Senior Pharmaceutical Process Engineer

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension fund

Generous paid time off

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Pharmaceutical Process Engineer for our East London, Eastern Cape client. The role is hybrid, balancing on-site manufacturing oversight with remote design, validation, and documentation.

You will lead scale-up, optimization, and GMP-compliant process validation, collaborating with manufacturing, QA, R&D, and maintenance to deliver high-quality medicines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in pharmaceutical process engineering.
• Proven experience in scale-up, optimization and validation in GMP environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, optimize, and scale-up pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
• Troubleshoot production issues and implement effective solutions.
• Lead and execute process validation activities (IQ, OQ, PQ).
• Develop and review batch records and SOPs.
• Ensure GMP compliance and regulatory adherence.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (manufacturing, QA, R&D, maintenance).
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, yield, and quality.
• Manage engineering projects from equipment specs to installation.

Skills

Process engineering

Scale-up

GMP knowledge

Process validation

Project management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Process simulation software

Statistical analysis tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and growing pharmaceutical manufacturer, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Process Engineer to join their team in East London, Eastern Cape, ZA. This hybrid role is critical for optimizing and scaling up manufacturing processes to ensure the efficient, safe, and compliant production of high-quality pharmaceutical products. You will apply your engineering expertise to troubleshoot production issues, implement process improvements, and lead validation activities. The hybrid model allows for a balance between hands-on process work on-site and remote analysis, design, and documentation. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a leading company dedicated to delivering essential medicines globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, optimize, and scale-up pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
• Troubleshoot production issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Lead and execute process validation activities (IQ, OQ, PQ).
• Develop and review batch manufacturing records and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure all processes comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including manufacturing, quality assurance, R&D, and maintenance.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, yield, and quality.
• Manage engineering projects, including equipment specification, procurement, and installation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical process engineering.
• Proven experience in process scale-up, optimization, and validation within a GMP environment.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing operations (e.g., API synthesis, formulation, sterile manufacturing).
• Proficiency in process simulation software and statistical analysis tools.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and project management skills.
• Strong knowledge of GMP regulations and validation principles.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills for team collaboration in a hybrid setting.
• Ability to travel to the manufacturing site as needed.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, a pension fund, and generous paid time off. Opportunities for professional development and career advancement are provided. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility and supports a healthy work-life balance. Employees have access to modern manufacturing facilities and a collaborative, innovative work environment.