AUTOMATION ENGINEER
ADDIS ABABA, ET, 1000

We are JTI, Japan Tobacco International, and we are present in 130 countries. We have spent years innovating, creating new and better products for the consumers to choose from. This is our business. But not only. Our business is our people. Their talent. Their potential. We believe that when they are free to be themselves, and they are given the opportunity to grow, travel and develop, amazing things can happen.
That’s why our employees, from around the world, choose to be a part of JTI. It is why 80% of employees feel happy working at JTI. And why we’ve been awarded Global Top Employer status, ten years running.
So when you’re ready to choose a career you’ll love, in a company you’ll love, feel free to #JoinTheIdea.
Learn more: jti.com
Position purpose
Ensure the safe, consistent, and standardized operation of factory automation and Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) to enhance system availability, optimize performance and quality, reduce costs, and strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
Budget / KPIs
- Reduction in automation-related downtime and repeat failures
- Improved OEE drivers (availability/performance losses)
- Mean time to repair (MTTR) improvement; alarm/fault repeat rate reduction
- Change success rate (right-first-time), audit readiness of documentation/backups
Key responsibilities
1) Automation & Controls Engineering
Develop and troubleshoot PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems; maintain control logic (cause & effect, alarms, interlocks); support instrumentation, drives, and machine interfaces.
2) IACS Robustness & Standardization
Implement the IACS roadmap to strengthen OT reliability and cybersecurity. Standardize naming, alarms, code, and version control. Improve system resilience by eliminating recurring faults, reducing single points of failure, and maintaining system health (patching, asset inventory, configurations).
3) OT Networks & Connectivity
Support industrial networks (e.g., Profinet, Ethernet/IP, OPC) and collaborate with IT on segmentation, firewalls, remote access, synchronization, and performance monitoring.
4) Change Management & Projects
Apply structured change control; support projects (URS, FAT/SAT, commissioning); ensure vendor compliance with standards and full documentation delivery.
5) Safety, Compliance & Documentation
Follow safety procedures (LOTOTO, permits); maintain up-to-date technical documentation, system backups, and disaster recovery plans.
6) Systems & Technologies
Work with PLCs (Siemens, Rockwell), HMI/SCADA, drives, vision systems, and OT networking tools.
7) Operational Discipline
Adhere to shopfloor procedures, 5S3R standards, and fire/labor safety regulations; maintain an organized and compliant workplace.
Other:
Perform additional related duties as assigned by the Line Manager.
Requirments
Education
BSC degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from recognized University
Knowledge
Advanced English (Oral and written), MS Office- confident user, and Safety policies of the company.
Demonstrated experience with PLC/HMI troubleshooting in production environments.
Skills
- Strong structured troubleshooting and root cause analysis
- Good understanding of production equipment, interlocks, PLC platforms (e.g., Siemens S7/TIA, Rockwell ControlLogix)
- HMI/SCADA (e.g., WinCC, FactoryTalk)
- Drives/servo, vision/inspection interfaces, sensors and instrumentation
- Industrial communication (e.g., Profinet, Ethernet/IP, OPC)
Work experience
3 years
