Process Scale-Up Engineer, Chemicals (Nelspruit)

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Pension fund

Performance-based incentives

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Senior Process Development Engineer for its Nelspruit facility. You will lead design, optimization and scale-up of chemical processes, from pilot studies to full-scale production support, driving safety, efficiency and quality.

You will collaborate with R&D, engineering and production teams, mentor junior engineers and contribute to technology transfer. A strong background in chemical engineering and hands-on scale-up experience are essential.

Qualifications

• B.Eng. or M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in process development, scale-up, or manufacturing support in the chemical industry.
• Strong understanding of chemical reaction engineering, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics.
• Proven experience with process simulation software (Aspen Plus, HYSYS).
• Hands-on experience with pilot plant operations and scale-up challenges.
• Knowledge of safety regulations and best practices in chemical manufacturing.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical information effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and manage project timelines.
• Experience with batch and continuous processing is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize chemical manufacturing processes for new and existing products.
• Conduct pilot plant studies to validate process parameters and gather scale-up data.
• Troubleshoot and resolve process-related issues during manufacturing campaigns.
• Perform process hazard analyses (PHAs) and implement safety improvements.
• Develop and implement process control strategies to ensure product quality and consistency.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists, engineers, and production teams to ensure smooth technology transfer.
• Generate process documentation, including P&IDs, SOPs, and batch records.
• Evaluate and recommend new process equipment and technologies.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the technical development of the team.

Skills

Analytical and problem-solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

B.Eng./M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

Job description

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Senior Process Development Engineer for its Nelspruit facility. You will lead design, optimization and scale-up of chemical processes, from pilot studies to full-scale production support, driving safety, efficiency and quality.

You will collaborate with R&D, engineering and production teams, mentor junior engineers and contribute to technology transfer. A strong background in chemical engineering and hands-on scale-up experience are essential.