Company: Hatch
Business Unit: Project Delivery Group (PDG) – Mechanical Team
Industry: Multidisciplinary Engineering, Mining, Energy & Infrastructure
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Position Type: Permanent Graduate Development Programme
Requisition ID: 99164
Job Category: Engineering
Posted Date: 10 August 2026
About Hatch & The Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programme
Hatch is a global engineering, project delivery, and professional services firm with over 70 years of technical expertise across the mining, metals, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Operating in over 150 countries with 10,000 specialists, Hatch delivers safe, innovative, and sustainable solutions to complex global challenges.
The Graduate Programme 2026 (Mechanical Engineering) is based in Johannesburg within Hatch’s Project Delivery Group (PDG). This program offers final-year students and recent mechanical engineering graduates the opportunity to launch a career in global consulting engineering. Young engineers will work alongside top industry professionals on small and large-scale mechanical systems, materials handling, piping, HVAC, and industrial plant design projects across South Africa and globally.
Key Responsibilities & Professional Development Exposure
During this comprehensive graduate development program, your engineering workstreams will include:
1. Mechanical Systems Design & Engineering
- Plant & Equipment Design: Assist professional engineers, technologists, and designers in drafting, modeling, and analyzing mechanical equipment, piping systems, materials handling, and thermal/fluid systems.
- Multidisciplinary Project Delivery: Participate across all phases of project execution within Mining & Metals, Energy, Infrastructure, and Digital sectors.
2. Field Engineering & Commissioning
- Site Inspections: Support quality control, mechanical equipment testing, site installations, and plant commissioning across various project sites in South Africa and internationally.
3. Professional Growth & Accreditation
- Mentorship: Receive structured formal and informal mentorship from recognized industry authorities to support your journey toward ECSA candidate and professional registration.
- Skill Development: Active involvement in Hatch’s local Professional Development Programs and global cross-cultural collaboration initiatives.
Candidate Profile & Minimum Entry Requirements
To qualify for consideration for the 2026 Hatch Mechanical Engineering Graduate Programme, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Educational Qualifications:
- Currently a final-year student completing a BSc or BEng in Mechanical Engineering OR
- Hold a completed BSc / BEng in Mechanical Engineering degree from a recognized tertiary institution.
- Academic Average: Must maintain an overall academic average of 65% or above.
- Citizenship & Experience:
- Must be a South African Citizen.
- Must have 12 months or less of formal work experience.
- Mandatory Application Attachment:
- Must attach a copy of your most recent full official academic transcript / record.
- Flexibility & Mobility:
- Must be flexible to work and relocate to various project sites and provinces within South Africa as project requirements demand.
What Hatch Offers
- Global Project Exposure: Work on high-impact mechanical and industrial engineering projects in South Africa and worldwide.
- Top-Tier Mentorship: Learn directly from leading technical specialists across heavy industrial equipment, mining plants, and renewable energy.
- Inclusive & Flexible Culture: Build your career in an environment focused on diversity, continuous innovation, and long-term development.
Career Advice for Engineering Applicants
- Upload Official Academic Records: Applications submitted without a full official transcript showing a 65%+ average will be automatically disqualified.
- Detail Final-Year Projects: Highlight your final-year mechanical engineering design project, thermodynamics/fluid mechanics coursework, or CAD/FEA software skills (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor, ANSYS, AutoCAD) on page 1 of your CV.
- Reference Requisition Code: State Requisition ID
99164clearly in your application details.
Sample Mechanical Engineering Graduate Interview Questions
Technical Concepts & Mechanical Fundamentals
- Question (Thermodynamics & Fluid Dynamics): “How do you approach sizing pumps and selecting piping specifications for fluid transport in heavy mineral processing operations?”
- Question (Problem Solving): “Describe a scenario during your final-year design project where you had to re-evaluate stress or fatigue calculations due to component failure or space constraints.”
How to Apply
Submit your application directly through the Hatch global careers portal:
- Company: Hatch
- Position: Graduate Programme 2026 (Mechanical Engineering)
- Requisition ID:
99164 - Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng