Technologist: Chemical Engineering at Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Job Purpose:

The incumbent shall be expected to provide specialised technical and analytical expertise related to the objectives of the project and will amongst others anchor the following:

• Manage the installations, commissioning, operation and running of the following equipment, but not limited to, for analytical purposes: ICP-AES, TG-DTA, XRD, SEM-EDX, IC, Laser scattering particle size analyzer, IR Gas analyzer (CO2 and other impurities in gas phase), Bipolar membrane electrodialysis equipment, Ultrapure water production equipment, Solid digestion equipment etc.
• Calibration, operation and maintenance of equipment for the Chemical Engineering Department
• Maintenance scheduling of equipment
• Inventory management
• Budget management relating to the cost centres of the project.
• Demonstration to staff and students; assist and perform analysis for UG and PG students that need results.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Science or Engineering.
• Minimum three years relevant experience in managing, operating, and maintaining sophisticated analytical equipment such as ICP, TD-DTA, IR, SEM-EDX, XRD and related financial bookkeeping, and administration.

Key Performance Areas / Principal Accountabilities:

Technical:

• Undertake installations, commissioning, and day to day management, operation and maintenance of specific instrumentation as required.
• Set up and operates electronic, mechanical or hand operated laboratory equipment.
• Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests and analyses using specialized techniques.
• Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus and prepare solutions of gas or liquid, reagents, and sample formulations.
• Compile records, reports, and interpret analytical data or experimental results.
• Develop and conduct methods of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates, and products.
• Perform quality control checks on products and systems.
• Develop chemical engineering processes, construction, inspection and maintenance, and the development of standards, procedures and health and safety measures.
• Monitor progress of the project and make recommendations for changes where necessary.
• Provide technical support to ensure that products produced and/ or processes are defect-free.
• Conduct research on new technologies related to the project.
• Conduct experiments to test products under real-world conditions to gather data about how they perform.
• Demonstrate to students on the practical application of modern analytical instrumentation and the interpretation of data.
• Contribute towards the review of assessments methods for training in analytical techniques.
• Implementation of an evaluation system to determine learning success in analytical techniques.
• Mentor students at all levels as required in the use of modern analytical instrumentation.

Administration:

• Undertake all administrative duties related to installation, managing, operating, calibration, and maintaining instrumentation, including ordering, receivals, overseeing repairs of analytical instruments.
• Provide a service for external users of the instrumentation for cost recovery.

Internal/External Liaison:

• Participate in co-operative education activities related to modern instrumental operation and data interpretation.
• Develop and manage a process for access to equipment by paying clients/ external users.

Research:

• Be involved with and support analytical needs of all students and staff needing access to the equipment including all postgraduate student research.
• Be involved in and support research related to the SATREP project and instrumentation.
• Staff and postgraduate student training related to the equipment as required, applicable and approved.

Assisting with the inputs related to analytical requirements of:

• The curriculum programmes and research that are linked to Chemical Engineering relevant departments from other faculties in CPUT.
• Participation in Quality Assurance activities,
• Personal & professional development,
• Assisting with WIL and planning of service-learning initiatives,
• Do staff and student training on equipment.
• Assist staff, students and any relevant stakeholder with analysis required.

Competencies;

• Demonstrable technical skills (to operate, understand and interpret engineering plans, designs and develop new products and processes; and troubleshoot and maintain analytical instruments)
• Demonstrable and well-developed analytical skills
• Quality assurance
• Health and safety awareness
• Patience and persistence
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to keep abreast of new technologies and developments.
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Language proficiency: English and any other official language,
• Computer literacy
• Student focused.
• Coaching and mentoring skills
• Strong management skills,
• Ability to manage change.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Financial management skills
• Ability to interpret acts, laws and procedures.
• Project management.

Additional:

• Assistance with hands-on practical projects and exercises for undergraduate students in the Labs.
• Assist with the development of subject material related to application of modern analytical instrumentation.
• Contribution to team research and their administration.
• Assisting with departmental administration.
• Contribute actively to analytical requirements that support innovative research, teaching, and learning.
• Marketing of the instrumentational facility to external users