Chemical Process Engineer, Pretoria

A Water Resilience Consultancy is seeking a Process Chemical Engineer (Ground Water & Water Treatment)
The role:
The Process Engineer is the chemical / process engineering brain on the companies water treatment engagements: Client's raw water profile (groundwater, surface water, blackwater, process water), design the treatment system that delivers the required output quality, reliably, at the right capex and opex. 
Individual is to work across multiple ECSA work stages on each engagement, with scope and accountability calibrated to seniority.

Requirements:
- Engineering qualification. BEng / BSc Chemical Engineering, or BEng Process Engineering, or equivalent. Other engineering disciplines with strong demonstrable process-design depth in water treatment will be considered.
- Professional registration pathway. ECSA Candidate Engineer (registered or pending) at junior level; clear path toward Pr Eng at mid-level; Pr Eng or imminent at mid-senior level.
- Process design fundamentals. Mass and energy balances, P&IDs and PFDs, equipment sizing and specification, control philosophy.
- Water treatment exposure. Demonstrable academic or work exposure to water or wastewater treatment unit operations. Hands-on internship, vacation work, or project experience counts.
- Drafting and modelling. Competence with AutoCAD or Plant 3D; familiarity with Aspen Plus or comparable process simulation tools.
- Safety mindset. Understands HAZOP methodology and the importance of process safety in chemical handling environments.
- Driver's licence and own transport. Site work is part of the role.

Key Responsibilities:
Groundwater treatment design
- Characterise raw water from boreholes, surface sources, or blended sources; specify the analytical scope required for design.
- Select and size unit operations: pretreatment (screening, sedimentation, coagulation/flocculation), filtration (multimedia, granular activated carbon, membrane), disinfection (chlorine, UV, ozone), softening, demineralisation (RO, ion exchange), and advanced oxidation as required.
- Produce mass and energy balances, hydraulic profiles, equipment specifications, and operating philosophy for the plant.
- Verify compliance with SANS 241 (potable), DWS general and special limits, and any fit-for-purpose standards specific to the client's use case.
Process documentation across all six ECSA stages
- Stage 1–2: Inception briefing, raw water assessment, treatment options analysis, capex/opex feasibility, basis of design.
- Stage 3–4: Developed design, P&IDs and PFDs, equipment data sheets, specifications, BoQs, tender documentation.
- Stage 5–6: Construction support, commissioning, performance verification, O&M manuals, close-out.
Safety, compliance, and quality
- Lead or participate in HAZOP studies; integrate findings into SOPs and control philosophy.
- Apply applicable SANS, ASME, and EN standards; document deviations with engineering justification.
- Engage with DWS on Water Use Authorisations (NWA Section 21 use entitlements) when groundwater abstraction is involved.
Cross-disciplinary coordination
- Coordinate with civil engineers (foundations, drainage, civil works around the plant), mechanical engineers (pumps, blowers, piping), electrical / C&I engineers (instrumentation, SCADA, MCC), and Company (implementation).
- Translate process requirements into clear deliverables for other disciplines; resolve interface issues.
Productisation & methodology
- Codify treatment-plant design rules into reusable templates, design tools, and equipment data libraries.
- Contribute to Companies design standards and quality system.
- Develop Python or Excel-based optimisation tools where useful (RO recovery, ion exchange regeneration cycles, chemical dosing, etc.).