Title:  Principal Process Engineer

Tenova, a Techint Group company, is a worldwide partner for sustainable, innovative and reliable solutions in the metals and also through the well-known TAKRAF and DELKOR brands in the mining industries. Tenova leverages a workforce of over 2,500 forward-thinking professionals located in 18 countries across 5 continents, who design technologies and develop services that help companies reduce costs, save energy, limit environmental impact and improve working conditions.

VACANCY 

Principal Process Engineer

Fulltime Permanent position- Closing Date 9 May 2026

Tenova Pyromet

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We are looking for a Professional Engineer willing to join our Pyrometallurgical Process team, with a motivation to work within an international and challenging environment. The purpose of the Principal Process Engineer role is to provide strategic technical leadership, advanced process engineering expertise, and innovative design input across all business stages—from tender development to project execution. The role ensures the approval and integrity of process technologies applied in projects, while continuously driving process improvement, development, and the adoption of best-practice methodologies within the organization.

In addition, the Principal Process Engineer plays a critical role in guiding research and development initiatives, strengthening collaboration with both internal stakeholders and external clients, and contributing to market intelligence through engagement with the Sales team.

A key component of the role is to develop, mentor, and motivate the process engineering team, ensuring strong technical capability, professional growth, and the achievement of departmental objectives across the various process markets Tenova Pyromet work in, and grow into.

Your role will be to:

• Lead the development and delivery of all process engineering outputs, including process simulations (via Factsage, HSC and other process simulation software as needed), mass and energy balances, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Block Flow Diagrams (BFDs), and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), control narrative and functional descriptions.
• Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and technical integrity of all process design documents, including control philosophies, design criteria, and associated engineering deliverables.
• Provide advanced process engineering support during tender preparation, ensuring that all fundamental process design requirements are accurately defined, compliant with project specifications, and aligned with client expectations.
• Collaborate with the Sales team by contributing technical expertise for tender submissions, market studies, presentations, and client engagement activities.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate solutions for novel, complex, or less common processes, ensuring alignment with industry best practices and emerging technologies.
• Drive continuous innovation and process development initiatives to enhance plant performance, operational reliability, and overall technology offering.
• Provide on-site technical support during commissioning, start-up, and post–switch-in phases, ensuring adherence to approved commissioning plans and site procedures. The Principal Process Engineer is integral in ensuring successful plant start-up, and achievement of the project process guarantee requirements.
• Verify equipment installation and functionality by reviewing P&IDs, equipment specifications, and relevant plant drawings during commissioning.
• Support clients with operational assistance post start-up, including troubleshooting process issues and providing guidance on process optimization (may involve shift work where required).
• Assist the project manager and project engineering team by resolving process-related technical issues, offering expertise across all project phases from design to execution.
• Participate in and contribute to post-project reviews and lessons-learned workshops, ensuring continuous improvement in process engineering methodologies and project delivery.
• Provide technical input to ensure that Performance Guarantees are accurately understood, translated into design requirements, and achieved during plant commissioning and final acceptance.
• Contribute to R&D activities, including conceptual studies, pilot testing, data analysis, and the development of new technologies or enhancements to existing processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality assurance procedures.
• Support risk assessments, HAZID/HAZOPs, and other safety reviews by providing expert process engineering insight.
• Interface with clients and key stakeholders to provide technical guidance, address process-related queries, and ensure alignment throughout project execution.
• Mentor, guide, and support junior and intermediate process engineers, fostering technical capability development and ensuring high-quality engineering output across the team.

Competencies:

• Advanced Process Design
• Process Modelling & Simulation via FactSage, HSC Chemistry™ and other process simulation software as may be needed
• Commissioning experience on pilot – commercial scale Pyrometallurgical processes
• Technical Problem-Solving
• Tender/Proposal Input
• Process Development
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Decision-Making
• Commercial Awareness
• Market Insight & Collaboration
• Client Relationship Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Collaboration

Required qualifications & experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or Metallurgical Engineering (or equivalent).
• Preferred: Master’s Degree or PhD in Process Engineering, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Professional Registration: Advantageous (e.g., Pr.Eng with ECSA or equivalent).
• 10–15 years’ experience in process engineering, preferably in mining, minerals processing, or heavy industry.
• Demonstrated experience in leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Extensive experience in process design, flowsheet development, mass/energy balances, and process simulation.
• Proven involvement in technology evaluation, process optimisation, and R&D initiatives, including real-world test work campaigns.
• Strong experience in engaging with clients, providing technical support, and participating in site-based problem solving or commissioning.
• Prior responsibility for mentoring and developing process engineers at various levels.

Workplace: Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Must be able to travel internationally.

Preference will be given to female and Affirmative Action candidates