Senior Research Chemical Engineer - Catalysis

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 2,133,000 - 3,117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

PTO and holidays

Conference funding

Remote work setup

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Research Chemical Engineer (Catalysis) for a fully remote role in a leading sustainable energy research program. You will design, synthesize, and evaluate catalysts, and develop advanced catalytic processes for green chemistry while collaborating with a globally distributed team.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering or a related field and has extensive postdoctoral or industrial catalysis experience.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field with catalysis focus.
• 6+ years postdoc or industrial catalysis/reaction engineering experience.
• Proven catalyst design, synthesis, and characterization expertise.
• Strong data interpretation and remote collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct experiments to synthesize and evaluate catalysts.
• Develop catalytic processes for sustainable energy and green chemistry.
• Analyze kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanisms from data.
• Operate reactors and analytical instruments and maintain lab equipment.
• Publish results and collaborate with remote team members.
• Stay current with catalysis literature and contribute to IP.
• Prepare technical reports and assist patent disclosures.

Skills

Catalysis

Reaction engineering

Data analysis

Publications

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

XRD

TEM

XPS

BET

GC

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering research institution focused on sustainable energy solutions, is seeking a Senior Research Chemical Engineer with expertise in Catalysis to join their fully remote research and development team. This role is pivotal in advancing novel catalytic processes for a cleaner future. You will be responsible for designing, executing, and analyzing experiments aimed at developing and characterizing new catalytic materials and processes. The position demands a strong theoretical understanding of reaction engineering, surface chemistry, and materials science, coupled with practical experience in laboratory-scale experimentation and data interpretation. As a fully remote employee, you will collaborate with a globally distributed team of scientists and engineers, utilizing advanced digital tools for communication and data sharing. This is an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research in a flexible, work-from-home environment, driving innovation in areas such as green hydrogen production, carbon capture, and sustainable chemical synthesis. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a passion for scientific discovery and a proven ability to work independently and productively in a remote setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct experiments focused on the synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts.
• Develop advanced catalytic processes for applications in sustainable energy and green chemistry.
• Analyze reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanism using experimental data and computational modeling.
• Operate and maintain specialized laboratory equipment, including reactors, analytical instruments (e.g., GC, HPLC, BET), and material characterization tools.
• Interpret complex experimental results and generate comprehensive technical reports and research publications.
• Collaborate effectively with remote team members through virtual meetings, shared databases, and collaborative platforms.
• Stay abreast of the latest scientific literature and technological advancements in catalysis and reaction engineering.
• Contribute to the intellectual property portfolio through invention disclosures and patent applications.

Requirements

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related field with a strong focus on catalysis.
• A minimum of 6 years of postdoctoral or industrial research experience in catalysis and reaction engineering.
• Demonstrated expertise in catalyst design, synthesis (e.g., sol-gel, impregnation, co-precipitation), and characterization (e.g., XRD, TEM, XPS).
• Proven experience with kinetic studies, reactor design, and process scale-up considerations for catalytic processes.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to interpret complex scientific data.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex scientific concepts remotely.
• Self-motivated, organized, and capable of managing multiple research projects simultaneously in a remote environment.

Benefits

• Competitive research salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Funding for conference attendance and professional development.
• Access to cutting-edge research tools and online scientific databases.
• Opportunity to work on high-impact research that contributes to global sustainability goals.
• Fully remote work arrangement for optimal flexibility and work-life balance.