Process Development Engineer - Specialty Chemicals

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 482,000 - 895,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Process Development Engineer for a contract role in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The role focuses on hands-on development and scale-up of new chemical processes within state-of-the-art facilities.

You will translate laboratory findings into scalable manufacturing processes, address process safety, and work closely with researchers and production teams to bring new products to market. This on-site position requires strong experimental skills and practical problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering with hands-on experimentation in process development.
• Experience in scale-up, pilot plant operations, and R&D within chemicals preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with good documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize chemical processes from lab to pilot scale.
• Design experiments to test parameters and material variations.
• Analyze data and prepare technical reports.
• Scale up to pilot and production levels, solving engineering challenges.
• Collaborate with R&D and production teams for technology transfer.
• Ensure safety, environmental and quality standards are met.
• Create process safety info and preliminary hazard assessments.

Skills

Hands-on experimentation

Scale-up

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Safety & quality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

Process simulation tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned innovator in specialty chemicals, is seeking a dedicated Process Development Engineer for a contract position. This role is focused on the hands-on development and scale-up of novel chemical processes within our client's state-of-the-art research and development facilities located in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape . You will be instrumental in translating laboratory findings into viable, scalable manufacturing processes, ensuring efficiency, safety, and economic feasibility. This is an on-site position requiring a strong theoretical foundation combined with practical, experimental skills. The engineer will work closely with research scientists and production teams to overcome technical challenges and bring new products to market. This role offers a dynamic environment for an engineer passionate about chemical process innovation and bringing new technologies to life. We are committed to driving scientific advancements and require an engineer who shares this dedication to practical problem-solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize chemical processes for new specialty chemical products at laboratory and pilot scales.
• Design and conduct experiments to evaluate process parameters, raw material variations, and operational conditions.
• Analyze experimental data, interpret results, and prepare comprehensive technical reports.
• Scale up laboratory processes to pilot plant and commercial manufacturing levels, addressing engineering challenges.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers to ensure successful product development and technology transfer.
• Troubleshoot process issues encountered during development and scale-up activities.
• Ensure all process development activities comply with safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Develop process safety information and conduct preliminary hazard assessments for new processes.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate equipment and instrumentation for pilot and production units.
• Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory notebooks and project documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in process development, scale-up, or R&D within the chemical industry, preferably with specialty chemicals.
• Hands-on experience in laboratory experimentation and pilot plant operations.
• Proficiency in process modeling and simulation software is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of reaction engineering, separation processes, and process control.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and experimental design skills.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work closely with diverse teams.
• Detail-oriented with a strong commitment to safety and quality.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Prior experience in a contract research or development role is a plus.

Benefits

This contract position offers a competitive hourly rate or project-based compensation, commensurate with experience and qualifications. While this is a contract role, our client provides opportunities for professional engagement and contribution to cutting-edge projects. The experience gained in developing novel processes for specialty chemicals is highly valuable for career progression. This role is based at our client's facility in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape , providing direct access to advanced research infrastructure and expert teams.