Defy Appliances General Assistant (R&D) Vacancies

Defy Appliances is inviting suitably qualified applicants to apply for the General Assistant (R&D) vacancy. The successful candidate will support the Research and Development team with product testing, product movement, audits, prototype builds, documentation and other daily operational activities. Applicants should have Grade 12, at least 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment and strong computer skills. A relevant technical qualification and forklift licence will be an advantage. The closing date for applications is 17 August 2026.

Defy Appliances General Assistant R&D Vacancy

Defy Appliances is looking for a General Assistant to support its Research and Development (R&D) activities.

This is not simply a general cleaning or basic assistant position. The successful applicant will work alongside R&D teams and provide practical and administrative support for product testing, audits, product movement, prototypes and other departmental activities.

The role could suit someone who already has experience working in a manufacturing environment and is comfortable using computers, handling products and materials, following instructions and working with different departments.

Because the position supports R&D activities, the successful candidate should be organised, careful and able to pay close attention to detail.

What Will the Defy General Assistant Do?

The General Assistant will have a wide range of responsibilities.

The main duties include:

• Operating a forklift or Hyster, provided the employee has completed the required training and certification.
• Assisting with transport testing.
• Capturing transport-testing results.
• Recording test results using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Communicating transport-testing results to the relevant teams.
• Acting as a link between R&D, Stores and other operational departments.
• Helping identify R&D products, materials and components.
• Moving R&D products, materials and components when required.
• Assisting with the scrapping of approved R&D products, materials and components.
• Supporting product benchmarking activities.
• Moving products required for benchmarking.
• Preparing products for benchmarking.
• Taking measurements as required.
• Documenting benchmarking information.
• Assisting with prototype builds under the direction of an engineer or specialist.
• Assisting with non-critical product builds under supervision.
• Supporting production-line audits.
• Assisting with Bill of Materials (BOM) audits.
• Helping with steel material-consumption checks.
• Helping with plastic material-consumption checks.
• Assisting with production-line evaluations.
• Providing driving and logistical support for approved departmental activities.
• Supporting audits and product collections.
• Assisting with product testing activities.
• Supporting the daily requests of R&D squads.
• Supporting the Cooking Construction team.
• Serving as a First Aid representative when required and where departmental and company requirements apply.
• Serving as a Health and Safety representative when required and where departmental and company requirements apply.

The successful applicant should be prepared for a role where daily tasks can change depending on what the R&D and operational teams need.

Forklift Experience Could Give You an Advantage

The position includes forklift or Hyster operations, but this is subject to the required training and certification.

A forklift licence is listed as advantageous, meaning candidates who already have the relevant licence may have an advantage.

Applicants should not operate equipment unless they have the required training and authorisation.

If you already have forklift experience or a valid relevant licence, make sure this information is clearly included on your CV.

Manufacturing Experience Is Important

One of the key requirements for the role is at least 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment.

This experience can help candidates understand how production environments operate and why accurate records, safety, quality checks and attention to detail matter.

The General Assistant will work with products, components, materials, production lines and R&D teams, so previous manufacturing experience is particularly relevant.

Applicants should clearly explain their manufacturing experience on their CV, including their previous job titles and the duties they performed.

Strong Computer Skills Are Required

This role also has a strong computer-related side.

The successful candidate will be expected to capture, record and communicate transport-testing results using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Applicants therefore need to be comfortable using the Microsoft Office Suite.

You may need to create or update documents, enter information, record test results and communicate information to other team members.

Good computer skills can therefore be just as important as practical manufacturing experience for this position.

What Is Product Benchmarking?

The General Assistant will also support product benchmarking activities.

This can involve moving products, preparing them for testing or comparison, taking measurements and recording information.

The work needs to be done carefully because R&D teams rely on accurate information when evaluating products.

Applicants who pay attention to small details and follow instructions carefully may be well suited to this type of work.

Supporting Prototype Builds

The successful candidate may assist with prototype and non-critical product builds.

These tasks will be completed under the direction of the relevant engineer or specialist.

Applicants should therefore be comfortable following technical instructions and working under the guidance of experienced team members.

The role is about providing practical support rather than making independent engineering decisions.

Bill of Materials and Production Audits

Another part of the job involves supporting Bill of Materials (BOM) and production-line audits.

BOM refers to a Bill of Materials, which is a list of the materials and components needed to make a product.

The General Assistant may assist with checks involving:

• Steel material consumption.
• Plastic material consumption.
• Production-line evaluations.
• Bill of Materials information.
• Other approved audit activities.

BOM familiarity is advantageous, although it is not listed as an essential requirement.

Communication and Teamwork Matter

The General Assistant will work with different groups within the business, including R&D, Stores and other operational departments.

Good communication and interpersonal skills are therefore required.

The successful applicant should be able to communicate information clearly, work respectfully with colleagues and help different teams when required.

Being organised is also important because the role involves several different tasks and responsibilities.

Problem-Solving and Attention to Detail

Defy Appliances is looking for someone with good analytical and problem-solving skills.

The successful candidate should be able to look at a task, understand what needs to happen and help identify practical solutions when problems arise.

Attention to detail is equally important.

When recording testing results, checking materials, assisting with audits or documenting products, small mistakes can affect the information used by the R&D team.

This Is an Agile Working Environment

The vacancy states that the role operates in an agile environment.

In simple terms, this means priorities can change depending on the needs of the department and current operational demands.

The successful candidate should therefore be flexible and willing to take on different tasks when priorities change.

Your daily responsibilities may not always look exactly the same, so being adaptable is an important part of the role.

Who Should Apply?

The Defy Appliances General Assistant (R&D) vacancy may suit someone who has:

• Grade 12.
• At least 3 years’ manufacturing experience.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Good organisational skills.
• Experience or knowledge of manufacturing operations.
• A relevant technical qualification, which is advantageous.
• A forklift licence, which is advantageous.
• Familiarity with Bill of Materials, which is advantageous.

Applicants should also be comfortable supporting R&D teams, working with products and materials and completing practical and computer-based tasks.

Defy Appliances General Assistant R&D Job Details

Company: Defy Appliances
Position: General Assistant (R&D)
Department: Research & Development
Minimum Qualification: Grade 12
Experience: Minimum 3+ years in a manufacturing environment
Technical Qualification: Advantageous
Forklift Licence: Advantageous
BOM Knowledge: Advantageous
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office Suite required
Key Skills: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organisation and attention to detail
Closing Date: 17 August 2026

Before You Apply

Candidates interested in this opportunity should make sure their CV clearly shows their manufacturing experience and computer skills.

If you have worked in manufacturing for three or more years, explain the type of environment you worked in and the responsibilities you handled.

Also include any relevant technical qualifications, forklift certification, BOM experience or other skills that match the vacancy.

Make sure your CV is accurate and easy to read. Highlighting relevant experience can make it easier for the recruitment team to see how your background matches the position.

Don’t Miss the Closing Date

The Defy Appliances General Assistant (R&D) position offers an opportunity for an experienced manufacturing worker to support research, development, testing and production-related activities.

The job combines hands-on work with computer-based tasks, so applicants need to be comfortable with both sides of the role.

If you have Grade 12, at least three years of manufacturing experience and strong Microsoft Office skills, check the requirements carefully and submit your application before the deadline.

Closing date: 17 August 2026.