Instruments Technician

Zambia Sugar Plc, an ABF Group company and Zambia's leading sugar producer, is seeking to fill the position of Instruments Technician in its Manufacturing Department at Nakambala, Mazabuka. This is a permanent position, re-advertised, with 1 position available.

Role Overview

• Reports to the Maintenance Foreman – Instruments.
• Responsible for installing and maintaining pneumatic and mechanical instruments, including stripping, replacing and adjusting parts, calibrating, reassembling and checking the function of parts.

Key Responsibilities

• Work to the highest safety standards, follow safe work rules and never permit unsafe acts.
• Ensure the right tools are used and kept in good condition.
• Apply Defect Elimination principles and demonstrate this through quality workmanship.
• Maintain workshop and plant housekeeping to the 5S standard; ensure no job is complete until the work area is clean and safety equipment reinstated.
• Perform Daily Plant Inspections of section equipment as per the PM WO route and checklist, reporting defects and safety concerns.
• Document all identified defects on checklist feedback and immediately report significant risks verbally to the FLM.
• Replace and renew materials and components used in electrical instruments (e.g. conducting and insulating materials, soft and hard solders, resistors, coils and capacitors); strip, overhaul and re-assemble air regulators.
• Use relevant hand tools and equipment for marking, cutting, threading and fixing when installing small bore piping, components and fittings.
• Ensure accurate measurements and that readings on remote systems, including the DCS, truly reflect process conditions.
• Ensure all control loops are tuned and optimised for best performance.
• Ensure equipment is fully inspected, tested, clean and safe (5S) and ready for operation after repairs.
• Follow the Job Plan/Checklist on each work order diligently, and provide feedback on quality and improvement opportunities.
• Maintain in-depth, ongoing knowledge of section equipment condition and take responsibility for failures resulting from inadequate inspection.
• Provide detailed feedback on repair jobs, including:
• Actual work done and corrective actions taken.
• Man-hours used.
• Failure feedback and failure codes for breakdowns.
• Materials consumed.
• Tools used.
• Conduct and contribute to the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) process, including as stand-by artisan, with the mindset that all equipment failures are preventable.
• Identify training needs for technicians and inform the FLM; assist in training new artisans or assistants.
• Collaborate with Optimization and Process teams to solve problems and promote teamwork.
• Drive continuous improvement by applying functional best practices.
• Monitor section KPIs, understand your contribution to them, and help resolve and sustain out-of-spec KPIs.
• Promote and adhere to Illovo's procedures, policies and guidelines, including those on SHERQ, Competition Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC).

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 Certificate.
• Diploma in Instrumentation or Electronics Engineering.
• Preferably 2+ years of post-qualification experience in a heavy industry environment.
• Experience in the sugar industry is an added advantage.
• Training and experience in industrial instrumentation as a minimum.
• Member of the Engineering Institution of Zambia.
• Certificates must be verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA).

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following documents:

• Detailed CV.
• Copies of relevant qualifications.
• Copies of professional registrations.
• Copy of National Registration Card (NRC) or passport.

Applications should be addressed to the attention of the HR Business Partner, with the email subject "Application – Instruments Technician". Use the Apply button on this page to apply.

Internal employees must complete the Internal Application Form and obtain the relevant signatures when applying.

Applicants will be required to complete pre-employment checks, including qualification, credit, security, background and medical assessments, where applicable.

If you do not hear from the company within four weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Application Deadline: 2 November 2026