Senior Process Development Scientist

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with incentives

Health, dental, retirement benefits

State-of-the-art labs and pilot plant

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Process Development Scientist to join our R&D team in Sandton. You will design, optimize, and scale up manufacturing processes for novel chemical entities and biologics, translating lab-scale discoveries into robust, scalable operations.

The role requires expertise in chemical engineering, reaction kinetics, and technology transfer, with hands-on experience in PAT/QbD concepts. A PhD/MSc and 6+ years in pharma/chem/biotech process development are preferred.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field.
• 6+ years of process development experience in pharma/biotech/chemical industries.
• Strong knowledge of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and unit operations.
• Experience with scale-up, technology transfer, and process validation.
• Familiarity with PAT and QbD is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to optimize reaction conditions, yields, and purity for manufacturing processes.
• Develop and validate scalable processes, considering safety, environmental impact, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Troubleshoot process‑related issues during development and scale‑up phases.
• Perform process characterization and risk assessments to ensure process robustness and control.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure successful technology transfer and implementation.
• Author comprehensive process development reports, documentation, and regulatory submissions.

Skills

Process development

Scale-up

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

PAT

QbD

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative and experienced Senior Process Development Scientist to join their R&D team in Sandton . You will be responsible for designing, optimizing, and scaling up manufacturing processes for novel chemical entities and biologics. This role requires a deep understanding of chemical engineering principles and hands‑on experience with process development methodologies. You will play a critical part in translating laboratory‑scale discoveries into robust, efficient, and scalable manufacturing processes, contributing to the commercial success of new products within the Gauteng region.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to optimize reaction conditions, yields, and purity for manufacturing processes.
• Develop and validate scalable processes, considering safety, environmental impact, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Troubleshoot process‑related issues during development and scale‑up phases.
• Perform process characterization and risk assessments to ensure process robustness and control.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure successful technology transfer and implementation.
• Author comprehensive process development reports, documentation, and regulatory submissions.

Requirements

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in process development within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or chemical industries.
• Strong understanding of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and unit operations.
• Proven experience in scale‑up activities, technology transfer, and process validation.
• Familiarity with Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and Quality by Design (QbD) principles is desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and project management skills for this role in Sandton .

Benefits

• Competitive salary package with performance incentives and bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development, including advanced training programs.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art process development laboratories and pilot plant facilities.
• A collaborative and dynamic work environment focused on innovation and efficiency.