Chemical Plant Engineer - Process Control & Automation

Placements24; Riverton (UT); On-site; USD 48,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive package

Medical aid & provident fund

Life insurance

Professional training & certifications

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Chemical Plant Engineer with expertise in process control and automation for a modern Upington facility. You will design, implement, and optimize DCS/PLC/SCADA control systems, ensuring safe, reliable operations and peak plant performance across complex automated processes.

You will work with operations, maintenance, and project teams to troubleshoot issues, enhance control strategies, and deliver training on control systems, instrumentation, and cybersecurity best practices.

Qualifications

• Required B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemical or Electrical/Electronic Engineering with emphasis on control systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain process control strategies and automation systems (DCS, PLC, SCADA).
• Develop and update control logic, operator interfaces, and alarm management.
• Troubleshoot control system issues and perform root cause analysis of process upsets related to automation.
• Collaborate with project teams on integration of new equipment and control systems.
• Ensure reliability and performance of plant instrumentation and control hardware.
• Develop and deliver training to operations and maintenance on control systems.
• Optimize process performance through advanced control techniques and data analysis.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and cybersecurity protocols for control systems.

Skills

Process control

DCS/SCADA expertise

Instrumentation

Alarming & operator interfaces

Data historian & analytics

Team collaboration

Education

B.Sc./M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering or Electrical/Electronic Engineering (control focus)

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Honeywell Experion

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley PLC

Siemens PLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major player in the industrial chemicals sector, is seeking a skilled Chemical Plant Engineer with expertise in Process Control and Automation for their facility in Upington, Northern Cape . This role is pivotal in ensuring the efficient, safe, and reliable operation of our chemical production plants through the implementation and maintenance of advanced control systems. You will be responsible for designing, configuring, and troubleshooting Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in chemical engineering principles combined with in-depth knowledge of automation technologies and instrumentation. You will work closely with operations, maintenance, and project engineering teams to drive continuous improvement and enhance plant performance. This is an excellent opportunity to work on complex automated systems in a growing industrial hub.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain process control strategies and automation systems (DCS, PLC, SCADA).
• Develop and update control logic, operator interfaces, and alarm management systems.
• Troubleshoot control system issues and perform root cause analysis of process upsets related to automation.
• Collaborate with project teams on the integration of new equipment and control systems.
• Ensure the reliability and performance of plant instrumentation and control hardware.
• Develop and deliver training to operations and maintenance personnel on control systems.
• Optimize process performance through advanced control techniques and data analysis.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and cybersecurity protocols for control systems.
• Stay current with industry advancements in process automation and control technology.

Requirements

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering or Electrical/Electronic Engineering with a focus on control systems.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process control and automation within a chemical or process industry.
• Proficiency with major DCS platforms (e.g., Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion) and PLC programming (e.g., Rockwell, Siemens).
• Strong understanding of industrial instrumentation, loop tuning, and control theory.
• Experience with SCADA systems and data historian databases.
• Knowledge of functional safety standards (e.g., IEC 61511) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Experience working in an industrial plant environment.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, including performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits such as medical aid, a provident fund, and life insurance.
• Opportunities for advanced training in automation technologies and professional certifications are provided.
• The company fosters a culture of technological advancement and operational excellence.
• Employees are entitled to generous annual leave and sick leave.

This position is based at our modern facility in Upington, Northern Cape . Join a team dedicated to optimizing complex industrial processes through state-of-the-art automation solutions.