Senior Process Development Engineer

Placements24; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Process Development Engineer to lead the development and optimization of chemical processes in Midrand. You will bridge lab-scale research and full-scale production, focusing on efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

The role requires a strong theory in chemical engineering with hands-on experience in process design, scale-up, and troubleshooting, collaborating with R&D, operations, and safety teams to advance innovative projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
• Strong design and scale-up experience in chemical processes.
• Experience with process troubleshooting and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize chemical processes from concept to commercialization.
• Conduct feasibility studies and pilot plant trials to validate designs.
• Perform process simulations and modeling using Aspen Plus or HYSYS.
• Develop PFDs, P&IDs, and equipment specifications.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and drive corrective actions.
• Collaborate with R&D, operations, and safety teams.

Skills

Chemical engineering principles

Process design

Scale-up

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the chemical processing industry, is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Process Development Engineer to join their dynamic team in Midrand, Gauteng. This role is pivotal in driving the development and optimization of new and existing chemical processes. You will be instrumental in bridging the gap between laboratory-scale research and full-scale industrial production, ensuring efficiency, safety, and sustainability. The ideal candidate will possess a strong theoretical foundation in chemical engineering principles coupled with practical experience in process design, scale-up, and troubleshooting. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects within a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize chemical processes from conceptualization through to commercialization.
• Conduct feasibility studies and pilot plant trials to validate process designs and gather critical performance data.
• Perform process simulations and modeling using industry-standard software (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS).
• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and equipment specifications.
• Troubleshoot and resolve operational issues in existing plants, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Collaborate closely with R&D, operations, and safety teams to ensure seamless technology