Remote Senior Chemical Process Engineer - Specialty Chemicals Scale-Up

Placements24; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonus structure

Remote work flexibility

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous paid time off

Retirement savings plan

Professional development budget

Home office equipment allowance

Diverse projects in specialty chemical

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Remote Senior Chemical Process Engineer in South Africa to drive scale-up from lab to manufacturing for specialty chemicals. You will design, optimize, and implement processes while collaborating with R&D, manufacturing, and project teams across locations.

The role emphasizes process safety, PFDs/P&IDs, techno-economic studies, and mentoring junior engineers in a fully remote setup.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering is required.
• Minimum 8 years in process development, scale-up, and commercialization of chemical processes.
• Experience taking processes from lab to pilot and commercial scale; strong analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead process development and scale-up of new specialty chemical manufacturing processes.
• Perform detailed process design: PFDs, P&IDs, mass/energy balances, equipment sizing.
• Conduct techno-economic feasibility studies and risk assessments for new processes.
• Develop and execute pilot plant trials and analyze data to optimize parameters.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges during scale-up.
• Collaborate virtually with R&D, manufacturing, and project teams.
• Ensure process designs meet safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Prepare technical reports, process documentation, and project proposals.
• Evaluate and recommend process technologies, equipment, and control strategies.
• Manage vendor interactions and technical reviews for critical equipment.
• Stay updated on industry trends in specialty chemical manufacturing.
• Mentor junior engineers in process development.

Skills

Process scale-up

Remote collaboration

Technical reporting

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

CHEMCAD

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and growing specialty chemicals company, is seeking an experienced Remote Senior Chemical Process Engineer to drive critical scale-up initiatives. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa. The role will focus on translating innovative laboratory-scale processes into robust, commercially viable manufacturing operations. You will be instrumental in the design, optimization, and implementation of processes for novel specialty chemical products. This is a unique opportunity for a highly skilled engineer to leverage their expertise in a remote setting, collaborating closely with R&D, manufacturing, and project management teams across different locations. You will be a key driver in bringing new chemical products to market.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the process development and scale-up of new specialty chemical manufacturing processes.
• Perform detailed process design, including PFDs, P&IDs, mass/energy balances, and equipment sizing.
• Conduct thorough techno-economic feasibility studies and risk assessments for new processes.
• Develop and execute pilot plant trials, analyzing data to optimize process parameters.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical challenges during process scale-up and implementation.
• Collaborate virtually with R&D scientists, manufacturing engineers, and project teams.
• Ensure all process designs adhere to stringent safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Prepare comprehensive technical reports, process documentation, and project proposals.
• Evaluate and recommend process technologies, equipment, and control strategies.
• Manage vendor interactions and technical reviews for critical process equipment.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies in specialty chemical manufacturing.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers in process development activities.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in process development, scale-up, and commercialization of chemical processes, preferably in specialty chemicals.
• Demonstrated success in taking processes from lab to pilot and commercial scale.
• Expertise in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, CHEMCAD) and statistical analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of chemical reaction engineering, separation processes, and process safety management.
• Proven ability to work autonomously and manage complex projects effectively in a remote environment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills, with experience using virtual collaboration tools.
• Familiarity with cGMP standards is a plus.
• Must have a dedicated home office setup and reliable internet connectivity for this remote role.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Remote work flexibility, allowing for a better work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous paid time off and public holidays.
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Professional development budget for courses, conferences, and certifications.
• Allowance for home office equipment and/or co-working space.
• Opportunity to work on diverse and innovative specialty chemical projects.
• Direct impact on product commercialization and company growth.