Are you a recently graduated or junior engineer with a sharp analytical mind, a passion for problem-solving, and the drive to make a measurable impact from day one? Hungry Lion, one of South Africa’s fastest-growing Quick Service Restaurant brands, is looking for a talented Industrial Engineer to join their team in Stellenbosch. With bold ambitions to become the largest QSR brand on the African continent within the next decade, this is your opportunity to grow with a company that is scaling rapidly and thinking big.

About the Role

This position sits at the intersection of engineering, operations, and commercial performance. As an Industrial Engineer focused on Equipment Development and Layout Optimisation, you will play a direct role in shaping how Hungry Lion’s restaurants operate — from the equipment used in kitchens to the physical layout that determines how efficiently teams serve customers. Your work will have a tangible impact on cost reduction, speed of service, and product quality, all of which feed directly into the customer experience.

This is not a role for someone looking for a rigid, well-defined job description. You will be expected to work through ambiguous, poorly structured problems and independently develop solution frameworks. If you thrive in environments that reward initiative, resilience, and creative thinking, this role was designed for you.

What You Will Be Doing

You will engage with internal stakeholders and local and international equipment suppliers to identify new equipment opportunities, document specifications, and manage the implementation of changes to existing equipment. You will define, develop, and execute testing protocols for new and modified equipment, validating results against defined specifications and producing business cases grounded in real data.

On the layout side, you will identify kitchen layout improvement opportunities through desktop studies and on-site assessments, implement proposed changes against controlled baselines, and quantify the impact on workflow efficiency, movement, congestion, speed of service, and product quality. Your findings will directly inform adoption decisions across the restaurant network.

What Hungry Lion Is Looking For

The ideal candidate holds a BEng, BSc (Eng), or BTech in Industrial Engineering or a related engineering discipline. Beyond the qualification, Hungry Lion is looking for someone with strong systems thinking, end-to-end workflow understanding, and the ability to analyse processes and identify measurable improvements.

You will need to demonstrate excellent communication skills and the confidence to engage with senior internal and external stakeholders. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets is essential for analysis, modelling, and reporting. Experience with CAD or layout software is advantageous but not a requirement.

Above all, they are looking for someone who is detail-oriented, solution-focused, and eager to deliver real value in a fast-paced, growing business.

How to Apply

If you are ready to take on a high-impact engineering role at the early stage of your career and grow with one of Africa’s most ambitious QSR brands, click here to apply.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — do not delay.