Process Engineer

Novopor Advanced Science; Opp MDO Office, Atchuthapuram, Turakapally; On-site; INR 1,400,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Novopor Advanced Science in India seeks a highly experienced Process Development & Scale-Up Lead to drive pilot plant trials and scale-up of chemical processes from lab to production scale. You will ensure safety, cost-efficiency and robust performance across facilities.

The role requires 8–12 years in process scale-up, tech transfer, and troubleshooting in chemical or pharma intermediates, with hands-on pilot plant experience and strong collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's/Master's in chemical engineering required.
• Hands-on experience in process development, scale-up, and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Lead pilot plant and plant trials for new processes.
• Translate lab-scale processes to commercial scale protocols.
• Perform mass and energy balances, equipment sizing, risk assessments.
• Produce PFDs, P&IDs, and batch records for scale-up.
• Identify yield, cycle time, and energy efficiency improvements.
• Evaluate and improve mixing, heat transfer, distillation, crystallization, or filtration units.
• Lead RCA and corrective actions with production, quality, and safety teams.
• Prepare technical reports, SOPs, MOCs, batch recipes, and change controls.

Skills

Process engineering

Scale-up calculations

Troubleshooting

Pilot plant

Education

Bachelors / Masters in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

To lead and support process development, scale-up, troubleshooting, and optimization of chemical processes from laboratory to commercial plant scale, ensuring safety, cost-efficiency, and robust performance.

This role demands a technical expert with hands-on experience and expertise in process engineering, pilot plant trials, and production scale implementation.

A. Process Development & Scale-Up

• Lead the design and execution of pilot plant and plant trials for new processes
• Translate lab-scale or kilo-lab processes to commercial scale protocols with minimal deviations
• Conduct mass and energy balances, equipment sizing, and scale-up risk assessments
• Generate PFDs, P&IDs, and batch records for scale-up activities

B. Process Optimization

• Identify and implement yield, cycle time, and energy efficiency improvements
• Optimize reaction conditions, raw material usage norms, and utility consumption to increase operational efficiency
• Evaluate and improve mixing, heat transfer, distillation, crystallization, or filtration units

C. Troubleshooting & Technical Support

• Diagnose and resolve batch failures, process upsets, and equipment bottlenecks
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective/preventive actions
• Work closely with production, quality, and safety teams to stabilize new processes

D. Documentation & Compliance

• Prepare technical reports, SOPs, MOCs, batch recipes and change control documentation
• Ensure compliance with HAZOP, ISO, and EHS guidelines
• Maintain comprehensive batch-wise scale-up reports and process history files

E. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with R&D, plant operations, EHS, maintenance, and project engineering teams
• Participate in HAZOP, PSSR, and commissioning of new systems
• Support tech transfer between internal and external sites (if applicable)

Competencies:

• Technical Proficiency: Process engineering design/calculations and scaleup
• Communication Skills: Clarity of thought and capable of articulating complex technical concepts clearly.
• Organizational Skills: Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects, prioritize tasks efficiently, and meet stringent deadlines with attention to detail.
• Interpersonal Skills: Effective collaborator with strong ability to build professional relationships across all functional levels.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive and analytical approach to identifying issues and developing effective, sustainable solutions.
• Integrity: Maintain high levels of confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical standards.

Qualification: Bachelors / Masters in chemical engineering

Nature of Experience:

• 8 - 12 years of experience in process scale-up, technology transfer, and troubleshooting within chemical, specialty/fine chemical, agrochemical, or pharmaceutical intermediate industries.
• Knowledge of pilot plant setup, GLRs, SS reactors, various filters, dryers, reboilers, distillation columns, short path distillation, vacuum systems
• Proven track record in plant trials and process troubleshooting and process optimization.