Remote Chemical Process Development Engineer

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Home office budget

Performance bonuses

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Chemical Process Development Engineer to join a globally distributed R&D team in South Africa. The role centers on translating laboratory discoveries into industrial-scale manufacturing methods and driving the scale-up of new chemical entities.

The successful candidate will have a PhD or Master’s in Chemical Engineering, 10+ years of experience, and strong command of Aspen Plus or HYSYS.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering with focus on process development and scale-up.
• 10+ years of relevant chemical industry experience with new process development.
• Proven expertise in process simulation tools (Aspen Plus, HYSYS).
• Experience scaling up processes for specialty chemicals, pharma, or advanced materials is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and optimization of new chemical processes from bench to commercial scale.
• Model and simulate processes to predict performance and identify key operating parameters.
• Create PFDs and P&IDs for process designs.
• Oversee pilot plant trials and analyze data to inform scale-up strategies.
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers, and manufacturing partners across time zones.
• Prepare technical reports, feasibility studies, and scale-up documentation.
• Ensure process designs meet safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Troubleshoot issues during development and scale-up.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

Remote work

Education

PhD or Master’s in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge R&D firm specializing in novel materials, is looking for an exceptional **Remote Chemical Process Development Engineer** to join their globally distributed team. This role is entirely remote, allowing you to contribute from anywhere while playing a pivotal role in developing and scaling up innovative chemical processes for new product lines. You will be instrumental in translating laboratory discoveries into viable industrial-scale manufacturing methods. This position demands a high degree of autonomy, exceptional communication skills, and a strong ability to collaborate effectively with virtual teams. We seek a candidate passionate about chemical process innovation, with a proven track record in process design, optimization, and scale-up, particularly in the development of new chemical entities. Your expertise will directly influence the successful commercialization of groundbreaking technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of new chemical processes from bench scale to pilot and commercial scale.
• Conduct rigorous process modeling and simulation to predict performance and identify key operating parameters.
• Develop detailed process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs).
• Design and oversee pilot plant trials, analyzing data to validate process designs and inform scale-up strategies.
• Collaborate closely with research scientists, engineering teams, and manufacturing partners across different time zones.
• Prepare comprehensive technical reports, feasibility studies, and scale-up documentation.
• Ensure process designs meet stringent safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Troubleshoot process issues encountered during development and scale-up phases.
• Stay abreast of new technologies and methodologies in chemical process development and scale-up.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering with a strong focus on process development and scale-up.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the chemical industry, with significant contributions to new process development.
• Demonstrated expertise in process simulation tools (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS).
• Strong understanding of reaction engineering, separation processes, and materials science.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently in a remote work setting.
• Excellent remote collaboration and communication skills, including proficiency with virtual meeting tools.
• Experience in scaling up processes for specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or advanced materials is a plus.
• Must have a reliable internet connection and a dedicated home office setup.
• Residing anywhere within South Africa is acceptable, with a preference for proximity to a major airport if occasional travel is required (e.g., Mossel Bay, Western Cape area ideal).

Benefits

• Highly competitive remote salary with potential for significant performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive private healthcare coverage and retirement planning support.
• Generous budget for home office equipment and professional development.
• Opportunity to work on truly innovative and impactful projects.
• Flexible working hours within agreed-upon core collaboration times.