Pharmaceutical Process Development Engineer

Placements24; Benoni; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Performance-based bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Pharmaceutical Process Development Engineer for our client in Benoni, Gauteng. You will design, optimize, and scale-up manufacturing processes for new and existing products, applying chemical/process engineering principles to ensure robust operations.

The role requires 5+ years in pharma process development, GMP knowledge, and strong collaboration with formulation, analytical, and manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in chemical, mechanical or pharmaceutical engineering.
• Minimum 5 years in pharma process development or related regulated industry.
• Strong GMP knowledge and regulatory understanding.
• Experience with unit operations (granulation, drying, milling, tablet compression, sterile filling).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and scale-up pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
• Design experiments for process characterization and validation.
• Troubleshoot process-related issues during development, scale-up and commercial manufacturing.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and equipment to improve capabilities.
• Develop process models and simulations to predict performance and identify optimization opportunities.
• Ensure GMP, safety, and environmental compliance in all activities.
• Prepare development protocols, validation plans, and tech transfer documents.
• Collaborate with formulation scientists, analytical chemists, and manufacturing personnel.
• Contribute to the design and qualification of new equipment and facilities.

Skills

Process engineering

Chemical engineering

Process modeling

GMP knowledge

Analytical skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Process validation

PAT

Education

Chemical/Mechanical/Pharmaceutical engineering degree

Tools

Process simulation software

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a progressive pharmaceutical manufacturing organization, is seeking an innovative Pharmaceutical Process Development Engineer to join their technical team in Benoni, Gauteng. This role is essential for the design, development, optimization, and scale-up of manufacturing processes for new and existing pharmaceutical products. You will apply engineering principles and scientific knowledge to ensure robust, efficient, and compliant manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in chemical or process engineering with specific experience in the pharmaceutical industry. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the technological advancement of pharmaceutical production and ensure the reliable supply of high-quality medicines.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and scale-up pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, ensuring robustness and efficiency.
• Design and execute experimental plans for process characterization and validation.
• Troubleshoot and resolve process-related issues during development, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and equipment to improve manufacturing capabilities.
• Develop process models and simulations to predict process performance and identify optimization opportunities.
• Ensure all process development activities comply with GMP, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Prepare technical reports, development protocols, validation plans, and technology transfer documents.
• Collaborate with formulation scientists, analytical chemists, and manufacturing personnel.
• Contribute to the design and qualification of new manufacturing equipment and facilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in process development within the pharmaceutical or related regulated industry.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical unit operations (e.g., granulation, drying, milling, tablet compression, sterile filling).
• Proficiency in process modeling and simulation software is desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of GMP, validation principles, and regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong project management abilities and experience in leading technical projects.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience with process analytical technology (PAT) is a plus.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package including medical aid, retirement fund, and performance-based bonuses, alongside excellent opportunities for professional growth and development.