Chemical Plant Engineer - Process Control & Automation

Placements24; Siyancuma Local Municipality; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Life insurance

Annual leave

Training opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 invites applications for a Chemical Plant Engineer with expertise in process control and automation to join a facility in Upington, Northern Cape. You will design, configure, and maintain DCS, PLC, and SCADA systems to ensure safe and reliable plant operations.

Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and project teams to drive continuous improvement, implement advanced control strategies, and ensure cybersecurity compliance.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering or Electrical/Electronic Engineering with a focus on control systems.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process control and automation within a chemical or process industry.
• Proficiency with major DCS platforms (Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion) and PLC programming (Rockwell, Siemens).
• Strong understanding of industrial instrumentation, loop tuning, and control theory.
• Experience with SCADA systems and data historian databases.
• Knowledge of functional safety standards (IEC 61511) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Experience working in an industrial plant environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain process control strategies and automation systems (DCS, PLC, SCADA).
• Develop and update control logic, operator interfaces, and alarm management systems.
• Troubleshoot control system issues and perform root cause analysis of process upsets related to automation.
• Collaborate with project teams on the integration of new equipment and control systems.
• Ensure the reliability and performance of plant instrumentation and control hardware.
• Develop and deliver training to operations and maintenance personnel on control systems.
• Optimize process performance through advanced control techniques and data analysis.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and cybersecurity protocols for control systems.
• Stay current with industry advancements in process automation and control technology.

Education

B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering or Electrical/Electronic Engineering (control systems)

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Honeywell Experion

Rockwell PLC

Siemens PLC

SCADA systems

Data historians

IEC 61511 knowledge

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major player in the industrial chemicals sector, is seeking a skilled Chemical Plant Engineer with expertise in Process Control and Automation for their facility in Upington, Northern Cape . This role is pivotal in ensuring the efficient, safe, and reliable operation of our chemical production plants through the implementation and maintenance of advanced control systems. You will be responsible for designing, configuring, and troubleshooting Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in chemical engineering principles combined with in-depth knowledge of automation technologies and instrumentation. You will work closely with operations, maintenance, and project engineering teams to drive continuous improvement and enhance plant performance. This is an excellent opportunity to work on complex automated systems in a growing industrial hub.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain process control strategies and automation systems (DCS, PLC, SCADA).


• Develop and update control logic, operator interfaces, and alarm management systems.


• Troubleshoot control system issues and perform root cause analysis of process upsets related to automation.


• Collaborate with project teams on the integration of new equipment and control systems.


• Ensure the reliability and performance of plant instrumentation and control hardware.


• Develop and deliver training to operations and maintenance personnel on control systems.


• Optimize process performance through advanced control techniques and data analysis.


• Ensure compliance with safety standards and cybersecurity protocols for control systems.


• Stay current with industry advancements in process automation and control technology.

Requirements

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering or Electrical/Electronic Engineering with a focus on control systems.


• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process control and automation within a chemical or process industry.


• Proficiency with major DCS platforms (e.g., Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion) and PLC programming (e.g., Rockwell, Siemens).


• Strong understanding of industrial instrumentation, loop tuning, and control theory.


• Experience with SCADA systems and data historian databases.


• Knowledge of functional safety standards (e.g., IEC 61511) is highly desirable.


• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.


• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.


• Experience working in an industrial plant environment.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, including performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits such as medical aid, a provident fund, and life insurance.


• This position is based at our modern facility in Upington, Northern Cape .


• Opportunities for advanced training in automation technologies and professional certifications are provided.


• The company fosters a culture of technological advancement and operational excellence.


• Employees are entitled to generous annual leave and sick leave.


• Join a team dedicated to optimizing complex industrial processes through state-of-the-art automation solutions.