Senior Chemical R&D Engineer — Innovate & Scale-Up

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Medical aid

Retirement savings

Performance bonuses

Advanced training

Conference participation

Career advancement pathways

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein seeks a Senior Chemical Research and Development Engineer to advance new products and processes in a state-of-the-art lab and pilot plant environment.

You will lead experiments, scale processes, and collaborate with production and marketing to commercialize innovations, while maintaining safety and IP considerations. The role requires 7+ years of R&D experience and a strong track record in scale-up and data analysis.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry.
• Minimum 7 years of R&D experience with a proven track record.
• Strong experimental design, laboratory techniques, and data analysis.
• Proficiency with laboratory equipment, analytical instrumentation, and pilot-scale operations.
• Strong understanding of synthesis, reaction engineering, and scale-up principles.
• Excellent problem-solving and creative thinking abilities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Experience in polymer chemistry or specialty chemicals is advantageous.
• Familiarity with intellectual property and patent processes.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct laboratory experiments to investigate new chemical reactions, formulations, and processes.
• Scale-up processes from laboratory bench to pilot plant and full commercial scale.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data, drawing conclusions and making recommendations for further development.
• Develop new product prototypes and optimize existing product formulations for improved performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the R&D team, as well as production and marketing departments, to ensure successful product development and commercialization.
• Prepare technical reports, research proposals, and patent applications.
• Troubleshoot process issues encountered during scale-up and production phases.
• Stay abreast of scientific literature, patents, and industry trends relevant to the company's research areas.
• Ensure all laboratory activities comply with safety regulations and best practices.

Skills

Experimental design

Laboratory techniques

Data analysis

Chemical synthesis

Scale-up / pilot plant

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Polymer chemistry (advantage)

IP & patents awareness

Education

MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry

Tools

Analytical instrumentation

Pilot plant equipment

Job description

Placements24 in Bloemfontein seeks a Senior Chemical Research and Development Engineer to advance new products and processes in a state-of-the-art lab and pilot plant environment.

You will lead experiments, scale processes, and collaborate with production and marketing to commercialize innovations, while maintaining safety and IP considerations. The role requires 7+ years of R&D experience and a strong track record in scale-up and data analysis.