Chief Engineer

Job Description : Chief Engineer Department - Engineering & Maintenance Location - Textile Plant, Uganda Reports To - Business Unit Head Direct Reports - Maintenance Team, Utilities Team, Workshop Supervisors Scope - Full plant engineering across spinning, weaving, processing (dyeing/finishing), and garmenting divisions Employment Type - Full-Time, Expatriate Contract (2 years, renewable) 1. Position Purpose The Chief Engineer is responsible for the complete engineering function of a fully integrated textile plant covering spinning, weaving, processing (dyeing and finishing), and garmenting operations. The role demands a hands-on leader with deep system-level understanding of all textile machinery, wet processing equipment, garment machinery, utilities, and maintenance practices. The Chief Engineer must drive plant uptime, operational efficiency, quality consistency, and continuous improvement across all engineering departments. 2. Key Responsibilities 2.1 Spinning Systems · Complete understanding and management of blow room, carding, draw frame, comber, speed frame, and ring frame / rotor spinning systems · Process optimization for count-wise production plans fiber selection, draft settings, twist parameters, and waste control · Machine setting standardization, auto-leveller calibration, and quality parameter monitoring (U%, imperfections, hairiness, strength) · Troubleshooting yarn faults at source: thick/thin places, neps, periodic faults, and end-breakage analysis · Manage winding, TFO/doubling systems, and yarn conditioning processes 2.2 Weaving Systems · Complete understanding of warping (sectional and direct), sizing, drawing-in, and loom shed operations · Loom management: rapier, air-jet, or projectile looms setting optimization for different fabric constructions · Sizing recipe management, stretch/elongation control, and beam quality monitoring · Fabric fault analysis and prevention: starting marks, broken picks, selvedge issues, weft bars, stop marks · Loom efficiency monitoring, pick rate optimization, and warp stop reduction strategies 2.3 Processing Systems (Dyeing & Finishing) · Complete understanding of wet processing: desizing, scouring, bleaching, mercerizing, dyeing, and finishing sequences · Dyeing machinery management: jet dyeing, jigger, pad-dry-cure, continuous dyeing range (CDR), and soft flow machines · Finishing equipment: stenter/heat setting frames, sanforizing, calendering, raising, brushing, and compacting machines · Chemical dosing systems, recipe management, and dye kitchen operations · Colour consistency and shade matching understanding of spectrophotometer readings and lab-to-bulk correlation · Water management: process water quality, effluent treatment plant (ETP), water recycling, and zero-liquid-discharge systems · Steam and thermal systems critical to processing: thermic oil heaters, steam boilers, hot air generators temperature control and energy efficiency · Process waste reduction: right-first-time (RFT) dyeing targets, chemical consumption optimization, re-process rate monitoring 2.4 Garmenting Systems · Understanding of garment production flow: cutting, sewing, finishing, packing, and dispatch · Cutting room equipment: automatic spreading machines, CAM cutting systems (Gerber/Lectra), manual cutting tools · Sewing floor machinery: single needle, double needle, overlock, flatlock, buttonhole, button attach, bartack, and specialty machines · Pressing and finishing: steam press, fusing machines, needle detectors, and quality inspection systems · Maintenance of pneumatic and servo-driven sewing machines timing, tension, feed dog, and needle system calibration · Compressed air and vacuum systems specific to garmenting floor requirements · Production line balancing support from engineering perspective machine allocation, power planning, and workstation ergonomics 2.5 Utilities & Power Systems · Power generation/distribution, transformers, DG sets, and power factor optimization · Boiler and steam systems: operation, fuel efficiency, water treatment, and safety protocols · Thermic oil heating systems: heater operation, oil quality monitoring (quarterly lab testing for flash point, TAN, carbon residue), pipeline inspection, and leak prevention · Compressed air systems: compressor efficiency, air leak reduction, pressure optimization across spinning, weaving, and garmenting · Humidification and HVAC: maintaining optimal temperature and humidity for each division (spinning 55-65% RH, weaving 70-85% RH, processing and garmenting as required) · Water treatment plant, ETP operations, and water recycling systems · Energy audit and consumption tracking drive cost