Maintenance

The successful technicians will conduct routine checks on:

• Plant equipment
• Utilities
• Process equipment
• Electrical systems
• Instrumentation and controls

They’ll also execute maintenance according to approved preventative-maintenance plans and schedules.

The objective is to maintain equipment reliability and minimise interruptions to manufacturing.

Calibration Responsibilities

Calibration is particularly important in this position.

Technicians will calibrate, or facilitate the calibration of, critical:

Measuring and control instruments

against traceable standards.

They will also need to investigate instruments found outside permitted tolerances and assess the potential effect on the relevant product or process.

This makes genuine instrumentation and calibration experience highly relevant.

PLC and SCADA Fault Finding

The technicians will troubleshoot PLC and SCADA systems, including:

• Allen-Bradley CompactLogix
• Studio 5000
• FactoryTalk View SE
• FactoryTalk View ME

Any changes to PLC logic, parameters or configuration must be made through the appropriate approved change-control process.

That’s particularly important within a GMP environment where uncontrolled equipment or software changes can create compliance risks.

Breakdown Maintenance

When equipment fails, technicians will:

• Diagnose faults
• Determine required repairs
• Restore equipment operation
• Investigate recurring problems
• Support root-cause investigations
• Recommend or implement corrective actions
• Escalate unresolved faults when necessary

The role therefore requires more than replacing failed components. NBI expects technicians to help determine why failures occurred and how recurrence can be prevented.

Preventative Maintenance

Technicians will execute maintenance according to approved preventative-maintenance schedules.

Routine equipment checks help identify:

• Developing faults
• Instrumentation problems
• Electrical issues
• Equipment deterioration
• Reliability risks

before they result in production interruptions.

GMP Experience

The position operates within a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment.

NBI also lists GMP exposure as preferred.

Maintenance activities need to be properly controlled and documented because the equipment supports regulated manufacturing processes.

Candidates with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, medical-product or other genuinely relevant regulated-manufacturing experience should clearly describe that exposure.

SAP PM and Maintenance Records

The successful candidates will use SAP PM for maintenance activities.

Responsibilities include:

• Closing work orders
• Maintaining equipment records
• Recording maintenance work
• Recording calibration activities
• Recording spares used
• Documenting equipment condition

NBI specifically requires maintenance and calibration documentation to be completed in accordance with GMP data-integrity requirements.

Safety Requirements

Technicians must understand the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and relevant regulations, particularly those applicable to electrical installations and machinery.

Maintenance activities can also involve:

• Lock-out/tag-out
• Equipment isolation
• Permit-to-work systems
• Hot work
• Confined spaces

Candidates should therefore demonstrate strong industrial safety awareness.

Standby and Call-Outs

The position includes participation in a:

Standby roster.

Technicians must respond to call-outs according to NBI’s standby policy and be capable of reaching the site within the required response time.

During breakdowns, the technician may need to diagnose and repair faults to restore production.

Where a problem can’t be resolved, it must be escalated appropriately.

Applicants should consider this requirement carefully because the position isn’t restricted to ordinary daytime maintenance hours.

Supporting Production Operations

The Maintenance Technician will provide first-line technical support to Operations.

This includes:

• Demonstrating equipment setup
• Demonstrating equipment operation
• Supporting shutdown procedures
• Coaching operators
• Supporting first-line maintenance
• Teaching basic troubleshooting
• Providing input into maintenance and operating instructions

This means communication skills are important alongside technical expertise.

Commissioning and Qualification

The successful candidates will also support new and modified equipment.

Responsibilities include:

• Installation checks
• Functional testing
• Setting equipment to work
• Commissioning
• Preparing equipment for qualification
• Confirming calibration readiness
• Confirming functional readiness

Technicians will also provide technical assistance to Validation during:

IQ, OQ and PQ

activities.

Engineering faults discovered during qualification must be resolved and appropriately reported.

Engineering and CAPEX Projects

The role extends beyond routine maintenance.

Technicians will support:

• Capacity-expansion projects
• CAPEX projects
• Equipment modifications
• Installation requirements
• Equipment specifications
• Reliability improvements
• Efficiency improvements

They may also provide technical input into project scope within the electrical and instrumentation discipline.

Supporting Other Engineering Disciplines

When required, technicians may assist areas including:

• Mechanical
• HVAC
• Utilities

However, NBI makes an important distinction: this assistance is provided in a supporting capacity only, under the direction of the responsible artisan or technician and within the employee’s training, competence and authorisation.

Ability to Read Technical Drawings

Candidates should be able to read and interpret:

• Electrical schematics
• Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)

This is particularly relevant when diagnosing faults, commissioning equipment or supporting engineering modifications.

Who Should Apply?

This position could suit experienced technicians who meet one of NBI’s three qualification pathways and have strong exposure to areas such as:

• Electrical maintenance
• Industrial instrumentation
• Instrument calibration
• PLCs
• SCADA
• Allen-Bradley CompactLogix
• Studio 5000
• FactoryTalk View
• Preventative maintenance
• Breakdown maintenance
• Fault finding
• SAP PM
• GMP environments
• Commissioning
• Equipment qualification
• Industrial safety

Thabang’s Tip

Don’t read the three qualification pathways as one giant list of requirements.

You only need to meet the appropriate entry route:

N6 → relevant trade-test combination + more than 3 years’ experience

National Diploma → 3 years’ relevant experience

BEngTech/B-Tech → 2 years’ relevant experience

But pay particular attention to the automation requirement. NBI doesn’t merely ask for general PLC experience. It specifically identifies:

Allen-Bradley CompactLogix + Studio 5000 + FactoryTalk View SE/ME.

If you’ve genuinely worked with these platforms, put them prominently near the top of your CV rather than hiding them deep inside your employment history.

The same applies to GMP, calibration and SAP PM experience. These are highly relevant to what the technician will actually be doing.

This isn’t an entry-level opportunity. Your CV should demonstrate the equipment you’ve maintained, instruments you’ve calibrated, automation systems you’ve troubleshot and faults you’ve diagnosed, rather than relying on generic statements such as “experienced electrical technician.”

How to Apply for the NBI Maintenance Technician Positions

Suitably qualified and experienced candidates should apply through the official recruitment process associated with the NBI Maintenance Technician: Instrumentation and Electrical vacancies.

Before submitting, make sure your application clearly identifies:

• Your qualifying education route
• Relevant trade tests, where applicable
• Years of relevant experience
• Electrical experience
• Instrumentation experience
• Calibration experience
• Allen-Bradley CompactLogix experience
• Studio 5000 experience
• FactoryTalk View SE/ME experience
• SAP PM exposure
• GMP experience, where applicable
• PLC/SCADA fault-finding experience
• Commissioning and qualification experience
• OHS and electrical-safety knowledge

With two positions available, the opportunity is particularly relevant to experienced electrical and instrumentation professionals who can combine hands-on maintenance expertise with automation, calibration and the disciplined documentation required in a GMP manufacturing environment.

Closing Date: 2026/09/18

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