Cold Chain and Energy Systems Engineer (National Consultant)

About the role

The consultancy will temporarily strengthen the technical capacity of UNICEF’s Country Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The engineer will be based at the Kinkole hub, providing daily on‑site support while also assisting the Lubumbashi and Kisangani hubs.

Key responsibilities

• Secure the technical reliability of the Kinkole hub cold chain and ensure high‑quality maintenance services.
• Provide specialised maintenance and troubleshooting support to the Lubumbashi and Kisangani hubs.
• Deliver engineering expertise on energy systems, including solar and hybrid solutions.
• Offer technical quality assurance for cold‑chain equipment projects from specification through commissioning and acceptance.
• Strengthen hub and EPI technicians’ skills through joint interventions and on‑the‑job coaching.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level) in electrical, electromechanical, energy, or refrigeration and air‑conditioning engineering (or equivalent).
• Minimum five years of hands‑on experience in electrical/electromechanical/energy/industrial refrigeration engineering, including operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of cold rooms and air‑conditioning systems.
• Proven experience with generators, automatic transfer switches, low‑voltage installations and solar PV or hybrid systems.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise maintenance or installation contractors, including commissioning and technical acceptance.
• Fluency in French and working knowledge of English; Lingala or Swahili is an asset.

Required skills

• Electrical engineering
• Electromechanical engineering
• Energy systems design
• Industrial refrigeration
• Air‑conditioning systems
• Generator operation
• Automatic transfer switches
• Low‑voltage electrical installations
• Solar photovoltaic systems
• Hybrid solar solutions
• Vaccine cold‑chain equipment (WHO PQS, solar direct‑drive refrigerators)
• Temperature monitoring systems
• Maintenance supervision
• Commissioning
• Technical acceptance
• Troubleshooting