Junior Production Engineer

Elchemie; Worcester; On-site; ZAR 335,000 - 391,000; Full time

Job summary

Elchemie in Worcester, Western Cape, seeks a Technical Process Leader to drive plant optimization and supervise process controls on a 24/7 operation.

You will monitor anaerobic digestion, lead shift controllers, ensure safety and SOPs, and coordinate with maintenance to keep units in service. This fixed-term contract ends 31 July 2027 and offers R30,000–R35,000 CTC per month with hands-on leadership in water reclamation and biogas tech.

Qualifications

• Education: B.Eng or BTech in Chemical Engineering.
• Experience: 1–3 years in engineering or production/plant environment.
• Technical exposure: Anaerobic Digestion, Biogas systems, Biological Treatment, MBR, RO.
• Analytical skills: mass balances, hydraulic/organic process calculations, translating data into actions.
• Licensing: Valid Code B driver's license and own reliable vehicle.
• Availability: Willing to relocate to Worcester, Western Cape.
• Compliance: Clear criminal record and medical fitness.

Responsibilities

• Act as site technical process authority, monitoring plant health and driving optimization.
• Monitor anaerobic digestion and biological treatment systems.
• Compile and verify process calculations to identify inefficiencies.
• Lead and upskill shift Process Controllers on technical decisions.
• Coordinate safety, SOPs and compliance at all times.
• Collaborate with Maintenance to safely isolate and return units to service.

Skills

Mass balances

Process calculations

Data interpretation

Process optimization

Education

B.Eng or BTech in Chemical Engineering

Job description

What you’ll be doing

Primary Function – Technical Process Leadership & Plant Optimization

• Act as the site technical process authority, monitoring plant health, troubleshooting deviations, and driving process optimization initiatives across unit operations.
• Monitor and optimize the anaerobic digestion process (organic loading rates, temperature, pH, VFA/alkalinity, and biogas yields) and biological treatment systems.
• Compile and verify process calculations (hydraulic/organic loading, retention times, flux, recovery, and mass balances) to identify and eliminate plant inefficiencies.
• Interpret daily laboratory test results and effluent quality trends to adjust chemical dosing regimes and process set points.

Primary Function – Operations Support & Team Coaching

• Lead, guide, and upskill shift Process Controllers on technical process decisions, operational tasks, and routine coaching.
• Take operational responsibility for plant performance and site safety when the Plant Manager is off-site or unavailable.
• Collaborate with the Maintenance and Plant Managers to safely isolate, prepare, and return process units to service during planned maintenance.
• Enforce strict site safety, PTOs, Task Risk Assessments, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and SHE compliance at all times.

Secondary Function – Documentation, Reporting & Data Management

• Act as site custodian of engineering records, P&IDs, process flow diagrams, control philosophies, and datasheets.
• Track chemical consumption, manage inventory, and monitor operational costs of treatment.
• Compile and distribute daily operational performance reports and support the rollout of site automation and remote digital monitoring tools.

What you’ll need

• Education: B.Eng or BTech in Chemical Engineering.
• Experience: 1–3 years’ working experience in an engineering or production/process plant environment.
• Technical Exposure: Prior experience or exposure to Anaerobic Digestion, Biogas systems, Biological Treatment, Membrane Bioreactors (MBR), Reverse Osmosis (RO), precipitation, or clarification is highly advantageous.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to execute mass balances, perform hydraulic/organic process calculations, and translate raw data into corrective actions.
• Licensing & Transport: Valid Code B driver’s license and own reliable vehicle (essential).
• Compliance & Medical: Clear criminal record and medically fit to pass mandatory site medical fitness assessments.
• Availability & Location: Willingness to support a 24/7 continuous operation (including standby/call-outs) and residing in or willing to relocate to Worcester, Western Cape.

What is in it for you?

• Salary: R30,000 – R35,000 CTC per month (dependent on experience).
• Duration: Fixed-Term Contract ending 31 July 2027.
• Impact: Hands-on technical leadership over advanced industrial water reclamation, anaerobic digestion, and biogas production technologies.
• Growth: Mentorship and experience acting as second-in-command on an active production and reclamation facility.

A Few Things to Know

• This role is 100% plant-based on-site in Worcester, Western Cape.
• You will report directly to the Plant Manager.
• Success in this role requires a proactive problem-solver with strong technical aptitude who can lead shift controllers and maintain strict operational and water quality KPIs

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