Principal Engineer: Water Unit - Re-Advert
Listing reference: minte_000141
Listing status: Under Review
Apply by: 1 September 2023
Position summary
Industry: Scientific, Research & Development
Job category: Chemical Engineering
Location: Randburg
Contract: Permanent
Remuneration: Market Related
EE position: Yes
Introduction
An exciting career opportunity exists at Mintek for a Principal Engineer to join the Water Nanotechnology Unit within the Nanotechnology Group. The position entails the development of nano-enabled adsorption and filtration technologies for water and wastewater remediation. Using her/his skill set, the candidate will work with the team to manage and conduct technology and product development activities in support of commercialization of new products for application in water and wastewater treatment. All suitably qualified and experienced candidates are invited to apply.
Job description
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:
- Conduct technology and product development for application in water and wastewater treatment. The tasks include (but not limited to) materials synthesis process designing and engineering, scaling-up, techno economic evaluations, prototype designing and validation processes
- Generate ideas for new products and better ways to manufacture new and existing products.
- Plan methodology, equipment, material requirements and implement laboratory operations for the purpose of developing products and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards
- Analyse the root cause of a wide variety of failures related to issues arising in product development and validation processes
- Identify inefficiencies in scale-up of processes, develop and implement process and product improvement measures
- Review new product plans and make recommendations for material selection based on design objectives
- Prepare and monitor project plans and budgets and produce professional reports, peer-reviewed papers and presentations for local and international conferences
- Contribute to the innovation outputs (ie. technologies, prototypes, products, and patents) of the Division
- Provide mentorship and training to Group members and promote competence, confidence, discipline and harmony within the Group.
- Engage with industry and identify needs of clients, assist in identifying opportunities for technology development and commercialisation
- Ensure long-term sustainability of projects by ensuring innovative and relevant R&D is undertaken to produce commercially viable new technologies and products
- Ensure the Group maintains the highest level of competence in the area of Nanotechnology in water treatment thereby ensuring the Unit provides solutions to water related challenges in the country
- Assist the Group Head and the Unit Leader in providing technical expertise and direction to the Unit in conceptualising and the commercialization of water treatment products and services
- Devise commercial strategies and draft targets, have the targets approved for the Unit, and ensure that adequate work is done and progress achieved to meet them.
- Obtain sufficient business from and in collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), other government entities (TIA, DTIC, IDC, etc.) and different industries by providing and promoting national competitive expertise
- Plan and write proposals aimed at bringing revenue and ensuring sustainability of the Unit which includes participation in discussions with clients or internal co-ordinators or specialists or external funding applications.
- Build collaborations with universities and other research institutes for academic modelling projects and postgraduate student support
- Mentor and supervise postgraduate students
- Must stay up to date and informed at an expert technical level with technology and business in the areas of the Division’s work
- Ensure continuous growth and the provision of specialised training of junior staff to ensure that the professional skills are acquired to develop, deliver and support advanced process control products and technologies.
- Ensure that SHEQ procedures are strictly adhered to and that project work is executed with maximum overall technical efficiency
Minimum requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
- Masters in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Materials Engineering, and related fields is a requirement
- PhD will be advantageous
- Should you hold a Master’s degree and be successful for the position, you will be required to register and complete a PhD
- Registration with ECSA is a requirement
BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES:
- Accountability and Responsibility
- Good managerial and leadership skills including conflict resolution
- Ability to motivate and inspire, nurture talent, and team building
- Be able to work under pressure
- Excellent organising and administration skills
- Ability to use influence and persuasion to further the Group’s goals to internal and external stakeholders
- Effective communication of work, plans, and progress using written and verbal communication
- Ability to efficiently manage and prioritize multiple projects and coordinate material exchanges with end users
- Ability to network at a high level and have good technical acumen.
- Must be willing to travel both locally and internationally.
SALARY PACKAGE: Negotiable CLOSING DATE: 01 September 2023