Senior Chemical Engineer - Process Development

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Health insurance

Retirement plan

On-site lab access

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Chemical Engineer to lead process development and scale-up at our Centurion facility. This on-site role focuses on translating laboratory discoveries into viable, safe, and economical manufacturing processes.

You will design and optimize processes, run simulations, and supervise pilot-scale operations while ensuring adherence to PSM protocols and collaborating across R&D, manufacturing, and project management teams.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in process development and scale-up in chemical/pharma environments.
• Strong knowledge of unit operations, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics.
• Experience with Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) and safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize chemical processes for pilot and commercial scale production.
• Conduct process simulations and modeling to predict performance and identify improvements.
• Oversee pilot plant operations and scale-up activities.
• Develop and implement Process Safety Management (PSM) protocols.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists, manufacturing teams, and project managers.
• Prepare technical reports, process documentation, and SOPs.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up

Process simulation

Project management

Thermodynamics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Master's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Chemical Engineer to lead process development initiatives in their Centurion facility. This is an on-site role focused on optimizing and scaling up chemical processes for new product development. You will play a critical part in translating laboratory discoveries into efficient, safe, and commercially viable manufacturing processes. The position demands a strong understanding of chemical engineering principles, excellent problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to innovation and operational excellence within a rigorous R&D setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize chemical processes for pilot and commercial scale production.
• Conduct process simulations and modeling to predict performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Oversee pilot plant operations, troubleshoot issues, and ensure smooth scale-up activities.
• Develop and implement Process Safety Management (PSM) protocols.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists, manufacturing teams, and project managers.
• Author technical reports, process documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in process development, scale-up, and optimization within the chemical or pharmaceutical industry.
• Proficiency in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS).
• Strong knowledge of unit operations, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics.
• Experience with Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) and safety protocols.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Opportunity to work on innovative chemical processes.
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and insurance benefits.
• On-site facilities and access to advanced laboratory equipment.
• Career advancement opportunities within a leading R&D organization.
• Paid training and professional development programs.