Lead Process Engineer

SUMMARY:
Lead Process Engineer - Johannesburg

POSITION INFO:
The Lead Process Engineer will review the client scope and additional information/ communications to interpret how the company can investigate and deliver a suitable product to solve the applicable problem.
Once awarded they will set up a work stream to get information/ initiate / manage testwork and develop this through an auditable process to define solutions to the problems and generate suitable documentation to package the solution for the client and feed accurately communicate to other disciplines to assist in the full solution being interpreted.
This work will cover numerous project stages PEA, prefeasibility study, feasibility, execution program along with debottlenecking or other problem-solving activities.
The projects may encompass numerous minerals/ metals and cover raw ore processing to refining and recycling processes.
The processes will cover all fundamental metallurgical processes from crushing, comminution, gravity, flotation, leaching, precipitation, IX, SX, EW, various pyrometallurgical processes.
The specific candidate may not have experience in all of these metallurgical fields but past experience would be an advantage, but they will be open to development during their working duties.
This work requires good communication, report writing, mathematical simulation skills along with a good sense of design requirements/ machinery expectations to interpret faster product development and subsequent vendor accuracy detail of the presented product.
They must be able to interpret budgets and timelines and timeously communicate progress and meet deadlines as well as ensuring scope changes are managed correctly.
They must be a team member and leverage others but also improve others knowledge in new and novel processes.
Work will necessitate travel locally/ worldwide at times, to investigate/ solve problems and will require commissioning of products constructed/ modified.
Quality of work is critical and will require timeous presentation and review by others along with own review of others’ work.
The Lead Process Engineer reports to associated team members to ensure testwork and design documentation, reports are delivered timeously and present the company and processes used accurately and within the company's required standards.

Responsibilities:

• Listen and understand client and project team scope and requirements.
• Define the scope
• To follow instruction and plan deliverables relative to agreed scope.
• To work by oneself or part of a team to deliver project requirements.
• To take instruction, guidance from other team members to ensure scope and deliverables are accurately achieved and on time.
• To utilise own knowledge, assistance from others and own technical research to provide the best practical, efficient, cost-effective solutions to problems.
• Ability to set-up, organize, manage, guide and interpret testwork programmes.
• Understanding and ability to compile standard process deliverable documents, including Process design criteria, blockflow, equipment lists, mass balances, process flow diagrams, Process & instrument diagrams, datasheets, equipment sizing programmes, OPEX analysis, control philosophies and various other process deliverables.
• Ability to present findings, reports to the client and other team members in ad hoc and formal presentations.
• Ability to guide clients on technology and options to move designs forward
• Utilise learnings to improve design tools and transfer gained knowledge to other team members.
• Proven knowledge in specific metals, minerals & metallurgical processes.
• Occasional site work, including commissioning and technical support, depending on project requirements
• Performing OME (Order of magnitude estimates) and pre-feasibility designs for projects or sections of processes.
• Ability to complete feasibility to SAMRAC, JORC, and NI43-101 requirements
• Ensure all documents are delivered timeously, accurately and are well presented.
• Ability to discuss with vendors to identify proper equipment sizing requirements
• Ability to guide and manage the team as well as colleagues to meet process deliverables
• Ability to assist with the knowledge upliftment of the team
• Ability to identify workload conditions and utilise capacity to improve own knowledge, team members, tools/systems, and align with department goals
• To identify useful design information and add/develop it as a tool for the database

• Proven operational and/ or process Design experience
• BSc/BEng (preferred) Metallurgy or Chemical Engineering
• Preferably to be a member of ECSA, SAIMM or other accredited organization.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel, word, PowerPoint.CAD design skills could be advantageous.
• Preferable knowledge of process simulation software (advantageous)
• Hydrometallurgy experience advantageous
• Proven ability to work as a team with interpersonal skills but self-motivated/ disciplined to deliver product.
• Ability to perform reasonable travel outside of office to attend meetings, testwork, analysis or construction/ commissioning assistance within South Africa and beyond as and when required.
• Motivated to complete work timeously.
• 10+ years process design experience
• Preferably 3+ years at a senior design level depending on experience