Chemical Process Development Specialist

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 775,000 - 1,199,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Site visits to East London

Contract role with competitive daily/薪

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Chemical Process Development Specialist for a contract role with remote work and occasional site visits to East London, Eastern Cape. The candidate will translate laboratory discoveries into scalable, commercially viable manufacturing processes, applying chemical engineering principles and hands-on process development expertise.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in process development, expertise in organic synthesis, reaction engineering, and separation technologies,

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in chemical process development, scale-up, and optimization.
• Strong background in organic synthesis, reaction engineering, and separation technologies.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and pilot plant operations.
• Proficient in process simulation software such as Aspen Plus or CHEMCAD.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize chemical synthesis routes and reaction conditions for new products.
• Design and execute experiments at lab and pilot scales to evaluate feasibility.
• Perform process modeling to predict scale-up behavior and identify critical parameters.
• Conduct hazard assessments and develop safety protocols for new processes.
• Analyze process data and provide recommendations for optimization and efficiency.
• Prepare technical reports, proposals, and process documentation.
• Collaborate with R&D, analytical, and manufacturing teams for tech transfer.
• Troubleshoot process issues and develop innovative solutions.
• Stay informed about trends in chemical process development and IP opportunities.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Reaction engineering

Separation technologies

Process modeling

Hazard assessment

Technical writing

Communication

Independent work

Education

Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry

Tools

Aspen Plus

CHEMCAD

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a growing specialty chemicals company, is seeking a talented Chemical Process Development Specialist for a contract position, leveraging remote work capabilities with potential site visits to East London, Eastern Cape. This role focuses on the development and optimization of innovative chemical processes for novel product lines. You will be responsible for translating laboratory discoveries into scalable and commercially viable manufacturing processes. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in chemical engineering principles, hands-on experience in process development, and a passion for tackling complex chemical challenges. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge product development within a dynamic and flexible work environment. Our client values creativity, technical rigor, and a results-oriented approach. You will have the chance to impact product commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize chemical synthesis routes and reaction conditions for new chemical products.
• Design and execute experiments at laboratory and pilot scales to evaluate process feasibility and performance.
• Perform process modeling and simulation to predict scale-up behavior and identify critical parameters.
• Conduct hazard assessments and develop safety protocols for new processes.
• Analyze process data and provide recommendations for optimization and efficiency improvements.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, proposals, and process documentation.
• Collaborate with R&D, analytical teams, and manufacturing personnel to ensure successful technology transfer.
• Troubleshoot process issues and develop innovative solutions.
• Stay informed about emerging trends and technologies in chemical process development.
• Contribute to intellectual property generation through patentable process improvements.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in chemical process development, scale-up, and optimization.
• Strong background in organic synthesis, reaction engineering, and separation technologies.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and pilot plant operations.
• Proficiency in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, CHEMCAD).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong technical writing and presentation abilities.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects effectively.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Willingness to travel to East London, Eastern Cape as required for project needs.

Benefits

This contract role offers a competitive daily rate or annual salary, commensurate with experience. Our client provides access to advanced research and development resources and fosters a culture of innovation. The remote work flexibility allows for an excellent work‑life balance. Opportunity to work on exciting new product development projects and gain exposure to a fast‑paced industry. Contribution to tangible project outcomes and product commercialization efforts.