Chemical Engineer - Bioprocess Development

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and incentives

Comprehensive health, dental, vision

Generous paid time off

Retirement savings plan with company

Professional development opportunities

Access to R&D facilities

Career growth at biotech company

On-site parking

Job summary

Placements24 in East London is seeking a Chemical Engineer to join its Bioprocess Development team. You will optimize fermentation and downstream processing for bio-based products in state-of-the-art facilities, translating lab discoveries into scalable industrial processes.

The role requires a strong background in fermentation technology, mass transfer, and separation, with at least five years in bioprocess development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or Biochemical Engineering.
• 5+ years of bioprocess development experience, preferably in industrial fermentation.
• Strong knowledge of microbial physiology, fermentation kinetics and downstream processing.
• Experience with scale-up and optimization of bioprocesses.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize microbial fermentation processes for bio-based products.
• Design and execute downstream processing experiments (cell harvesting, clarification, purification).
• Perform mass transfer, heat transfer, and kinetic analyses of bioprocesses.
• Scale-up from lab to pilot and potentially commercial scale.
• Troubleshoot bioprocessing issues and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing teams.
• Prepare technical reports, development protocols, and technology transfer docs.
• Ensure operations comply with safety and environmental regulations.

Skills

Fermentation

Bioprocess optimization

Analytical methods

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or Biochemical Engineering

Tools

Fermenters

Centrifuges

Filtration systems

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading biotechnology company focused on developing sustainable bioproducts, is seeking a skilled Chemical Engineer to join their Bioprocess Development team in East London, Eastern Cape . This role is essential for the optimization and scale-up of fermentation and downstream processing for novel bio-based products. You will work in state-of-the-art fermentation facilities and laboratories, applying biochemical engineering principles to enhance product yields, purity, and process efficiency. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in fermentation technology, mass transfer, and separation processes within a bioprocessing context. You will collaborate closely with microbiologists, biochemists, and manufacturing teams to translate laboratory discoveries into robust, scalable industrial processes. This is a hands-on position requiring your presence at our East London facility to ensure effective experimental design, execution, and data analysis. Your contributions will be pivotal in bringing innovative biotechnological solutions to market. We are dedicated to advancing sustainable industrial processes through cutting-edge biotechnology.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize microbial fermentation processes for the production of bio-based chemicals and materials.
• Design and execute experiments for downstream processing, including cell harvesting, clarification, purification, and formulation.
• Perform mass transfer, heat transfer, and kinetic analysis of bioprocesses.
• Scale-up fermentation and downstream processes from lab bench to pilot and potentially commercial scale.
• Troubleshoot bioprocessing issues and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, development protocols, and technology transfer documentation.
• Ensure all operations comply with safety and environmental regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or Biochemical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in bioprocess development, preferably in industrial fermentation.
• Strong understanding of microbial physiology, fermentation kinetics, and downstream processing techniques.
• Proven experience in process scale-up and optimization.
• Familiarity with bioprocess equipment (fermenters, centrifuges, filtration systems).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and experimental design skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience with statistical analysis software and process modeling is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Opportunities for professional development and attending industry conferences.
• Access to advanced biotechnology research and development facilities.
• Career growth within a forward-thinking biotechnology company.
• On-site parking and convenient work location.