Remote Chemical Process Scale-Up Engineer

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Retirement contributions

Remote work

Digital collaboration tools

Training & advancement

Job summary

Placements24 is partnering with a global leader in sustainable chemical production to hire a Remote Chemical Process Scale-Up Engineer. The role focuses on bridging lab innovation and full-scale production across South Africa, using simulations, design, and rigorous testing from a fully remote setup.

You will collaborate with R&D chemists, plant engineers and PMs to optimize processes, ensure safety and environmental compliance, and deliver scale-up reports for implementation.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering required.
• 7+ years' experience in chemical process scale-up and development.
• Proven scale-up success in fine chemicals, pharma or polymers.
• Experience with Aspen Plus or gPROMS and statistical analysis tools.
• Strong reactor engineering, heat and mass transfer knowledge.
• Remote collaboration and communication skills, with project management ability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee scale-up from pilot to commercial production.
• Prepare PFDs and P&IDs for scaled-up operations.
• Run process simulations to predict performance.
• Design and execute pilot plant tests and analyze results.
• Ensure safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Coordinate with R&D, plant engineers, and PMs in a remote setup.
• Troubleshoot scale-up issues and propose solutions.
• Produce scale-up reports and implementation recommendations.

Skills

Process scale-up

Process design

Remote collaboration

Project management

Data analysis

Education

M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

gPROMS

Job description

About the Role Our client, a global leader in sustainable chemical production, is seeking a skilled Remote Chemical Process Scale-Up Engineer to join their dedicated team. This is a fully remote opportunity, enabling you to leverage your expertise in process development and scale-up from anywhere in South Africa. You will be responsible for bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and full-scale industrial production, ensuring efficient and safe transition of new chemical processes. Your work will involve rigorous analysis, simulation, and troubleshooting to validate and optimize processes for commercial deployment. This role is critical for accelerating the introduction of new products and technologies, requiring a proactive engineer with a strong technical foundation and excellent remote collaboration skills. You'll be contributing to groundbreaking projects that drive industry advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage the scale-up of new chemical processes from pilot to commercial production.
• Conduct detailed process design, including mass and energy balances, PFDs, and P&IDs for scaled-up operations.
• Perform process simulations and modeling to predict performance and identify potential scale-up challenges.
• Develop and execute pilot plant testing protocols and analyze results.
• Ensure all scale-up activities meet stringent safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Collaborate effectively with R&D chemists, plant engineers, and project managers in a remote environment.
• Troubleshoot issues encountered during scale-up and provide solutions.
• Prepare comprehensive scale-up reports and recommendations for full-scale implementation.

Requirements

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience specifically in chemical process scale-up and development.
• Proven track record in successfully scaling chemical processes in areas such as fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or polymers.
• Expertise in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, gPROMS) and statistical analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of reaction engineering, heat and mass transfer principles applicable to scale-up.
• Experience with process safety evaluations for new processes.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills for remote work.
• Must be legally authorized to work remotely within South Africa.

Benefits

• This remote position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical aid and retirement contributions.
• You will enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of working from home, with access to advanced digital collaboration tools.
• Our client is committed to professional development, offering opportunities for training and advancement within a global organization.
• Be part of an innovative team focused on sustainable chemical solutions and contribute to impactful projects that shape the future of the industry, all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.