Electrical Design Engineer (Industrial Control Panels)
Somewhere
🇿🇦 Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at Somewhere is open to applicants from South Africa. The estimated monthly salary is R55,500 – R64,750 ZAR. This role is suited for senior-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
Electrical Design Engineer (Industrial Control Panels)
Owns the electrical design of control panels for a growing U.S. integrator
Location:Remote — (U.S. business-hours overlap required)
Employment Type:Full-time
Department:Engineering
Reports To:Engineering Lead / Owner
ABOUT THE COMPANY
We are a rapidly growing U.S.-based control systems integrator specializing in industrial automation, with more than three decades of experience delivering turnkey control solutions. Recognized among the fastest-growing companies in our market, we design and build systems across pharmaceutical (cGMP), food and beverage, automotive, water and wastewater, and warehouse distribution industries.
Our work spans the full project lifecycle: electrical panel design and fabrication, PLC / HMI / SCADA programming, data historization and reporting, on-site commissioning, validation, and remote support. We are a Rockwell Automation and Inductive Automation (Ignition) partner, and we favor proven, commercial off-the-shelf technology over proprietary tooling so the systems we deliver are easy to use and maintain.
Demand for our services has outpaced our capacity to hire locally. This role is part of a deliberate strategy to build a high-caliber remote engineering bench in Latin America that works alongside our U.S. team on real, ongoing project work.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Our senior engineers are the bottleneck on our own growth. Every panel design currently routes through a small group of people who are already fully committed. This role exists to change that by owning electrical panel design end to end so our senior team can focus on the most complex, client-facing work.
As an Electrical Design Engineer, you will own the design of control panels: component selection and sizing, schematic development, and complete design packages. You will produce the markups that our drafting function turns into final drawings, and you will review that output for accuracy. Our team handles UL 508A and NEC compliance internally, so you can concentrate on sound, manufacturable electrical design rather than code certification.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Electrical & Control Panel Design
* Design industrial control panels and electrical control systems from project specifications.
* Develop power distribution and control circuit architecture appropriate to each application.
Component Selection & Sizing
* Select and size components — PLCs, VFDs, power supplies, breakers, contactors, relays, disconnects, and wiring — based on load and application requirements.
* Balance performance, cost, availability, and standardization in component decisions.
Schematics & Design Packages
* Create detailed electrical schematics, panel layouts, and interconnect / wiring diagrams.
* Produce clear, complete markups and design packages for the drafting team to execute.
* Develop BOMs, panel schedules, and cable / wire schedules.
Collaboration & Quality
* Partner with controls and automation engineers to align electrical design with control strategy.
* Review drafted output for accuracy and completeness before release.
* Build reusable design templates and standards to make future projects faster.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
* Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
* 4+ years designing industrial control panels or electrical control systems.
* Demonstrated expertise in component selection and sizing for control panels.
* Proficiency in schematic design using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or SolidWorks Electrical.
* Working knowledge of PLC-, motor-control-, and VFD-based panel design.
* Strong English communication, written and verbal.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
* Background with a systems integrator, OEM, or panel fabrication shop.
* Working familiarity with UL 508A and NEC (we own compliance sign-off, but design awareness is valuable).
* Experience across our industries: food and beverage, pharmaceutical, water / wastewater, automotive, or material handling.
* Familiarity with the Rockwell / Allen-Bradley component ecosystem.
YOU ARE
* A strong fundamentals engineer —you can take a spec and produce a complete, manufacturable design package on your own.
* Self-directed —you drive designs to completion without needing day-to-day oversight.
* A clear communicator —your markups and documentation leave no room for guesswork downstream.
* Built for pace —you thrive in a fast-moving, high-demand environment and want more work, not less.
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
At R55,500/month, this role pays well above the average South African remote salary. The USD equivalent ($3,000/mo) benefits from the favourable exchange rate.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
About Somewhere
Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 828 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →