Overview
Bioprocessing Engineer Jobs in City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa at Flybox®
Title: Bioprocessing Engineer
Company: Flybox®
Location: City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Bioprocessing Engineer
Engineering Department | Cape Town, South Africa | Hybrid
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Department: Engineering
Location: Cape Town, South Africa (Hybrid — on-site at Nando’s flagship project in Western Cape + home working)
Reports To: Lead Engineer
Salary: See Compensation section
Travel: Regular — client sites across South Africa, UAE, and Europe; China travel required several times a year
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent
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About Flybox
Flybox is a South Africa-based engineering company at the forefront of Insect Waste Management (IWM) technology. We design, manufacture, and commission modular insect farming systems — from container-scale units to our flagship Fortress factory systems — that convert organic waste into premium agricultural commodities at economics that compete with fishmeal and biogas. We have delivered 11 projects across four continents and are now entering our most ambitious growth phase, with high-profile commercial Fortress installations underway and a strong global sales pipeline.
The Role
Processing is where insect farming either makes money or loses it. The drying line, the separation system, the depackaging setup, the oil rendering train — these are the decisions that determine whether a client’s product is sellable or not. Flybox is building out its processing capability and we need someone who has lived in this world. You will be the in-house expert on post-processing technology for Black Soldier Fly larvae — from whole dried larvae and defatted meal through to oil, puree, and frass. You will evaluate equipment, specify processing lines, support client product strategy, and be on the ground during commissioning to make sure the output is what the market actually wants. Climate control is handled elsewhere in the team. This role is purely about what happens after the larvae leave the rearing system.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, specify, and integrate post-processing lines for Fortress installations — including drying (microwave, convection, drum), defatting, oil rendering, particle reduction, puree production, and frass handling.
- Evaluate and select third-party processing equipment (mills, presses, dryers, depackagers, silos, conveyors) for integration into client-specific system configurations.
- Conduct due diligence on equipment suppliers: site visits, performance verification, and warranty negotiation.
- Advise the sales and operations teams on processing strategy for specific client projects — translating market requirements (pet food, aquafeed, fertiliser) into engineering specifications.
- Support clients during commissioning and ramp-up to ensure processing lines produce output that meets commercial specifications.
- Develop and maintain processing SOPs, equipment selection guides, and auto-quoting templates for standard processing configurations.
- Stay current on processing technology trends in the insect and adjacent food/feed processing industries.
- Travel to client sites for installation, commissioning, and ramp-up support — typically four to six weeks per deployment.
- Extended travel to China required — working with our manufacturing partner on processing equipment integration and system validation.
What You Bring
- Processing Experience: Minimum 5 years’ hands-on experience with industrial processing equipment in insect farming, food processing, feed manufacturing, or a closely adjacent biological/agricultural industry. You have specified, commissioned, and troubleshot real processing lines.
- Insect Industry Knowledge: Direct experience with BSF or other insect processing is strongly preferred. You understand how larval composition, moisture content, and feedstock variation affect processing outcomes.
- Equipment Expertise: Deep familiarity with at least two of the following: drying technology (microwave, drum, convection), oil rendering and pressing, particle reduction (mills, grinders, shredders), depackaging systems, separation and sieving, waste handling and silos.
- Engineering Credentials: Degree in Process, Chemical, Food, Mechanical, or Agricultural Engineering. Equivalent industry experience will be considered.
- Product Strategy Awareness: You understand that the right processing line depends on the market, not just the biology. You can advise a client on whether whole dried larvae, defatted meal, or puree makes commercial sense for their specific context.
- Supplier Management: Experience evaluating and negotiating with capital equipment suppliers, including international procurement.
- China Travel: Willing and able to travel to China for extended periods — this is a core part of the role.
- Communication: Clear, confident communicator. You can explain a complex processing decision to a non-engineer and write a concise technical specification.
The Opportunity
- Own the processing function at a company that is redefining insect farming economics globally.
- Work at the frontier of a sector where processing knowledge is genuinely scarce and highly valued.
- Direct influence on product strategy — your recommendations shape what clients build and sell.
- International exposure from day one — UAE, Europe, China, and across Africa.
- Flat team, fast decisions, and real commercial impact.
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Compensation
Salary range: ZAR 600,000 – ZAR 800,000 per annum. The South African market benchmark for a Process Engineer with 5–10 years’ experience in a specialist food/feed/agricultural processing environment typically sits between ZAR 450,000 and ZAR 800,000 CTC. Performance bonus available. Travel and accommodation fully covered on trips.
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Flybox is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring solely based on competence. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.