Job Description

Vacancy

Appointments will be made in line with the company's employment equity plan. People with Disability are encouraged to apply.

Gibela’s journey is intrinsically tied to a vision of socio-economic transformation, one that recognises the central role of passenger rail in propelling the South African economy forward. As we embark on this mission, we stand at the crossroads of opportunities and progress, where the revitalisation of commuter rail serves as a cornerstone for building a brighter future.

Gibela stands as Africa’s largest train manufacturing and passenger trains maintenance company, holding steadfast to its commitment to spearheading the revival of the South African railway sector. With a transformative vision, Gibela endeavoured to catalyse the shift towards commuter rail as the preferred mode of transport for urban communities.

We invite suitably qualified candidates to apply for the Senior Tooling Engineer position under PME Department The position will report to the Head of Process Manufacturing and is based in Dunnottar.

Job Purpose

Evaluate new and existing processes, jigs and layouts, and configure manufacturing systems to reduce cost and improve sustainability. Develop and deploy best tooling practices within the production process

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement tooling standards for all projects and ensure consistent application.
• Lead and monitor plant tooling activities.
• Review, update, and design the most effective jigs and equipment to optimise production processes.
• Participate in Change Request (CR) sessions and execute engineering changes on jigs & equipment to align with new baselines.
• Determine the capital expenditure (CAPEX) value for tooling in new projects and lead the CAPEX application process.
• Develop and review equipment specifications for RFQ purposes.
• Evaluate designs with suppliers during design reviews, sign off designs, and oversee FAT Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) on behalf of Gibela.
• Review and validate all plant jigs and tooling designs.
• Participate in jigs and tooling networks and contribute to the development of a local REX database.
• Ensure manufacturing jigs and machinery remain reliable and safe, while optimising production rates, efficiency, yield, cost and changeovers.
• Analyse manufacturing issues and develop corrective action plans using tools such as Quick Response Quality Control (QRQC).
• Advise the Metrology department on the calibration of jigs to maintain precision and compliance.
• Participate in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) risk assessments and ergonomic evaluations to ensure jigs and equipment designs meet safety standards.
• Manage projects allocated to the team, report progress and resolve obstacles.
• Manage the full lifecycle of tools, from design and deployment to tracking obsolescence and end-of-life management.
• Supervise and manage contractors performing tooling-related activities, ensuring compliance with specifications and quality standards.
• Coach and develop the team to fulfil the project objectives within the manufacturing and industrial domains.
• Prioritise resources, facilitate alignment of the team, set and cascade KPA’s.
• Proactively manage all direct reports to ensure that the strategic objectives for the function are met, managing non-performance and disciplinary procedures.
• Ensure people management practices are implemented to achieve the desired results in employee engagement, empowerment, skills development, attraction and retention of key talent, succession planning, etc.
• Maintain an environment where employees respect and adhere to company standards of integrity and ethics by integrating these values into all processes, procedures, and practices.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Advanced knowledge of 2D (AutoCAD) & 3D CAD (CATIAV5, ProENG…)
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar role and worked in a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience designing Jigs, fixtures, shop floor layouts and assembly work for automotive/rail industries.

• Jigs and layout simulation experience Proven experience - Industrial and lean manufacturing processes.

Special Requirements

• High levels of integrity, ethics, and professionalism.
• Strong focus on maintaining positive customer and supplier relationships.
• Flexibility to work outside normal operational boundaries to meet team goals.

Closing Date

08 July 2026

Should you not hear from us in 30 days, consider your application as unsuccessful.

Gibela Rail Transport Consortium (Pty) Ltd offers equal employment opportunity and subscribes to the Affirmative Action policy.

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you!

Important to note

As a global business, we’re an equal-opportunity employer that celebrates diversity across the 63 countries we operate in. We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace for everyone.

Job Type:​Experienced​