Lead Remote Process Development Engineer

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Lead Remote Process Development Engineer to guide innovation from a remote setting, supporting projects impacting operations near Stellenbosch. This leadership role conceptualizes, develops, and scales new chemical processes, driving technical excellence and fostering a culture of innovation.

You will work with cross-functional teams globally, translate R&D breakthroughs into commercially viable processes, mentor a remote team of engineers, and

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or closely related field.
• 10+ years of chemical process development and scale-up experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing complex R&D and process development projects.
• Expertise in process simulation, modeling, and statistical analysis.
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry and reaction engineering principles.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and virtual collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of new chemical processes from laboratory scale to pilot and commercialization.
• Oversee the design, execution, and analysis of experiments to validate process parameters and performance.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a remote team of process engineers.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and commercial teams to ensure alignment on project goals and timelines.
• Conduct techno-economic assessments and develop business cases for new process technologies.
• Ensure all developed processes meet rigorous safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Skills

Process simulation

Modeling

Statistics

Leadership

Communication

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

Master's in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Simulation software

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Lead Remote Process Development Engineer to guide their innovation efforts from a remote setting, supporting projects that impact operations near Stellenbosch . This leadership position is responsible for conceptualizing, developing, and scaling new chemical processes, driving technical excellence and fostering a culture of innovation. You will work with cross-functional teams globally, leveraging virtual collaboration tools to translate R&D breakthroughs into commercially viable processes. This role offers the chance to shape the future of chemical manufacturing processes, manage complex development projects, and lead a team of dedicated engineers, all within a fully remote framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of new chemical processes, from laboratory scale to pilot and commercialization.
• Oversee the design, execution, and analysis of experiments to validate process parameters and performance.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a remote team of process engineers.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and commercial teams to ensure alignment on project goals and timelines.
• Conduct techno-economic assessments and develop business cases for new process technologies.
• Ensure all developed processes meet rigorous safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of experience in chemical process development and scale-up.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing complex R&D and process development projects.
• Expertise in process simulation, modeling, and statistical analysis.
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry and reaction engineering principles.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and virtual collaboration skills.

Benefits

• Executive-level compensation and potential for significant bonuses.
• Comprehensive global health insurance coverage.
• Generous stock options or equity participation.
• Flexible remote work schedule and support for home office setup.
• Opportunity to lead cutting-edge process development initiatives impacting industries near Stellenbosch .