Senior Chemical Process Engineer - Optimization & Scale-Up

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Annual bonus opportunities

Career growth potential

Job summary

Placements24 is assisting a leading specialty chemical manufacturer in Sandton to hire a Senior Chemical Process Engineer. You will optimize existing processes, scale up new ones from lab to pilot to production, and troubleshoot to improve yields and reduce costs.

You will use Aspen Plus or HYSYS for process modeling, lead PHAs, collaborate with R&D and manufacturing, and drive process design, P&IDs, and SOPs while ensuring safety and environmental compliance.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in chemical process engineering with emphasis on optimization and scale-up.
• Proficiency in process simulation and modeling software.
• Strong knowledge of reaction engineering, thermodynamics and process control.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and optimize existing chemical processes to improve efficiency, yield, and product quality.
• Lead scale-up efforts from lab to pilot plant and commercial production.
• Model and optimize using Aspen Plus or HYSYS to improve performance.
• Troubleshoot issues, identify root causes, and implement solutions.
• Develop process designs, P&IDs and SOPs for new/modified processes.
• Conduct PHAs and ensure compliance with safety/environmental regulations.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing and engineering teams for product development.
• Evaluate and recommend process improvements and new technologies.

Skills

Process optimization

Scale-up experience

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent specialty chemical manufacturer, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Chemical Process Engineer to join their advanced technical team in Sandton. This role is dedicated to process optimization, scale-up, and troubleshooting of existing and new chemical manufacturing processes. You will be instrumental in enhancing efficiency, improving yields, reducing costs, and ensuring the successful transition of processes from laboratory to commercial scale. The ideal candidate will possess a strong analytical mindset, deep expertise in chemical engineering principles, and hands-on experience with process simulation and optimization tools. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge chemical innovation and drive operational excellence in a dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze and optimize existing chemical processes to improve efficiency, yield, and product quality.
• Lead scale-up efforts for new chemical processes, from lab bench to pilot plant and commercial production.
• Utilize process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS) to model, analyze, and optimize process performance.
• Troubleshoot process issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Develop process designs, P&IDs, and standard operating procedures for new and modified processes.
• Conduct Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs) and ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, and engineering teams to support product development and production.
• Evaluate and recommend process improvements and new technologies.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and documentation for project stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in chemical process engineering, with a focus on optimization, scale-up, and new process introduction.
• Proficiency in process simulation and modeling software is essential.
• Strong understanding of chemical reaction engineering, thermodynamics, separations, and process control.
• Experience with pilot plant operations and scale-up challenges.
• Proven ability in root cause analysis and problem-solving.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in specialty chemicals or fine chemicals manufacturing is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma principles is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Medical aid.
• Retirement fund.
• Annual bonus opportunities.
• Excellent potential for career growth and professional development within a leading chemical organization.

The position is located in the thriving business hub of Sandton.

Join a company committed to innovation, sustainability, and employee success.