Lead Process Development Engineer - Scale-Up & Pilot

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Process Development Engineer to advance new chemical processes from concept to pilot plant in Mahikeng, North West. You will drive design of experiments, simulations, and techno-economic analyses, coordinating with R&D teams to ensure safe, scalable solutions.

The role demands hands-on laboratory and pilot-scale experience, with strong process safety knowledge and excellent communication for cross-functional collaboration in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in process development or reaction engineering.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in chemical process development and scale-up, ideally in specialty chemicals or fine chemicals.
• Proven expertise in chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and reaction engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of new chemical processes and synthesis routes.
• Design and execute laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to assess process feasibility and performance.
• Perform detailed process simulations and techno-economic analyses for new technologies.
• Manage the scale-up of processes, ensuring successful transition from lab to pilot plant and beyond.
• Analyze experimental data rigorously, interpret results, and author comprehensive technical reports.
• Collaborate closely with R&D scientists, analytical chemists, and plant engineers to achieve project goals.
• Ensure all process development activities adhere to strict safety, health, and environmental (HSE) standards.
• Identify and resolve technical challenges encountered during process development and scale-up.
• Contribute to the design and specification of pilot plant equipment and instrumentation.

Skills

Process development

Reaction engineering

Kinetics

Thermodynamics

Process simulation

Laboratory operations

HAZOP

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Chemical Engineering (MS/PhD)

Tools

Aspen Plus

ChemCAD

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Senior Process Development Engineer to advance new chemical processes from concept to pilot plant in Mahikeng, North West. You will drive design of experiments, simulations, and techno-economic analyses, coordinating with R&D teams to ensure safe, scalable solutions.

The role demands hands-on laboratory and pilot-scale experience, with strong process safety knowledge and excellent communication for cross-functional collaboration in a dynamic environment.