Lead Process Engineer

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Lead Process Engineer to join a leading engineering business delivering projects within the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. This contract role offers the opportunity to take ownership of process engineering activities across the full project lifecycle, from concept and design through to commissioning and start-up.

Key Responsibilities

Process Engineering

Project Delivery

Customer & Technical Support

Safety & Compliance

Process Engineering

• Lead the development and review of key process engineering deliverables, including:
• Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)
• Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
• Mass and Energy Balances
• Process Design Basis Documents
• Equipment Specifications and Datasheets
• Perform and validate process calculations, hydraulic calculations, heat transfer calculations and equipment sizing.
• Provide technical leadership across reactor systems, filtration, drying, mixing and thermal separation technologies.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, procedures and best practices.

Project Delivery

• Act as Lead Process Engineer on multidisciplinary engineering projects.
• Coordinate activities with mechanical, electrical, automation and project management teams.
• Ensure engineering deliverables are completed on schedule and within budget.
• Support design reviews, FATs, SATs, commissioning and start-up activities.

Customer & Technical Support

• Provide technical support during proposal and tender phases.
• Participate in customer meetings, workshops and design reviews.
• Support process optimisation, troubleshooting, debottlenecking and scale-up activities.
• Develop process solutions utilising specialist process equipment and technologies.

Safety & Compliance

• Lead HAZOPs, risk assessments and process safety reviews.
• Ensure compliance with applicable engineering standards and regulations.
• Promote process safety and operational excellence throughout project delivery.
• Support environmental, health and safety initiatives.

Essential Experience

• Degree qualified in Chemical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant process engineering experience gained within:
• Chemical Processing
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Specialty Chemicals
• Process Equipment Manufacturing
• EPC Project Environments
• Proven experience delivering and leading complex process engineering projects.
• Strong process design capability and equipment sizing experience.
• Hands-on experience developing and reviewing PFDs and P&IDs.
• Strong understanding of:
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Heat & Mass Transfer
• Fluid Flow
• Separation Processes
• Filtration & Drying Technologies
• Process Safety Engineering

Desired Experience

• Strong general process engineering background.
• Experience supporting commissioning and start-up activities.
• Knowledge of batch processing and reaction technologies.
• Experience with glass-lined equipment, filtration technologies or solid-liquid separation processes.
• Familiarity with Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, ChemCAD or equivalent simulation software.
• Knowledge of ATEX, PED, GMP, ASME, API and related industry standards.

If you are an experienced Process Engineer or Lead Process Engineer looking for an immediate-start contract role where you can make a significant impact on high-value chemical and pharmaceutical projects, we'd love to hear from you.