Senior Process Development Chemist — Scale-Up & Innovation

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement savings plan

Professional development

Based in Stellenbosch facility

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Process Development Chemist for its Stellenbosch R&D team. The role focuses on developing, optimizing, and scaling up chemical processes for high-value products in a modern lab and pilot plant.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in organic synthesis, analytical chemistry, and process chemistry with proven industrial experience. This position offers a challenging, collaborative environment in Stellenbosch.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Chemistry (Organic or Physical) or Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in process development chemistry within the chemical industry.
• Strong understanding of organic reaction mechanisms and kinetics.
• Proven experience with process scale-up, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Proficiency with analytical instrumentation (HPLC, GC, NMR, Titrators) for process monitoring.
• Experience with Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) and safety protocols.
• Familiarity with process modeling and simulation software is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with experience in technical report writing.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize synthetic routes and reaction conditions for new and existing chemical products.
• Conduct process hazard analyses (PHAs) and implement safety measures for scaled-up reactions.
• Perform pilot plant trials to validate laboratory processes and gather data for scale-up.
• Investigate and resolve process-related issues, ensuring consistent product quality and yield.
• Utilize analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, GC, NMR, KF) to monitor reaction progress and assess product purity.
• Collaborate with engineers to design and implement process equipment and control strategies.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for new processes and process modifications.
• Contribute to technology transfer from R&D to manufacturing.
• Stay current with advancements in process chemistry, chemical engineering, and green chemistry principles.
• Maintain detailed records of experimental work, process data, and reports.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up troubleshooting

Safety & PHAs

Analytical reasoning

Written communication

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Tools

HPLC

GC

NMR

Titrators

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Process Development Chemist for its Stellenbosch R&D team. The role focuses on developing, optimizing, and scaling up chemical processes for high-value products in a modern lab and pilot plant.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in organic synthesis, analytical chemistry, and process chemistry with proven industrial experience. This position offers a challenging, collaborative environment in Stellenbosch.