Process Development Engineer - Chemical

Placements24; Richards Bay; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Retirement savings plan

Career advancement opportunities

Professional development support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Process Development Engineer to join their Richards Bay facility. You will lead pilot-scale studies, optimize chemical processes, and drive safe, sustainable scale-up to production.

You will collaborate with R&D, operations, and safety teams to transfer processes, improve yields, and reduce waste while maintaining compliance with environmental standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or closely related field.
• Minimum 4 years in process development, scale-up, or chemical plant ops.
• Strong understanding of reaction engineering, thermodynamics and mass transfer.
• Experience with process modelling software is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design, run, and analyze pilot-scale experiments to optimize processes.
• Develop PFDs and P&IDs for new and existing processes.
• Troubleshoot operations and implement improvements for performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with R&D, operations and safety to transfer processes at scale.
• Evaluate new technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
• Ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up

Analytical skills

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a significant player in the chemical manufacturing sector, is looking for a dedicated Process Development Engineer to join their innovative team in Richards Bay . This role is essential for optimizing and scaling up chemical processes, ensuring efficiency, safety, and sustainability. You will be involved in piloting new processes, troubleshooting existing operations, and implementing improvements to enhance yield and reduce waste. This is an excellent opportunity to apply your engineering expertise in a hands‑on environment, contributing directly to the company's production capabilities and product quality, working within a facility known for its commitment to operational excellence and environmental stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and analyze pilot-scale experiments to optimize chemical processes.
• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) for new and existing processes.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and implement effective solutions to improve process performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with R&D, operations, and safety teams to ensure successful process scale-up and transfer.
• Evaluate new technologies and equipment to enhance process efficiency and sustainability.
• Ensure all processes comply with safety regulations and environmental standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in process development, scale-up, or chemical plant operations.
• Strong understanding of chemical reaction engineering, thermodynamics, and mass transfer principles.
• Experience with process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus) is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary with performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive medical insurance and retirement savings plan.
• Opportunities for career advancement within a growing organization.
• Professional development support, including relevant training and certifications.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment in the industrial hub of Richards Bay .