Senior R&D Chemical Engineer - Catalysis

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior R&D Chemical Engineer (Catalysis) for their Bloemfontein center. You will lead catalytic research from design to proof-of-concept, collaborating with academic and industrial partners to advance sustainable chemical processes.

You will oversee experimental work on catalyst development, characterize materials using advanced techniques, and contribute to process models and patent filings. Excellent publication and mentoring abilities are essential.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry with a strong focus on Catalysis.
• Minimum of 8 years of post-doctoral research experience in catalysis development and application.
• Demonstrated expertise in catalyst synthesis and characterization techniques.
• Strong understanding of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena relevant to catalysis.
• Proven experience in experimental design and execution for catalyst testing.
• Experience with process simulation for catalytic reactors is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead research initiatives in catalysis, focusing on design, synthesis, and performance evaluation.
• Conduct experiments related to heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis.
• Characterize catalysts using BET, XRD, TEM, SEM, and spectroscopy.
• Perform kinetic studies and reaction engineering experiments to optimize catalytic processes.
• Develop and validate process models for catalytic reactions.
• Collaborate with chemists, material scientists, and engineers to achieve objectives.
• Manage research projects, including planning, data analysis, and reporting.
• Prepare research papers, technical reports, and patent applications.
• Present findings at conferences and meetings.
• Supervise and mentor junior researchers and technicians.

Skills

Catalysis expertise

Reaction engineering

Process optimization

Project leadership

Analytical skills

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry

Tools

BET

XRD

TEM

SEM

Spectroscopy

Process simulation

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering research institution focused on advanced materials and sustainable chemical processes, is seeking a highly innovative Senior R&D Chemical Engineer specializing in Catalysis for their Bloemfontein research center. This role will involve leading research projects focused on the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of novel catalysts for various industrial processes. You will be responsible for driving innovation from concept through to proof-of-concept, collaborating with academic and industrial partners. The ideal candidate will have a strong academic background and hands‑on experience in catalyst development, reaction engineering, and process optimization. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking advancements in catalysis science and technology in a dynamic research environment located in Bloemfontein, Free State .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research initiatives in the field of catalysis, focusing on catalyst design, synthesis, and performance evaluation.
• Conduct experiments related to heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis for applications such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and green chemistry.
• Characterize catalysts using techniques such as BET, XRD, TEM, SEM, and spectroscopy.
• Perform kinetic studies and reaction engineering experiments to understand and optimize catalytic processes.
• Develop and validate process models for catalytic reactions.
• Collaborate with chemists, material scientists, and other engineers to achieve research objectives.
• Manage research projects, including planning, execution, data analysis, and reporting.
• Prepare research papers, technical reports, and patent applications.
• Present research findings at scientific conferences and meetings.
• Supervise and mentor junior researchers and technicians in the catalysis group.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry with a strong focus on Catalysis.
• Minimum of 8 years of post-doctoral research experience in catalysis development and application.
• Demonstrated expertise in catalyst synthesis (e.g., impregnation, co-precipitation, sol-gel) and characterization techniques.
• Strong understanding of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena relevant to catalysis.
• Proven experience in experimental design and execution for catalyst testing.
• Experience with process simulation for catalytic reactors is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and research skills.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals and experience presenting at international conferences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative research team.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, research grants, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid, retirement fund, and professional development support.
• Opportunities to publish and present research findings are strongly encouraged.
• This exciting research role is based in Bloemfontein, Free State , providing a chance to work on cutting-edge technology with a world‑class team.