Refrigeration Engineer

• Diploma in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field from a recognized Ugandan institution — including Uganda Technical Colleges, Kyambogo University, Makerere University, or NITA-U accredited polytechnics.
  
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Refrigeration & HVAC Engineering, or Chemical Engineering is strongly preferred for the senior grade of this role.
  
• At least 5–7 years of hands-on experience in refrigeration engineering.
  
• Demonstrated experience diagnosing and repairing complex refrigeration system faults on industrial refrigeration equipment or RUs.
  
• Prior experience in a cold-chain logistics, food distribution, pharmaceutical, or FMCG refrigerated transport environment is strongly preferred.
  
• Experience mentoring or supervising junior technicians in a workshop setting
  

Refrigeration System Preventive Maintenance

• Design, implement, and manage the Preventive Maintenance Schedule (PMS) for all refrigeration units, ensuring services are completed at correct intervals per manufacturer specifications.
  
• Carry out comprehensive refrigeration services including; refrigerant level checks and top-ups, compressor oil changes, condenser and evaporator coil cleaning, belt and pulley inspection/replacement, filter drier replacement, defrost system checks, and temperature controller calibration.
  

Fault Diagnosis & Corrective Repairs

• Diagnose and repair complex refrigeration system faults including; compressor failures, condenser/evaporator coil blockages, refrigerant leaks, expansion valve malfunctions, electrical control board faults, and defrost system failures.
  
• Use refrigerant manifold gauges, leak detectors, digital thermometers, clamp meters, and OEM diagnostic software to accurately characterize system faults before committing repairs.
  

Cold-Chain Compliance & Temperature Management

• Ensure all reefer units are calibrated and verified to maintain required temperature ranges (chilled: 0°C to +5°C; frozen: -18°C and below, or as specified per consignment).
  
• Collaborate with the Telematics Officer to monitor remote temperature data and investigate any in-transit temperature excursions, documenting findings and corrective actions.
  
• Maintain temperature calibration certificates and service logs for each reefer unit, ensuring records are available for customer, regulatory, or food safety audits.
  

Technical Standards, Procedures & Engineering Input

• Develop and maintain refrigeration maintenance standard operating procedures (SOPs), inspection checklists, and technical guidelines for use by the maintenance team.
  
• Provide engineering recommendations to the Maintenance Manager and Production Teams on reefer unit replacement, upgrade, or capital overhaul decisions
  
• Review and evaluate specifications for new refrigeration equipment acquisitions, ensuring suitability for the Ugandan operating environment (ambient temperatures, road conditions, load profiles).
  

Mentoring, Training & Knowledge Transfer

• Provide structured technical guidance and on-the-job training to technicians on refrigeration fundamentals, safe refrigerant handling, and basic servicing tasks.
  
• Conduct toolbox talks on refrigeration safety, refrigerant handling procedures, and cold-chain compliance awareness for drivers and mechanics.
  
• Document technical knowledge in the form of maintenance guides, fault-finding flowcharts, and repair references accessible to the wider maintenance team.
  

Documentation, Reporting & Parts Management

• Maintain a comprehensive refrigeration maintenance register covering each RU: service history, fault log, refrigerant charge records, calibration history, and component replacement log.
  
• Complete and submit accurate job cards for every refrigeration repair or service, reconciling parts usage and labour hours before equipment release.
  
• Prepare and submit monthly refrigeration performance reports to the Maintenance Manager, covering system uptime, fault trends, refrigerant consumption, and KPI performance.