Principal Process Design Engineer – Industrial Gas (Durban)

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 2,500,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Process Design Engineer for Durban operations. The role leads conceptual, FEED, and detailed design phases for major capital projects in industrial gas technologies, including cryogenic and non-cryogenic separation.

The ideal candidate has deep thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and process control expertise, plus strong leadership to manage multiple projects while ensuring safety, efficiency and reliability across KwaZulu-Natal facilities.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering required.
• 12+ years in process design for industrial gas technologies.
• Experience leading large-scale capital projects end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Lead process design for industrial gas plants, including ASUs.
• Develop PFDs, P&IDs, and equipment specifications.
• Perform process simulations and mass/energy balances.
• Conduct PHAs, HAZOPs, and safety reviews.
• Provide technical guidance to project teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Chemical Engineering

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

UniSim

HYSYS

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Process Design Engineer for Durban operations. The role leads conceptual, FEED, and detailed design phases for major capital projects in industrial gas technologies, including cryogenic and non-cryogenic separation.

The ideal candidate has deep thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and process control expertise, plus strong leadership to manage multiple projects while ensuring safety, efficiency and reliability across KwaZulu-Natal facilities.