Chemical Process Engineer - R&D Focus

Placements24; Randfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Top facilities in Rustenburg

Career growth opportunities

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a highly skilled Chemical Process Engineer with a strong R&D focus to join the Rustenburg team. The role drives innovation, develops novel chemical products, and optimizes pilot-scale processes before commercialization.

You will work with scientists and engineers to translate laboratory discoveries into scalable industrial solutions, building the company’s future product pipeline and ensuring safety and efficiency across processes.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in process development, scale-up, and pilot plant operations.
• Expertise in reaction engineering, separation processes, and process control.
• Proficiency with process simulation and modeling software.
• Experience with conducting formal PHAs (process hazard analyses).
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and scale-up of new chemical processes from laboratory to pilot plant stages.
• Conduct detailed process design, modeling, and simulation for new product introductions.
• Evaluate and select equipment and technologies for pilot and commercial-scale production.
• Collaborate with R&D scientists to optimize reaction kinetics and process parameters.
• Develop comprehensive process safety assessments (e.g., HAZOP studies).
• Document research findings, process designs, and procedures for IP and knowledge transfer.

Skills

R&D focus

Scale-up

Process design & modeling

PHAs experience

Process optimization

Technical writing

Education

MSc/PhD in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Process simulation software

Job description

About the Role Our client is seeking a highly skilled Chemical Process Engineer with a strong focus on Research and Development to join their team based in Rustenburg . This role is pivotal in driving innovation, developing novel chemical products, and optimizing pilot-scale processes before full commercialization. You will work at the forefront of chemical technology, collaborating with scientists and engineers to translate laboratory discoveries into scalable industrial solutions. The ideal candidate will be passionate about innovation, possess excellent analytical skills, and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced research environment, contributing significantly to the company's future product pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and scale-up of new chemical processes from laboratory to pilot plant stages.
• Conduct detailed process design , modeling, and simulation for new product introductions.
• Evaluate and select appropriate equipment and technologies for pilot and commercial-scale production.
• Collaborate closely with R&D scientists to understand reaction kinetics and optimize process parameters.
• Develop comprehensive process safety assessments (e.g., HAZOP studies) for new processes.
• Document research findings, process designs, and operational procedures for intellectual property and knowledge transfer.

Requirements

• MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering or a related field, with a strong R&D background.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in process development, scale-up, and pilot plant operations.
• Expertise in reaction engineering , separation processes, and process control.
• Proficiency with process simulation and modeling software.
• Experience with conducting formal process hazard analyses (PHAs).
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation package.
• Opportunity to work on groundbreaking chemical innovations.
• Access to state-of-the‑art laboratory and pilot plant facilities in Rustenburg .
• Potential for conversion to a permanent role.
• Flexible working arrangements to support work‑life balance.