Lead Chemical Engineer, Polymerization & Process Innovation

Recruit-It; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Relocation assistance

Extensive professional development

Job summary

Recruit-It seeks a Lead Chemical Engineer in South Africa to lead polymerisation process design, scale-up, and optimization at a major manufacturing facility in Gauteng. The role requires hands-on leadership, advanced polymer science expertise, and a track record of delivering safe, efficient operations.

You will mentor a team of chemical and process engineers, collaborate with R&D, QA and operations, and drive continuous improvement across production targets and product quality.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with Polymer specialization.
• 10+ years of chemical engineering experience, 5+ years in polymerisation.
• Proven leadership and project management in a manufacturing setting.
• Strong knowledge of reaction engineering and polymer process design.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development and optimisation of polymerisation processes.
• Mentor engineers and coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Troubleshoot polymerisation unit issues and implement solutions.
• Oversee pilot plant studies and scale-up activities.
• Develop process documentation (P&IDs, PFDs, SOPs).
• Ensure safety, environmental and quality system compliance.

Skills

Polymerization

Leadership

Process design

APC

Aspen Plus

Team mentoring

Education

Master’s or PhD in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

ChemCAD

Job description

Recruit-It seeks a Lead Chemical Engineer in South Africa to lead polymerisation process design, scale-up, and optimization at a major manufacturing facility in Gauteng. The role requires hands-on leadership, advanced polymer science expertise, and a track record of delivering safe, efficient operations.

You will mentor a team of chemical and process engineers, collaborate with R&D, QA and operations, and drive continuous improvement across production targets and product quality.