At De Beers Group our purpose is to Make Life Brilliant. 

We believe that a sustainable business is purposeful, competitive, resilient and agile – it’s a business that thrives through both economic and social cycles. By understanding the context and listening to stakeholders we stay ahead of evolving trends and provide the solutions to societal expectations. By solving the physical challenges of mining through relentless innovation, and constantly searching for more responsible ways to do business, we are changing the way our employees and stakeholders experience our business – creating enduring value for all stakeholders. Sustainability is at the heart of our decision-making – it is how we do business. 

The purpose of the Senior Project Design Engineer is to lead and coordinate the engineering design lifecycle across VUP, C&M and special projects, ensuring technically sound, safe, compliant and value-optimised project outcomes aligned to the integrated business plan. 

The role is accountable for the development, integration, review and assurance of engineering designs from concept through detailed design, procurement, manufacture, construction, commissioning and operational handover. The role ensures engineering solutions are fit-for-purpose, executable, compliant with applicable standards and aligned to operational requirements. 

Operating within a matrix environment with no direct reports, the role achieves outcomes through technical leadership, stakeholder influence and coordination of multidisciplinary engineering teams, consultants, contractors, OEMs and suppliers to ensure successful project delivery 

TYPICAL TASKS  

Safety, Legal Compliance & Risk Management 

• Ensure all engineering activities comply with safety, regulatory and company standards. 

• Identify and manage engineering-related risks. 

• Support adherence to mine safety and statutory requirements. 

• Promote safe design and operational integrity. 

Project Engineering & Technical Integration 

• Lead engineering integration activities across project development and execution phases.  

• Manage engineering deliverables through concept, prefeasibility, feasibility, detailed design and execution stages.  

• Ensure alignment between engineering design, project scope, business objectives and operational requirements.  

• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering inputs to ensure integrated and constructable project solutions.  

• Ensure engineering designs are developed to the required level of maturity to support project stage gate approvals.  

• Support development of technically feasible, executable and operationally sustainable project solutions.  

• Manage interfaces between engineering disciplines throughout the project lifecycle.  

• Ensure engineering deliverables are adequately defined, reviewed, approved and controlled 

Project Optimisation & Value Engineering 

• Identify and drive value engineering opportunities across VUP, C&M and special projects. 

• Challenge design assumptions, scope and cost drivers to optimise project outcomes. 

• Support trade-off analysis and scenario evaluation to improve efficiency and value. 

• Embed continuous improvement and optimisation into project delivery. 

Design Review & Assurance 

• Lead engineering design reviews throughout all project phases.  

• Verify engineering designs for safety, operability, maintainability, constructability and compliance.  

• Ensure designs comply with company standards, engineering codes, statutory requirements and project specifications.  

• Manage design verification, validation and approval processes.  

• Identify technical risks, design gaps and interface issues and ensure timely resolution.  

• Govern technical assurance activities and support project stage-gate reviews.  

• Ensure lessons learned and operational requirements are incorporated into design development.  

• Manage design change processes and configuration control throughout project execution. 

Procurement & Contractor Management 

• Support development of engineering scopes of work, technical specifications and procurement packages. 

• Define technical requirements for equipment and service procurement activities. 

• Participate in technical bid evaluations and supplier selection processes. 

• Evaluate vendor designs, equipment specifications and technical deviations. 

• Ensure supplier and contractor deliverables comply with project requirements and engineering standards. 

• Coordinate technical clarification processes between vendors, contractors and project teams. 

• Provide engineering support throughout procurement, contract award and supplier management activities. 

Manufacturing, Fabrication & Quality Assurance 

• Monitor engineering deliverables throughout manufacturing and fabrication phases. 

• Review manufacturing documentation, quality plans and inspection test plans. 

• Ensure equipment and fabricated components comply with approved engineering requirements. 

• Support factory acceptance testing and technical inspections where required. 

• Coordinate technical resolution of manufacturing non-conformances and deviations. 