per unit reduction across all divisions 2.6 Maintenance Management · Design and implement structured preventive maintenance schedules for all machinery across all four divisions · Build predictive maintenance capability using vibration analysis, thermography, and oil analysis · Establish and monitor KPIs: machine uptime (>95%), MTBF, MTTR, energy cost per unit, maintenance cost as % of asset value · Spare parts inventory management critical spares identification, reorder levels, and vendor development for textile, processing, and garment machinery · Workshop management: machining, welding, electrical repair, and fabrication capabilities · Implement CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) for work order tracking across all divisions 2.7 Capital Projects & New Installations · Lead installation and commissioning of new machinery across all divisions · Manage CAPEX projects end-to-end: concept, vendor evaluation, procurement, installation, commissioning, and handover · Coordinate with OEMs: Rieter, LMW, Toyota, Picanol for spinning/weaving; Fongs, Thies, Bruckner, Monforts for processing; Juki, Brother, Gerber, Lectra for garmenting · Evaluate and recommend machinery modernization to improve productivity, quality, and energy efficiency 2.8 Team Leadership · Lead and develop a team of 4070+ engineering and maintenance staff across all divisions and shifts · Build local engineering capability through structured training and skill development programs · Establish shift-wise maintenance coverage, on-call protocols, and escalation matrix · Drive TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) culture and continuous improvement mindset 2.9 Safety & Environment · Ensure strict adherence to plant safety: machine guarding, electrical safety, fire prevention, PPE compliance, chemical handling safety in processing · Conduct regular safety audits, fire drills, and risk assessments · Manage hazardous materials (dyes, chemicals, thermic oil), waste disposal, and environmental monitoring · Ensure safe storage and handling of chemicals used in dyeing and finishing operations · 3. Qualifications & Experience · Education B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Electrical, or Textile Engineering. M.Tech or MBA is an added advantage. · Experience Minimum 20 years in textile plant engineering, with at least 5 years at Chief Engineer / Plant Head level in an integrated facility covering spinning, weaving, and preferably processing/garmenting. International or Africa experience preferred. · System Knowledge Deep end-to-end understanding of spinning, weaving, wet processing (dyeing/finishing), and garment production systems. Must diagnose process issues, optimize machine settings, and connect quality parameters to machine/process root causes. Strong knowledge of utilities including thermic oil, boiler, compressed air, humidification, and ETP systems. Understanding of chemical processes in dyeing and finishing. · Technical Tools CMMS / ERP systems, AutoCAD, energy monitoring software, quality testing instruments (Uster, Tensojet, spectrophotometer), basic PLC understanding. · Leadership Proven ability to manage 40-70+ staff across multiple divisions in a multi-shift environment. Cross-cultural team management. Vendor negotiation and CAPEX budget management. · Languages English (mandatory). Fluent written and spoken English required for all reporting and communication. · • CAPEX project delivery: on time and within budget · • Safety: zero lost-time incidents · • Team development: local engineers trained to supervisory level · 4. Key Performance Indicators. · Spinning: · :- End- breakage rate, yarn realization %, count CV%, quality compliance · Weaving: · :- Loom efficiency, fabric defect rate, sizing waste% · Processing: · :- Right-first-time (RFT) dyeing %, re-process rate, chemical post per kg, water consumption per kg, ETP complience. · Garmenting: · :- Machine downtime %, needle breakage rate, pressing · quality, line output vs plan · Overall: · :- Machine uptime & availability : target greater than 95% across all divisions. · :- Energy cost per unit of production : year on year reduction · :- Maintenance cost % of asset value : target less than 3% · :- CAPEX Project delivery : on time and within budget · :- Safety : zero lost-time incidents · :- Team Development : local engineers trained to supervisory level. · 5. Compensation & Benefit · • Competitive expatriate salary package (negotiable based on experience) · • Furnished accommodation · • Annual home leave with airfare · • Medical insurance · • Performance-linked bonus · 6. How to Apply

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