Senior Process Control Engineer — APC & DCS Expert

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus potential

Health, dental & vision insurance

Retirement savings plan with company-m

Professional development & training

Advanced automation technologyExposure

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a seasoned Chemical Process Control Engineer for our client in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. You will design, implement, and tune advanced control strategies to optimise plant performance, ensure safety, and improve product quality across DCS/PLC platforms.

You will develop MPC solutions, troubleshoot hardware/software issues, and collaborate closely with process engineers and operations to drive efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in process control engineering within the chemical/process industry.
• Proven experience with major DCS platforms (e.g., Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion) and PLC systems (Rockwell, Siemens).
• Strong understanding of control theory, PID control, and loop tuning techniques.
• Experience with Advanced Process Control (APC) software is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of process safety and SIL (Safety Integrity Level) assessment.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and diagnostic skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs and electrical schematics.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain process control strategies and systems (DCS/PLC).
• Develop and tune control loops for key process variables to ensure stability and optimize performance.
• Implement APC solutions, such as model predictive control (MPC).
• Troubleshoot control system hardware and software issues, identifying root causes and implementing solutions.
• Collaborate with process engineers and operations teams to understand control requirements and identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop control system documentation, including logic diagrams, cause & effect charts, and operating manuals.
• Participate in HAZOP reviews and ensure control system design meets safety requirements.
• Monitor control system performance and reliability, implementing upgrades as needed.
• Provide training and technical support to operations personnel on control systems.
• Stay current with advancements in process control technology and automation.

Skills

Process control

PID control

Loop tuning

DCS/PLC experience

Teamwork

Education

Chemical Engineering degree

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Honeywell Experion

Rockwell PLC

Siemens PLC

Job description

Placements24 seeks a seasoned Chemical Process Control Engineer for our client in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. You will design, implement, and tune advanced control strategies to optimise plant performance, ensure safety, and improve product quality across DCS/PLC platforms.

You will develop MPC solutions, troubleshoot hardware/software issues, and collaborate closely with process engineers and operations to drive efficiency.