Process Development Engineer - Fine Chemicals

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package with bonus

Comprehensive medical aid

Retirement planning

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a skilled Process Development Engineer to join the team in Klerksdorp. The role focuses on developing, optimizing, and scaling up chemical processes for fine chemicals and APIs, translating lab discoveries into robust manufacturing steps.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in organic chemistry and chemical engineering, with hands-on lab and pilot plant experience, and a track record in GMP environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry (required).
• Minimum of 6 years of process development, scale-up and optimization experience in fine chemicals/pharma.
• Strong grasp of organic synthesis, reaction mechanisms and kinetics.
• Hands-on lab and pilot-plant experience; GMP familiarity is preferred.
• Proficiency with process simulation software (Aspen Plus, Design-Expert).
• Excellent problem-solving, documentation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize synthetic routes and chemical processes for fine chemical production.
• Conduct lab experiments to evaluate parameters, yield and purity.
• Scale up from bench to pilot plant and commercial production.
• Perform PHAs and implement safety measures.
• Model process behavior with simulation tools and interpret results.
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement solutions.
• Collaborate with R&D, analytics and manufacturing teams.
• Document detailed process descriptions, SOPs and batch records.
• Ensure GMP compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies for cost reduction.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up

GMP awareness

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry

Tools

Aspen Plus

Design-Expert

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished manufacturer of fine chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), is seeking a highly motivated Process Development Engineer to join their technical team in Klerksdorp . This role focuses on developing, optimizing, and scaling up chemical processes for the synthesis of high-value compounds. You will be instrumental in translating laboratory discoveries into robust and economically viable manufacturing processes. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in organic chemistry, chemical engineering principles, and hands-on experience in process development and scale-up. This hybrid position allows for a dynamic work environment, combining essential laboratory and pilot plant activities with remote analysis and reporting, based in Klerksdorp .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize synthetic routes and chemical processes for fine chemical production.
• Conduct laboratory experiments to evaluate reaction parameters, yield, and purity.
• Scale up processes from laboratory bench to pilot plant and commercial production.
• Perform process hazard analyses (PHAs) and implement safety measures.
• Utilize process simulation tools to model and predict process behavior.
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement effective solutions.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists, analytical scientists, and manufacturing personnel.
• Develop and document detailed process descriptions, operating procedures, and batch records.
• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies for process improvement and cost reduction.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in process development, scale-up, and optimization within the fine chemicals or pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong understanding of organic synthesis, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and pilot plant operations.
• Proficiency in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, Design-Expert).
• Experience with GMP environments and regulatory compliance is highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to technical challenges.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis and design of experiments (DoE).

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, including performance-related bonuses and a comprehensive benefits scheme covering medical aid and retirement planning.
• Professional development opportunities are available through internal training programs and support for external courses and conferences.
• Employees benefit from working within a specialized and innovative field, contributing to the development of critical chemical products.
• This hybrid role in Klerksdorp provides the opportunity for both hands-on technical work and flexible remote contributions, supporting a balanced professional life.