Junior Chemical Engineer - Operations Support

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site role

Structured training

Mentorship from engineers

Career growth opportunities

Exposure to diverse processes

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a motivated Junior Chemical Engineer for an entry-level role in Bloemfontein. You will work with senior engineers and operators to monitor processes, troubleshoot under guidance, and contribute to process improvements.

The position offers structured training, mentorship from experienced engineers, and opportunities to grow in diverse chemical manufacturing processes at a busy site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering required.
• Strong fundamentals in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and mass transfer.
• Analytical and problem solving abilities essential.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to learn in a dynamic operational environment.
• Proficiency in Excel for data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Monitor plant operations and process parameters, reporting deviations to senior staff.
• Assist in troubleshooting operational issues and implementing solutions under guidance.
• Participate in process data collection, analysis and reporting for performance monitoring.
• Support the implementation of safety procedures and environmental compliance initiatives.
• Collaborate with the operations team to ensure efficient and safe plant functioning.
• Contribute to small-scale process improvement projects and documentation updates.

Skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Excel

Job description

About the Role

Our client is actively seeking a motivated Junior Chemical Engineer to provide essential operational support at their facility in Bloemfontein . This role is ideal for a recent graduate or early-career engineer eager to gain hands‑on experience in a production environment. You will work closely with senior engineers and plant operators to monitor process performance, assist with troubleshooting, and contribute to process improvement initiatives. This is a fantastic entry-level opportunity to build a strong foundation in chemical engineering principles within a supportive and challenging industrial setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor plant operations and process parameters, reporting deviations to senior staff.
• Assist in troubleshooting operational issues and implementing solutions under guidance.
• Participate in process data collection, analysis, and reporting for performance monitoring.
• Support the implementation of safety procedures and environmental compliance initiatives.
• Collaborate with the operations team to ensure efficient and safe plant functioning.
• Contribute to small-scale process improvement projects and documentation updates.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Strong understanding of fundamental chemical engineering principles (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, mass transfer).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic operational environment.
• Proficiency in basic data analysis tools like Microsoft Excel.

Benefits

• Competitive starting salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• On-site role offering invaluable practical experience in Bloemfontein .
• Structured training program and mentorship from experienced engineers.
• Opportunities for career growth and further specialization within the company.
• Exposure to diverse chemical manufacturing processes.