Senior Process Development Engineer

Placements24; Newlands; Hybrid; AUD 185,000 - 242,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision coverage

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Queenstown is seeking a Senior Process Development Engineer to lead the development and optimization of chemical processes at the facility. The role requires strong chemical engineering fundamentals and a passion for problem-solving and scale-up.

You will design pilot plant studies, perform process modeling and simulation, and develop detailed process designs, P&IDs and equipment specifications.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering.
• 8+ years in process development, scale-up and optimization.
• Strong knowledge of reaction engineering, separations and process control.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of chemical processes.
• Design and execute pilot plant studies to validate designs and collect data.
• Model and simulate processes to predict performance and identify issues.
• Create detailed process designs, P&IDs and equipment specs.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing and engineering for tech transfer.
• Analyze data to improve yield, reduce costs and enhance safety.

Education

Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen HYSYS

Pro/II

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced Senior Process Development Engineer to lead innovative projects and enhance existing chemical processes within their facility in Queenstown . This role requires a deep understanding of chemical engineering principles, combined with a passion for problem-solving and process optimization. You will be responsible for taking processes from conceptualization through to successful implementation, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and economic viability. This is a significant opportunity to contribute to technological advancements and drive operational excellence in a challenging industrial context, working within a company committed to innovation and sustainability in the Eastern Cape.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of new and existing chemical processes.
• Design and execute pilot plant studies to validate process designs and gather performance data.
• Perform process modeling and simulation to predict performance and identify potential issues.
• Develop detailed process designs, P&IDs, and equipment specifications.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and engineering teams to ensure smooth technology transfer and implementation.
• Analyze process data to identify opportunities for yield improvement, cost reduction, and enhanced safety.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering .
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in process development, scale-up, and optimization.
• Proficiency in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen HYSYS, Pro/II) and data analysis tools.
• Strong knowledge of reaction engineering, separation technologies, and process control.
• Experience in leading technical projects and mentoring junior engineers.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-related bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous retirement savings plan.
• Paid time off and professional development opportunities.
• A challenging and rewarding role with significant impact in Queenstown .