• Ensure fabrication quality supports safe installation, commissioning and operational performance. 

Execution Support & Readiness 

• Support transition from engineering design into construction and execution phases.  

• Ensure engineering deliverables are complete and available to support project execution.  

• Provide engineering support to construction, commissioning and operational readiness teams.  

• Resolve engineering queries, design changes and technical issues arising during execution.  

• Ensure engineering modifications are properly reviewed, approved and incorporated into project documentation.  

• Support commissioning readiness, performance testing and handover to operations.  

• Verify final engineering deliverables and as-built documentation are complete and accurate. 

Project Controls & Performance Input 

• Provide technical input into cost, schedule and risk management processes. 

• Support identification and mitigation of technical risks impacting delivery. 

• Contribute to performance tracking and reporting from an engineering perspective. 

• Feed execution and design insights back into planning cycles. 

Stakeholder & Interface Management 

• Interface with Project Managers, Construction Engineers and technical teams. 

• Ensure effective communication across engineering, planning and execution functions. 

• Support alignment across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. 

• Engage with internal and external technical specialists where required. 

Technical Assurance & Decision Support 

• Provide engineering technical assurance across design, procurement, manufacturing and execution phases.  

• Ensure engineering deliverables meet project requirements, technical standards and business objectives.  

• Review and approve consultant, contractor and supplier technical deliverables.  

• Support preparation of decision-quality information for project governance and investment decisions.  

• Clearly articulate engineering risks, opportunities, assumptions and constraints.  

• Provide technical recommendations supporting project optimisation and successful delivery. 

Stakeholder & Interface Management 

• Interface with Senior Project & Studies Manager, Mining Manager and technical teams. 

• Align mining outputs with engineering, project and commercial requirements. 

• Coordinate inputs across geology, survey, geotechnical and operations. 

• Support cross-functional integration and decision-making. 

• Grade 12 / Equivalent NQF Level 4 qualification. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline. 

• Professional registration or working towards registration (advantageous). 

• Valid driver’s licence. 

• Medical fitness to work in a mining environment. 

Experience & Knowledge required:  

• 8-15 years' experience in engineering, project engineering and capital project environments within mining, processing or heavy industry.  

• Demonstrated experience managing engineering activities through the complete project lifecycle.  

• Experience in concept design, feasibility studies, detailed engineering, procurement, manufacturing, construction and commissioning.  

• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams, consultants and contractors.  

• Experience managing engineering contractor and consultant deliverables.  

• Experience supporting procurement processes, technical bid evaluations and supplier management. 

Proven experience in:  

• Engineering design review and technical assurance. 

• Value engineering and project optimization. 

• Multidisciplinary project environments. 

• Integration of engineering with project delivery. 

Strong working knowledge of:  

• Engineering design management methodologies.  

• Project development and stage-gate delivery processes.  

• Procurement and contract management processes.  

• Manufacturing and fabrication quality management principles.  

• Engineering assurance and governance frameworks.  

• Management of Change (MOC) principles.  

• Engineering standards, codes and regulatory requirements.  

• Project controls and engineering performance management practices. 

Our Values 

Put Safety First  

We consider all risks to people and the environment before proceeding with any activity. We address risks before beginning any activity, even if this means stopping a task. Zero Harm is always our goal. 

Be Passionate  

We are exhilarated by the product we sell, the challenges we face and the opportunities we create. 

Pull Together  

Being united in purpose and action, we will turn the diversity of our people, skills and experience into an unparalleled source of strength. 

Build Trust 

We will always listen first, then act with openness, honesty and integrity so that our relationships flourish 

Show we Care  

The people whose lives we touch, their communities, nations and the environment we share, all matter deeply to us. We will always think through the consequences of what we do so that our contribution to the world is real, lasting and makes us proud. 

Shape the Future  

We will find new ways. We will set demanding targets and take both tough decisions and considered risks to achieve them. We will insist on excellent execution and reward those who deliver. 

Closing Date: 23 September 2026