Lead Process Engineer

SUMMARY:
Water Treatment Specialist/ Lead Process Engineer (Department: Water and Effluent Treatment)
An established Engineering Consulting company is seeking an ECSA registered Professional Engineer (PrEng) to join their team as a Principal Water & Process Engineer.
This highly specialised leadership role offers the opportunity to lead the process design, optimisation, and technical execution of a diverse portfolio of projects across municipal infrastructure, industrial and mining facilities, as well as informal settlement developments.
The successful candidate will take ownership of the full project life cycle, from feasibility studies and conceptual design through detailed engineering, commissioning, and plant optimisation.
This opportunity is ideally suited to a strategic and people-focused engineering leader who understands that successful engineering solutions must ultimately improve lives, enhance sustainability, and respond effectively to real-world challenges.
If you are passionate about driving technical excellence, mentoring multidisciplinary teams, and delivering innovative water and process engineering solutions that create lasting impact, this role offers an exciting platform to influence critical infrastructure projects and contribute meaningfully to communities and industry alike.

POSITION INFO:
Areas of responsibilities: Lead process design and optimisation for complex water, wastewater, and industrial effluent treatment projects, including greenfield and brownfield infrastructure. Manage the full project life cycle: from developing technical documentation (from conceptual to detail engineering) to commissioning new systems and optimising plant operations. Develop, review, and finalise core process engineering deliverables, specifically Mass and Energy Balances, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs). Spearhead innovative solutions in advanced water reuse, industrial wastewater recycling, and biogas generation within complex or constrained environments. Identify continuous improvement opportunities to reduce operational costs, improve effluent quality, and increase the long-term reliability of treatment systems. Perform process audits, conceptual option selections, and fitness-for-use assessments for clients. Build relationships with new key clients to secure new business. Establish and maintain relationships with existing key clients. Market the Water Department's engineering capability. Provide specialist technical advice to clients. Prepare and\/or assist with the preparation of proposals. (This job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to perform tasks outside of the scope of this job description. The company reserves the right to change or amend the job description in line with company requirements.) Qualifications: Eng\/BSc in Chemical, Civil, or Process Engineering. Must be a professionally registered engineer (Pr Eng) with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). An MSc or M.Eng (e.g., in Water Utilisation or Process Design) is highly advantageous. Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification or SACPCMP Pr CPM registration is highly desirable. Experience and skills requirements: Extensive experience (8-10+ years) as a technical lead in the fields of water, municipal wastewater, and industrial effluent treatment across South Africa and internationally. Proven track record of involvement throughout the full project life cycle (design, documentation, construction support, and commissioning). Demonstrated experience with advanced water reuse, industrial wastewater recycling, and biological\/biogas systems. Experience working in varied environments, from heavy industrial facilities to municipal infrastructure and informal settlements. Expert-level familiarity with process engineering tools, including mass and energy balances, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs). Strong understanding of value stream mapping, system sustainability, and cost-reduction methodologies. Deep knowledge of water and wastewater treatment technologies, equipment capacities, and operational bottlenecks. Exceptional process design and plant optimisation skills. Strong project management and leadership capabilities to guide technical solutions from inception to handover. Ability to blend solid, highly technical engineering with thoughtful design and a clear understanding of the socio-environmental context. Be proficient in modelling software such as BioWin and RO simulation software. Ability to build and retain healthy relationships with others. Personal Attributes: Excellent proficiency in English (Speak, Read, Write). Deeply motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems to improve system efficiency and sustainability. Client focused (both internal and external clients). Remuneration: Competitive market related remuneration package - highly negotiable depending on qualifications and experience Interested? Please submit detailed an updated CV in MS Word format ASAP! Kindly take note: Only RSA citizens need apply for this position - must be fluent in English and understand Afrikaans to effectively participate in meetings with clients Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted Should you not receive any feedback within 30 days of application, please consider your application unsuccessful. We may however keep your application on our database for future opportunities. By applying for this position you grant us access to your personal information.