Lead Chemical Engineer, Specialty Chemicals — Innovate

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town invites a Lead Chemical Engineer to drive innovation and commercialization of speciality chemicals. You will lead R&D, optimize processes, and scale up from lab to production, shaping strategic growth in the Western Cape.

The role requires a PhD or MSc in Chemical Engineering with a decade of experience, strong leadership, and a track record in polymer chemistry, organic synthesis, or formulation science. Expect a high-impact, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering or closely related field.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in chemical product development, focusing on speciality chemicals.
• Experience leading R&D teams and managing complex chemical projects.
• Expertise in polymer chemistry, organic synthesis, or formulation science.
• Proven ability to scale up chemical processes from lab to commercial production.
• Strong knowledge of quality control and regulatory affairs (e.g., REACH, GHS).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D and optimization of speciality chemical formulations and manufacturing processes.
• Oversee pilot plant operations and scale-up activities for new products.
• Provide technical leadership to a team of chemical engineers and chemists.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales to translate market needs into product development.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, safety standards and environmental policies.
• Manage intellectual property and patent applications for new technologies.
• Analyze process data, identify KPIs, and drive continuous improvement.
• Present technical findings and project updates to senior management.

Skills

Leadership

Polymer chemistry

Organic synthesis

Formulation science

Project management

Quality assurance

Education

Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Placements24 in Cape Town invites a Lead Chemical Engineer to drive innovation and commercialization of speciality chemicals. You will lead R&D, optimize processes, and scale up from lab to production, shaping strategic growth in the Western Cape.

The role requires a PhD or MSc in Chemical Engineering with a decade of experience, strong leadership, and a track record in polymer chemistry, organic synthesis, or formulation science. Expect a high-impact, collaborative environment.