Principal Chemical Engineer — Sustainable Processes (Hybrid)

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Executive bonuses

Health benefits

Professional growth

Job summary

Placements24 in Sandton; a forward-thinking chemical company, seeks a Principal Chemical Engineer to lead green process development. This hybrid role blends strategic remote planning with on-site collaboration with R&D and operations teams.

The candidate should have a PhD or MSc in Chemical Engineering with 12+ years in sustainable tech, strong leadership, and expertise in green chemistry and lifecycle assessment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's in Chemical Engineering focused on sustainability.
• 12+ years in chemical process development and sustainable tech.
• Proven track record leading complex R&D and process implementation.
• In-depth knowledge of green chemistry principles, lifecycle assessment, and renewable feedstocks.
• Experience with process simulation and modeling for environmental performance.
• Strong understanding of environmental regulations and sustainability reporting frameworks.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Hybrid work experience balancing remote strategy with Sandton on-site.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D and design of sustainable chemical processes.
• Develop strategies to reduce environmental impact, including waste minimization and energy efficiency.
• Evaluate green chemistry principles in process development.
• Conduct techno-economic feasibility studies for sustainability initiatives.
• Mentor and guide engineering teams.
• Oversee pilot plant studies and scale-up of sustainable processes.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and EHS.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in sustainable chemical engineering.
• Develop and manage project plans, budgets, and timelines for sustainability projects.
• Contribute to regulatory compliance and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Strategic thinking

Presenting to senior management

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

MSc in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Process simulation tools

Job description

Placements24 in Sandton; a forward-thinking chemical company, seeks a Principal Chemical Engineer to lead green process development. This hybrid role blends strategic remote planning with on-site collaboration with R&D and operations teams.

The candidate should have a PhD or MSc in Chemical Engineering with 12+ years in sustainable tech, strong leadership, and expertise in green chemistry and lifecycle assessment.