Remote Lead Process Development Engineer – Pharma (SA)

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work from SA

Health insurance

Retirement planning

Training & development

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Process Development Engineer for a fully remote role based in South Africa. You will lead a team of engineers and scientists, translating laboratory-scale discoveries into scalable manufacturing processes for new pharmaceutical products.

You will drive process design, optimization, and technology transfer from lab to pilot and commercial scales, ensuring GMP compliance and robust CPPs while collaborating with global R&D and manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering with pharma process development focus.
• 9+ years hands-on experience in pharmaceutical process development and scale-up.
• Proven expertise in designing and optimizing complex chemical synthesis and purification processes for APIs.
• Strong GMP knowledge and regulatory awareness (FDA/EMA).
• Experience with process simulation software (Aspen Plus, SuperPro Designer) and statistical analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of chemical processes for APIs and drug products.
• Design and scale-up processes from laboratory to pilot plant and commercial manufacturing scales.
• Conduct detailed process modeling, simulation, and risk assessments.
• Develop robust control strategies and CPPs for manufacturing processes.
• Oversee technology transfer activities to manufacturing sites, ensuring smooth implementation and validation.
• Mentor and guide junior process development engineers and scientists within the remote team.
• Collaborate closely with formulation scientists, analytical chemists, and regulatory affairs specialists.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges encountered during process development and scale-up.
• Author and review technical documentation, validation protocols, and regulatory submission documents.
• Stay current with advancements in pharmaceutical process technology, automation, and PAT.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Remote team management

Education

Master's/PhD in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

SuperPro Designer

PAT tools

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Process Development Engineer for a fully remote role based in South Africa. You will lead a team of engineers and scientists, translating laboratory-scale discoveries into scalable manufacturing processes for new pharmaceutical products.

You will drive process design, optimization, and technology transfer from lab to pilot and commercial scales, ensuring GMP compliance and robust CPPs while collaborating with global R&D and manufacturing teams.