Process Development Engineer - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career growth opportunities

Relocation assistance may be available

Medical aid and retirement benefits

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Process Development Engineer in Durban to optimize and scale up pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. You will improve existing methods, develop new production approaches, and troubleshoot challenges to ensure robust, compliant operations.

The role emphasizes process improvement, qualification of new methods, and seamless technology transfer with QA and production teams in a regulated pharmaceutical setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Chemical/Process Engineering.
• Minimum 5 years in process development and scale-up in pharma or fine chemicals.
• Strong knowledge of chemical reactions, separations, and unit operations.
• Experience with GMP and regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Proficiency in process simulation software and statistical analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate manufacturing processes for APIs and intermediates.
• Optimize existing production processes to improve yield and reduce costs.
• Conduct process hazard analyses and implement safety measures.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing issues and implement CAPAs.
• Collaborate with production, QA, and engineering for tech transfer and scale-up.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, batch records, SOPs, and validation reports.

Skills

Process engineering

GMP knowledge

Scale-up

Process simulation

Statistical analysis

Education

Bachelors/Masters in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Process simulation software

Statistical analysis tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Process Development Engineer to optimize and scale up manufacturing processes for pharmaceutical products in Durban . This role is critical in ensuring efficient, robust, and compliant production that meets stringent quality standards. You will work on improving existing processes, developing new manufacturing methods, and troubleshooting production challenges. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer passionate about process improvement and manufacturing excellence in the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to the timely delivery of essential medicines.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate manufacturing processes for pharmaceutical intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
• Optimize existing production processes to improve yield, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.
• Conduct process hazard analyses and implement necessary safety measures.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Collaborate with production, quality assurance, and engineering teams to ensure seamless technology transfer and scale-up.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, including batch records, SOPs, and validation reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development and scale-up within the pharmaceutical or fine chemical industry.
• Strong understanding of chemical reactions, separation techniques, and unit operations.
• Experience with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Proficiency in process simulation software and statistical analysis tools.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills , with a meticulous approach to process optimization.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development in process engineering.
• Exposure to innovative pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies.
• A safe and supportive work environment focused on continuous improvement.
• Generous retirement and medical aid contributions.
• Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.