Chemical Engineer - Process Development

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Chemical Engineer to join the Richards Bay Process Development team, focusing on developing and optimizing chemical processes for new and existing products. The role involves pilot plant trials, process modeling, and ensuring scalable, safe, and economically viable processes for full-scale production.

The candidate will collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers, prepare detailed technical reports, and support start-ups and troubleshooting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development or optimization within the chemical or petrochemical industry.
• Proficiency with process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, ChemCAD).
• Experience with pilot plant operations and scale-up principles.
• Strong understanding of chemical reaction engineering and separation technologies.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute pilot plant studies to evaluate new process technologies.
• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs).
• Conduct process simulations and economic evaluations for new process designs.
• Troubleshoot and optimize existing manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
• Ensure all process designs adhere to safety, health, and environmental (SHE) standards.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers to translate laboratory findings into viable industrial processes.
• Prepare detailed technical reports and process documentation.
• Provide technical support to the manufacturing team during process start-ups and troubleshooting.

Skills

Process simulation

Pilot plant operations

Analytical problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

BSc or BEng in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

ChemCAD

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a significant force in the petrochemical and fertilizer industry, is seeking a skilled Chemical Engineer to join their Process Development team in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal . This role is integral to the innovation pipeline, focusing on developing and optimizing chemical processes for new and existing products. The successful candidate will be involved in pilot plant trials, process modeling, and ensuring that developed processes are scalable, safe, and economically viable for full-scale production. This position offers the chance to work on challenging projects that have a direct impact on the company's growth and sustainability initiatives. We foster a culture of scientific curiosity and engineering excellence. This is an ideal role for a proactive engineer who thrives on problem-solving and innovation in a dynamic industrial setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute pilot plant studies to evaluate new process technologies.
• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs).
• Conduct process simulations and economic evaluations for new process designs.
• Troubleshoot and optimize existing manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
• Ensure all process designs adhere to safety, health, and environmental (SHE) standards.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers to translate laboratory findings into viable industrial processes.
• Prepare detailed technical reports and process documentation.
• Provide technical support to the manufacturing team during process start-ups and troubleshooting.

Requirements

• BSc or BEng in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development or optimization within the chemical or petrochemical industry.
• Proficiency with process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, ChemCAD).
• Experience with pilot plant operations and scale-up principles.
• Strong understanding of chemical reaction engineering and separation technologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and computational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of process safety management (PSM) is advantageous.
• Residing in or willing to relocate to the vicinity of Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal .

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, a comprehensive benefits package including medical and retirement plans, performance incentives, and significant opportunities for professional development and career advancement. Employees in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal benefit from a stimulating work environment, access to advanced research and development facilities, and a commitment to work-life balance. Additional perks include potential for international assignments, continued education support, and wellness programs. This is a chance to contribute to vital industrial processes in a key South African economic hub.