Recruiter / Company: Takora
Industry: Mechanical Engineering, Building Services, HVAC & Fire Protection
Location: Rivonia, Sandton / Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Position Type: Full-Time Graduate Internship
Experience Level: 0–1 Year
Posted Date: 11 August 2026
Closing Date: Open / Rolling Applications
About the Role & Engineering Environment
Takora is a leading technical recruitment and engineering solutions partner in South Africa.
The Design Engineer Intern role is a full-time career launcher based in Rivonia, Johannesburg. Operating within a dynamic building services and mechanical engineering environment, the successful intern will bridge the gap between engineering concepts and practical construction execution. Guided by senior engineers and draughting specialists, you will develop technical mechanical layouts, HVAC schematics, fire protection systems, wet/drainage plans, and workshop cabinet designs using Revit and AutoCAD.
Key Responsibilities & Technical Workstreams
In this technical design and draughting internship, your daily deliverables will cover four primary engineering workstreams:
1. Building Services & Mechanical CAD Design
- HVAC & Air Systems: Develop detailed Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) drawings and schematics using Revit.
- Wet & Drainage Services: Prepare comprehensive wet services and drainage drawings using Revit and AutoCAD 2D/3D.
- Fire Protection & Layouts: Design fire protection system layouts, specialized SP & L drawings, and building safety plans.
- Workshop Cabinet Layouts: Generate and issue C200 & C300 cabinet layout drawings to the manufacturing workshop.
2. Engineering Documentation & Bills of Materials
- BOM Generation: Extract and generate detailed Bills of Materials (BOM) from TPC files.
- Drawings & Tenders: Produce initial concept, formal tender, and detailed technical mechanical engineering drawings.
- Site Assessments: Assist senior engineers in assessing, measuring, and reporting on existing building infrastructure.
3. Project Administration & Tracking
- Drawing Register: Maintain meticulous drawing records, revision logs, and project documentation.
- Data Capturing: Perform technical data entry, update project tracking spreadsheets, monitor billable working hours, and hit strict client deadlines.
Candidate Profile & Technical Requirements
To qualify for this design engineering internship, candidates must meet the following entry criteria:
- Academic Qualification: Minimum Diploma in Draughting, Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical qualification plus Grade 12 (Matric).
- Experience Level: 0 to 1 year of relevant experience (fresh graduates and entry-level draughtsmen welcome).
- Software Stack:
- Essential: Good working knowledge of Revit and AutoCAD 2D/3D.
- Advantageous: Exposure to SolidWorks or other 3D modeling packages.
- Industry Knowledge (Advantageous): Previous exposure or coursework in a mechanical engineering or building services (MEP / HVAC / Fire / Wet Services) environment.
- Key Soft Skills: Exceptional attention to technical detail, strong verbal and written communication skills, and disciplined time management.
- Location: Based in or able to commute daily to Rivonia, Sandton / Johannesburg.
What Takora Offers
- High-Value Practical Exposure: Hands-on experience across full-scope building services (HVAC, Wet Services, Fire Protection, Cabinet Fabrication).
- Professional Software Mastery: Real-world application of Revit, AutoCAD, and TPC engineering files.
- Career Foundation: An ideal stepping stone toward a career as a Professional Mechanical Draughtsman, MEP Engineer, or CAD Specialist.
Career Advice for Design Applicants
- Highlight Your Software & Portfolio: Include a link or attachment to sample CAD/Revit projects, technical drawings, or university assignments demonstrating your 2D/3D modeling skills.
- Specify MEP/Building Services Exposure: Feature any exposure to HVAC, piping, drainage, or fire protection design near the top of your resume.
- Format Email Subject Correctly: Use a clear, professional subject line (e.g., Application: Design Engineer Intern – [Your Name]) when submitting your CV.
Sample Technical & Interview Preparation Questions
CAD, Revit & Building Services
- Question (Revit / HVAC): “How do you approach setting up ducting and piping family parameters when modeling an HVAC layout in Revit?”
- Question (BOM / Drawings): “What steps do you take to verify accuracy when extracting a Bill of Materials (BOM) from technical design files before sending specs to a workshop?”
📥 How to Apply
Submit your updated CV and portfolio/qualifications directly via email:
- Contact Person: Thandiswa
- Email Address:
Thandiswa@takora.co.za - Email Subject Line:
Application: Design Engineer Intern - Rivonia - Location: Rivonia, Sandton, Johannesburg