Process Engineer

At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops, we're shaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food and fuel. We’re a global Ag Tech powerhouse, headquartered in the United States, with passionate, local experts collaborating with farmers to deliver solutions that create market opportunities. We unite precision breeding, advanced biotechnology trait choice, and digital platforms for unmatched in-field performance. Our seeds help mitigate risks such as disease, insect, weed, and extreme weather pressures, all while promoting sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance our planet. Join our mission of revolutionizing food security and transforming agriculture.

Position Summary:

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta’s Production & Supply Team is seeking a Process Engineer at our site in Brits, South Africa. This role plays a key part in new product and technology integration, data-driven performance improvement, manufacturing excellence and drives continuous improvement in safety, quality, delivery, cost and efficiency by monitoring plant performance, identifying bottlenecks, implementing process engineering solutions. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing specialist chemical formulation, process engineering expertise to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of manufacturing plants.

The role will be OHSA 8(2)(i) appointee for the site.

Accountabilities:

• Championing manufacturing excellence by driving Syngenta Production Systems (SPS) development on site to improve OEE and TEEP standards
• Driving improvement projects through continuous improvement processes
• Identifying, designing and implementing process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, safety, and cost performance while supporting sustainable operational excellence across the formulation and Fill & Pack plants
• Managing process optimization projects, demonstrating Knowledge in engineering design requirements
• Providing equipment specification for fabrication and liaising with design contractors following the Syngenta standard project process
• Conducting technical feasibility studies and providing process engineering and manufacturing inputs for CAPEX projects as site technology knowledge owner
• Manage new technology integration
• Collecting and analysing process data to identify trends and define opportunities for improvement
• Collaborating with production supervisors and technical solutions, to actively gather shop floor ideas and issues and translate them into practical improvements and solutions
• Being a key player in the site’s process safety management; Leading process risk assessments (for eg. PHA or HAZOP), MOC coordination, root cause analysis (RCA) and incident investigations for HSEQ deviations
• Reviewing, updating and maintaining product and process documentation (P&ID’s, Cause & Effect diagrams, Control Philosophies, data sheets, etc) to drive compliance and operational excellence
• Providing technical engineering expertise to Production and other site functions to enable effective site operations
• Conducting technical training for production operators on equipment operations and process parameters
• Troubleshooting Quality and OEE performance issues across the Formulation and Fill & Pack lines, using RCA methodologies to identify root causes of production deviations, quality issues, equipment failures and implement effective corrective actions
• Adopting a safety-first mindset while adhering to all applicable SHEQ and Engineering policies, procedures and guidelines
• Supporting shift teams with technical guidance during production runs, start-ups and changeovers
• Providing high-quality, practical advice and sound judgement by applying scientific methods, theoretical knowledge and experience from comparable situations
• Taking ownership of resolving complex or recurring process-related operational issues and ensuring effective and sustainable corrective actions are implemented
• Leading new product introductions and product transfers across sites, ensuring smooth implementation and operational readiness while collaborating with relevant stakeholders
• Maintaining accurate records of plant capability, capacity and improvement initiatives in alignment with site-team priorities
• Supporting the Production Order process to ensure execution and continuity

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a a chemical manufacturing environment
• Solid hands-on experience in driving Continuous Improvement and analysing data to improve efficiency
• Demonstrated technical equipment proficiency for eg, pumps, bead mills, chiller, boilers and compressors
• Ability to multi-task and flexible to change
• Ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions
• Project management and implementation
• Practical and theoretical knowledge of chemical processes and manufacturing
• Six sigma and SAP knowledge (Advantageous)
• AutoCad (Advantageous)
• Flexibility to occasionally work across different shifts and hours

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

#LI-Onsite