Chemical Engineer - R&D and Scale-Up

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Hybrid work

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Chemical Engineer for an R&D and scale-up role in George, Western Cape. You will drive bench-to-pilot to full production, designing experiments and collaborating with chemists and engineers.

The role emphasizes process development, safety, and environmental compliance, with opportunities to optimize existing processes and support technology transfer to manufacturing sites in a hybrid work setup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering required.
• 2–5 years of relevant experience in chemical R&D and/or process scale-up.
• Hands-on lab experimentation and pilot plant operations experience.
• Familiarity with process simulation and modeling tools is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Conduct R&D activities for new chemical products and processes.
• Design and execute pilot plant trials to validate laboratory findings and gather scale-up data.
• Analyze experimental data and prepare technical reports.
• Develop PFDs and preliminary equipment specifications for scale-up.
• Troubleshoot issues during process scale-up and pilot operations.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists, engineers, and manufacturing teams.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies for process improvements.
• Ensure R&D and scale-up activities adhere to safety and environmental regulations.
• Assist in technology transfer to manufacturing sites.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of existing processes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Chemical Engineering degree (Bachelors/Master's)

Tools

Process simulation tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking company specializing in innovative material science, is seeking a talented Chemical Engineer with a strong focus on Research & Development and scale-up processes. Based in **George, Western Cape**, this role is pivotal in bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and commercial production. You will be responsible for taking new chemical formulations and processes from bench scale through pilot studies to full industrial implementation. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking product development and process optimization within a collaborative and innovative environment in **George**.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and development activities for new chemical products and processes.
• Design and execute pilot plant trials to validate laboratory findings and gather scale-up data.
• Analyze experimental data and prepare comprehensive technical reports.
• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs) and preliminary equipment specifications for scale-up.
• Troubleshoot issues encountered during process scale-up and pilot operations.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists, engineers, and manufacturing teams.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies for potential process improvements.
• Ensure all R&D and scale-up activities adhere to safety and environmental regulations.
• Assist in the technology transfer process to manufacturing sites.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of existing processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• 2-5 years of relevant experience in chemical R&D and/or process scale-up.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory experimentation and pilot plant operations.
• Familiarity with process simulation and modeling tools is advantageous.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent understanding of chemical reaction principles and unit operations.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a passion for innovation.
• Must be authorized to work in **South Africa**.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth and development. This hybrid role allows for flexibility, combining essential on-site work in **George, Western Cape**, with remote work capabilities. Join a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of material science and chemical innovation.