Senior Engineer at DBSA in Centurion – Apply Now!

📍 Company: Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
📍 Department: Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO)
📍 Address: Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
📅 Closing Date: 17 December 2025
📝 Reference Number: DBS251203-4
⏳ Job Type: Contract

🌍 About the IPP Office

The Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO), hosted by the DBSA, plays a critical national role in addressing South Africa’s energy challenges. Established in 2010, the IPPO drives procurement, monitoring, and technical advisory services for Independent Power Producer (IPP) energy programmes—ranging from Renewable Energy and Battery Storage to Gas-to-Power and Hybrid generation facilities.

The Senior Engineer supports the technical mandate of the IPPO by improving grid readiness, ensuring equitable access for generators, and guiding the integration of IPP projects into national and municipal utility networks.

📌 Role Purpose

The Senior Engineer provides specialised electrical engineering expertise to enhance the grid integration of IPP projects. This includes supporting Eskom and municipalities with planning, grid connection assessments, grid code refinement, and ensuring technically sound energy procurement outcomes. The position reports directly to the Head of Technical and collaborates with teams across the IPPO.

🛠️ Key Responsibilities

• Implement action plans to improve generation and utility planning across national and municipal stakeholders.

• Support Eskom and municipalities in integrating IPP grid connection into long-term planning activities.

• Develop remedial actions to resolve grid-related dependencies affecting IPP project timelines.

• Conduct grid connection analyses to identify constraints and inform integration decisions.

• Collaborate with Eskom and municipalities on IPP grid capacity assessments.

• Provide independent technical assessments on grid constraints and connection studies.

• Maintain and utilise software tools required for grid connection modelling.

• Advise on grid connection charges, ensuring fairness, transparency, and cost recovery alignment.

• Implement mitigation steps to address resource constraints affecting IPP grid connections.

• Standardise timelines and cost structures for grid-related work packages across IPP programmes.

• Advance industry best practices through national standardisation bodies.

• Develop systems and tools that streamline grid connection processes.

• Influence grid codes to ensure equitable access for all generation technologies.

• Ensure grid code compliance aligns with global best practice and transparent criteria.

• Provide technical advisory services across IPP programmes, including evaluation of technical studies.

• Lead specific projects for performance improvements, risk reduction, and information dissemination.

• Support creation of integrated master plans (grid, gas, liquid fuels).

• Demonstrate strong self-management, follow-through, and productivity consistency.

• Foster teamwork and uphold IPPO values and customer-centric principles.

• Build long-term relationships with internal and external energy-sector stakeholders.

• Manage stakeholder expectations and ensure satisfaction across all engagements.

🎓 Expertise & Technical Requirements

• BSc Electrical Engineering or equivalent qualification.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in electrical engineering; MScEng advantageous.

• Professional registration with ECSA (PrEng) or equivalent body.

• Knowledge of South African power systems, energy regulations, and policy frameworks.

• Familiarity with Eskom, municipal utilities, and relevant power sector entities.

• Strong understanding of project management methodologies.

• Experience in business case development for energy projects.

• Sound knowledge of engineering principles and energy sector legislation.

• Excellent presentation, facilitation, negotiation, and interpersonal communication abilities.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Proven ability to network across sectors and maintain professional relationships.

💼 Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and judgement capabilities.

• Numerically competent with high attention to detail.

• Assertive, proactive, and excellence-driven.

• Customer-focused approach with business acumen.

• Effective planning and prioritisation abilities.

• Resilient, collaborative, and adaptable with a solutions-oriented mindset.

🤝 Employment Equity

The DBSA is committed to fair and inclusive employment practices. Preference may be given to candidates from designated groups, including persons with disabilities, in alignment with the organisation’s Employment Equity Policy and Plan.

📝 CV Tips for Applicants

• Clearly highlight experience in grid integration, electrical systems, and utility planning.

• Showcase your involvement with Eskom, municipalities, or energy regulatory bodies.

• Include project examples showing grid connection studies, capacity constraints analysis, or grid code involvement.

• Emphasise ECSA registration and add your registration number prominently.

• Demonstrate your ability to work with energy modelling software, grid tools, or system planning tools.

• Highlight advisory experience where you reviewed or influenced technical criteria, grid codes, or energy policies.

• Use metrics and outcomes (“Improved grid readiness for X MW renewable project”).

• Show your stakeholder engagement experience—especially with public sector bodies.

• Include technical keywords: grid compliance, IPP integration, power systems analysis, grid constraints, renewable energy integration.

• Make your CV professional, structured, and tailored for advanced engineering roles.