Refrigeration Engineer Job at Biyinzika Poultry

Refrigeration Engineer Job

Work Hours: Full-time, 08 hours per day

Salary: Attractive

Job Deadline: 31 March 2026

Number of Jobs: 01

Hiring Entity: Biyinzika Poultry

Biyinzika Poultry

Location: In Uganda

Job Details:

Department: Maintenance/Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time/Permanent

Reports To/ Direct Supervisor: Maintenance Manager

Indirect/Functional Supervisor: Operations Director

Grade Level: Senior Technical / Engineering Specialist

Duty station: Uganda (Kigunga Farm)

Key Working Relationships (Non-Supervisory):

Fleet Mechanics.

Senior Maintenance Planner

External Refrigeration Specialists / OEM Service Agents

Job purpose:

The Refrigeration Engineer is the organization’s highest technical authority on all matters relating to refrigeration, cold-chain systems, and reefer truck equipment. Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, this role is responsible for ensuring the continuous reliability, performance, and regulatory compliance of all refrigeration units fitted to the reefer truck fleet.

Operating at a senior specialist level, the engineer leads the preventive and corrective maintenance of all refrigeration systems — from stand-alone refrigeration units (RUs) to integrated cold-chain monitoring systems. The role demands an expert-level understanding of refrigeration thermodynamics, refrigerant management, electrical control systems, and cold-chain compliance requirements relevant to the Ugandan operating environment and applicable food safety standards. Beyond hands-on technical work, the Senior Refrigeration Engineer acts as a technical mentor to the fleet mechanic team, develops refrigeration maintenance standards and procedures, and provides engineering input into equipment procurement and the farms expansion decisions. Their sign-off on a reefer unit’s readiness is the guarantee that the cold chain will be maintained for all processes

Key Responsibilities:

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.

Inspect and maintain all refrigerant containment components — hoses, fittings, service valves, and seals — to minimize refrigerant leakage and ensure environmental compliance.

Verify and document temperature pull-down performance for each reefer unit before dispatch to confirm it meets the required set-point within the specified time.

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.

Carry out refrigerant recovery, recycling, and recharging operations in compliance with environmental regulations governing refrigerant handling (HFCs, HFOs).

Diagnose and repair the electrical and electronic control systems of TRUs, including microprocessor controllers, sensors, wiring harnesses, and alarm systems.

Respond to field refrigeration breakdowns, attending the site where necessary or providing expert remote guidance to drivers and mechanics to safeguard the cold chain.

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.

Advise operations and dispatch teams on pre-cooling requirements, set-point configurations, and cargo loading practices that support cold-chain integrity.

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).

Stay current with developments in refrigeration technology, refrigerant regulations, and cold-chain best practices; introduce improvements where appropriate.

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.

Manage refrigerant gas stock, spare parts inventory, and specialist tool calibration in coordination with procurement and stores.

Education:

For a Ugandan-trained professional, the following qualifications are required or preferred:

Minimum Academic Qualifications:

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.

Professional / Technical Certifications (Required or Preferred):

Certification in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning from a recognized body — e.g., City & Guilds (Refrigeration & Air Conditioning), ASHRAE affiliate training, or equivalent internationally recognized qualification.
Refrigerant Handling Certificate — demonstrating competency in the safe recovery, recycling, and recharging of HFC/HFO refrigerants (R404A, R134a, R452A, R449A, or equivalents in common use).
Food safety / cold-chain compliance awareness training (e.g., HACCP principles) is an added advantage.
Valid Uganda driving permit (Class B or C) for field breakdown response

Skills and Experience:

Minimum Experience:

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

Core Technical & Professional Skills:

Expert-level knowledge of vapor-compression refrigeration cycles, refrigerant properties, and system thermodynamics.
Proficiency with refrigerant manifold gauges, vacuum pumps, refrigerant recovery/recharge equipment, leak detectors, and digital diagnostic instruments.
Competency in diagnosing and repairing RU electrical control systems, microprocessor controllers, temperature sensors, and alarm systems.
Knowledge of multiple refrigerant types including R404A, R134a, R452A, R449A, and their handling, storage, and environmental compliance requirements.
Ability to read and interpret refrigeration system schematics, P&ID diagrams, and TRU manufacturer service manuals.
Working knowledge of food-grade cold-chain temperature requirements for chilled and frozen consignments.

Attitude and Motivation:

The ideal candidate must demonstrate the following personal attributes:

Cold-Chain Champion: Deeply committed to the integrity of the cold chain — understands that a failed reefer unit does not just mean a breakdown, it means spoiled product, failed deliveries, and damaged customer relationships.
Technical Pride: Takes personal satisfaction in the precision of their work; a correctly diagnosed and permanently fixed refrigeration fault is a point of professional pride.
Proactive & Preventive: Identifies early warning signs of refrigeration system deterioration during routine services and acts before failures occur.
Safety Disciplined: Treats refrigerant handling, high-pressure systems, and electrical work with the respect and rigour they demand — never takes shortcuts around safety protocols.
Calm & Methodical Under Pressure: Remains composed and systematic during cold-chain emergencies, prioritising the right repair over the fast one.
Mentor Mindset: Genuinely enjoys sharing technical knowledge with less experienced colleagues and building the team’s overall capability.
Environmentally Responsible: Takes refrigerant containment and proper disposal seriously, understanding both the environmental impact and regulatory obligations.
Continuous Learner: Stays current with evolving refrigerant regulations, TRU technology, and cold-chain best practices without being prompted.
Honest & Accountable: Reports findings, refrigerant usage, and equipment status accurately — even when results are unfavourable.