Engineering Trainee – Factory Operations

We are looking for entrepreneurs, techies, passionate, eager to learn, humble, with a positive attitude and a high level of integrity People. Flexible and willing to take challenges, work and live in coffee-producing countries, People who want to build expertise and a career in the coffee business and are ready to go the extra mile.

• Learn and understand the complete coffee processing flow, including pre-cleaning, grading, bulking and color sorting.
• Assist in coordinating daily factory processing activities to achieve production targets.
• Learn and correctly execute Processing Instructions PIs, ensuring the correct coffee lots are processed to the required standards.
• Monitor machine performance, processing parameters and production output.
• Identify production bottlenecks, delays and operational inefficiencies and report them to the Factory Supervisor/Plant Manager.
• Progressively take responsibility for selected production areas and shifts.
• Develop a strong practical understanding of the mechanical and electrical systems used in the factory.
• Participate in preventive and corrective maintenance of production machinery and utilities.
• Assist in troubleshooting mechanical and electrical faults and carrying out routine adjustments and repairs.
• Conduct routine equipment inspections and identify abnormal conditions such as overheating, vibration, leakage or unusual noise.
• Learn machine settings and operating parameters for key processing equipment, including Bühler Sortex, graders, gravity tables and other factory machinery.
• Assist with maintenance of compressors, generators, electrical systems, weighing equipment and other utilities.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and assist in identifying the root causes of recurring breakdowns.
• Escalate complex technical faults appropriately.
• Understand the movement of coffee from warehouse storage through processing and final bulking.
• Work with the Warehouse Manager and Warehouse Clerks to ensure timely and accurate movement of coffee.
• Ensure correct identification of coffee lots and prevent mixing of grades/lots.
• Develop an understanding of coffee grading, color sorting, gravity separation and other processing requirements.
• Work with the Quality Department to ensure processing is carried out in accordance with approved PIs and quality standards.
• Assist in reconciling physical stock movements with production records and XBS.
• Comply with all company health, safety and environmental requirements.
• Ensure correct PPE and safe working practices are maintained on the factory floor.
• Participate in machine safety inspections, risk assessments, housekeeping and safe maintenance activities.
• Understand and apply safe isolation/Lockout-Tagout procedures.
• Report unsafe conditions, near misses, accidents and equipment damage immediately.
• Progressively develop the ability to enforce safety standards among factory personnel.
• Work alongside the Factory Supervisor to understand labor allocation and daily team management.
• Assist in supervising machine operators, casual labor and floor clerks.
• Monitor attendance, productivity and work performance.
• Participate in on-the-job training of factory personnel.
• Develop communication, leadership, discipline and conflict-resolution skills.
• Progressively take responsibility for supervising teams and selected production areas.

• Diploma or Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, Food Science/Technology or a related technical field.
• 1–3 years' practical experience in machine maintenance within a production, manufacturing or food-processing environment.
• Practical experience troubleshooting mechanical and/or electrical equipment.
• Experience working with production machinery in a factory environment.
• Experience in coffee processing, food processing or agro-processing will be an added advantage.
• The successful candidate should demonstrate: Strong mechanical and/or electrical troubleshooting ability.
• Practical, hands-on engineering approach.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to understand machinery and production processes.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong teamwork and ability to work with factory personnel.
• Ownership, accountability and reliability.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet production requirements.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Commitment to HSE and quality standards.
• Willingness to learn and take on increasing responsibility.
• Demonstrated leadership potential.