Chemical Engineer - Process Development

Placements24; Durban; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an experienced Chemical Engineer focused on Process Development to join a Durban-based manufacturing facility. The role emphasizes optimizing and scaling chemical processes for safe, high-quality production and continuous improvement.

You will troubleshoot operations, design experiments, and collaborate with production, quality control, and R&D teams to deliver reliable process performance and scalable innovations for future manufacturing needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in process development or chemical manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of chemical process principles, unit operations, and reaction kinetics.
• Experience with process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus) is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a practical, hands-on approach to engineering challenges.
• Proficiency in SPC and data analysis techniques.

Responsibilities

• Develop, scale-up, and optimize chemical processes from laboratory to pilot plant and full production scales.
• Conduct process hazard analyses (PHAs) and implement safety improvements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve operational issues in the production environment.
• Design and execute experiments to improve process yield, efficiency, and product quality.
• Prepare technical reports, process documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers on new product introductions and process validation.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up

Optimization

PHAs

SPC

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Hands-on engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Master's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced Chemical Engineer focused on Process Development to join their manufacturing facility in Durban. This critical role involves optimizing and scaling up chemical processes to ensure efficient, safe, and high-quality production. You will be instrumental in troubleshooting existing operations and developing innovative solutions for future manufacturing needs. This is a hands‑on position requiring close collaboration with production teams, quality control, and research and development departments. The successful candidate will be a key contributor to the company's manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, scale-up, and optimize chemical processes from laboratory to pilot plant and full production scales.
• Conduct process hazard analyses (PHAs) and implement safety improvements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve operational issues in the production environment.
• Design and execute experiments to improve process yield, efficiency, and product quality.
• Prepare technical reports, process documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers on new product introductions and process validation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering .
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in process development or chemical manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of chemical process principles, unit operations, and reaction kinetics.
• Experience with process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus) is a plus.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and a practical, hands‑on approach to engineering challenges.
• Proficiency in statistical process control (SPC) and data analysis techniques.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary and performance‑based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and advanced training in chemical engineering.
• A stable and secure work environment within a leading manufacturing company in Durban .