Lead Chemical Engineer: Product Dev & Scale-Up (Hybrid)

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work

Career advancement

Cutting-edge projects

Supportive environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, seeks a Lead Chemical Engineer specializing in product development to drive concept-to-commercialization for new chemical products. The role combines on-site lab leadership with a hybrid work model, guiding a team of engineers and chemists through development challenges and scale-up activities.

You will oversee experiments, scale-up from lab to pilot to production, and develop analytical methods for product characterization, while collaborating with

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry.
• 8+ years in chemical product development with leadership experience.
• Expertise in process scale-up, synthesis and formulation.
• Strong knowledge of analytical chemistry techniques (HPLC, GC-MS, NMR).
• Proven leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making abilities.
• Effective communication and ability to present technical information.
• Experience with a hybrid work environment.
• Knowledge of IP and patent processes is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of chemical engineers and chemists in product development projects.
• Oversee the design and execution of experiments for new chemical product formulation and synthesis.
• Manage the scale-up of laboratory processes to pilot and commercial scale.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for product characterization and quality control.
• Collaborate with R&D, marketing, and manufacturing teams to ensure product viability and market fit.
• Conduct techno-economic assessments for new product development initiatives.
• Ensure all development activities comply with safety and regulatory standards.
• Prepare comprehensive technical documentation and presentations for stakeholders.
• Stay updated on emerging trends and technologies in chemical product development.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry

Tools

HPLC

GC-MS

NMR

Job description

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, seeks a Lead Chemical Engineer specializing in product development to drive concept-to-commercialization for new chemical products. The role combines on-site lab leadership with a hybrid work model, guiding a team of engineers and chemists through development challenges and scale-up activities.

You will oversee experiments, scale-up from lab to pilot to production, and develop analytical methods for product characterization, while collaborating with