About the Role
Our client is seeking a visionary Principal Chemical Engineer with a strong focus on Digital Transformation to join their innovative team, working remotely across South Africa. This senior role is designed for an experienced professional who can bridge the gap between chemical engineering principles and cutting-edge digital technologies. You will be instrumental in developing and implementing digital strategies to enhance process efficiency, optimize plant operations, improve data analytics capabilities, and drive automation across the organization. This remote-first position requires a proactive individual with exceptional communication and collaboration skills to effectively engage with diverse teams and stakeholders. You will lead initiatives related to Industry 4.0, IoT, AI, and advanced data analytics within chemical engineering contexts. Your expertise will shape the future of our client's operations, fostering a more data-driven and technologically advanced approach to chemical process management and innovation. This role is key to unlocking new levels of performance and competitive advantage in the digital age.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the strategy and implementation of digital transformation initiatives within chemical engineering processes.
- Develop and deploy advanced data analytics solutions for process optimization, predictive maintenance, and quality control.
- Implement Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions for real-time monitoring and data acquisition from plant operations.
- Explore and integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) models for process control and anomaly detection.
- Design and oversee the implementation of digital twins for process simulation and scenario analysis.
- Collaborate with IT and OT teams to ensure seamless integration of digital platforms and systems.
- Develop training programs and champion the adoption of digital tools and methodologies among engineering staff.
- Evaluate and recommend new digital technologies and software for enhancing chemical engineering workflows.
- Define KPIs and metrics to measure the success and impact of digital transformation projects.
- Stay current with emerging trends in digital engineering, data science, and automation within the chemical industry.
Requirements
- Master's degree or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a closely related field.
- A minimum of 12 years of experience in chemical engineering, with a significant portion focused on digitalization, automation, or data science applications.
- Proven track record in successfully implementing digital solutions (e.g., IIoT, AI/ML, advanced analytics, digital twins) in industrial settings.
- Strong understanding of chemical engineering principles, process control, and operations.
- Expertise in data analysis tools and programming languages (e.g., Python, R, SQL).
- Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and data visualization tools.
- Excellent strategic thinking, leadership, and project management skills.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities, suitable for a remote role.
- Experience with digital transformation roadmapping and implementation strategies.
- A passion for leveraging technology to solve complex engineering challenges.
Benefits
- Highly competitive salary and remote work allowance.
- Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
- Flexible working hours and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.
- Generous professional development budget for online courses, certifications, and conferences.
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge digital initiatives with significant impact.
- Contribution to a remote pension plan.
- Direct involvement in shaping the technological future of a leading industrial company.
- A fully remote, collaborative, and innovative work environment.