Chemical Engineer - Process Design and Improvement

Placements24; Paarl; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus program

Health & wellness

Retirement plan with company match

Training & development

Collaborative culture in Paarl

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly motivated Chemical Engineer to join the Paarl-based process development team. You will design, optimize and troubleshoot chemical processes, scale up lab work to pilot scale, and ensure safety and environmental compliance across operations.

The role requires a degree in Chemical Engineering and at least 4 years of experience in process design, with proficiency in Aspen Plus or HYSYS.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's or Master's).
• Minimum 4 years of experience in process design and optimization.
• Proficiency with Aspen Plus or HYSYS.
• Strong understanding of unit operations, thermodynamics, and mass/energy balances.
• Experience with process safety principles and hazard analysis.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new chemical processes from concept to pilot scale.
• Optimize existing manufacturing processes for yield, cost, and safety.
• Conduct process simulations and modeling to predict performance.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and implement plant solutions.
• Prepare technical reports, specifications, and guidelines.
• Collaborate with R&D, operations, and maintenance for implementation.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly motivated Chemical Engineer to join their process development team in Paarl . This role is central to designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting chemical processes within their operations. You will work on scaling up laboratory processes, improving existing plant operations for efficiency and safety, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer with a strong theoretical foundation and practical problem-solving skills to contribute to process innovation in the chemical and processing industry .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop new chemical processes, from conceptualization to pilot-scale testing.
• Optimize existing manufacturing processes to improve yield, reduce costs, and enhance safety.
• Conduct process simulations and modeling to analyze and predict process performance.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and implement effective solutions in the plant environment.
• Prepare technical reports, specifications, and operational guidelines.
• Collaborate with R&D, operations, and maintenance teams to ensure successful process implementation and transfer.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in process design and optimization, preferably in the chemical or petrochemical industry.
• Proficiency in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS).
• Strong understanding of unit operations, thermodynamics, and mass/energy balances.
• Experience with process safety principles and hazard analysis techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Opportunities for advanced training and professional development.
• A collaborative work environment focused on innovation and sustainability in Paarl .