Mechanical Engineer

Donaldson; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hospitalization insurance

Group insurance

32 days leave (vacation)

Meal vouchers

Eco vouchers

Bike lease

Job summary

Donaldson is seeking a hands-on Engineer to support the start-up, operation, and continuous improvement of a newly installed polymeric membrane pilot line in Leuven. You will develop, optimize, and document casting and post-treatment processes, perform quality testing, and generate data to ensure traceability and reproducibility.

A safety-conscious, structured engineer with mechanical and electrical affinity is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical discipline (Mechanical/Process/Materials).
• Experience in lab, pilot-line, or process development environments.
• Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude with complex equipment.
• Experience with polymer solutions or lab processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support R&D to develop and improve products, processes and technologies.
• Operate the membrane pilot line per procedures and safety rules.
• Prepare polymer dope solutions and conduct casting and post-treatment.
• Record conditions and results for traceability and reproducibility.
• Troubleshoot pilot equipment and coordinate technical support.
• Inspect, clean, and calibrate lab and pilot equipment.
• Perform membrane characterization tests.
• Maintain safe work practices and quality compliance.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Process Engineering

Materials Science

Electrical aptitude

Laboratory documentation

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical/Process/Materials

Tools

Membrane characterization equipment

Pilot-line equipment

Lab data collection tools

Job description

Donaldson is committed to solving the world's most complex filtration challenges. Together, we make cool things. As an established technology and innovation leader, we are continuously evolving to meet the filtration needs of our changing world. Join a culture of collaboration and innovation that matters and a chance to learn, effect change, and make meaningful contributions at work and in communities.

We are seeking a hands-on Engineer to support the start-up, operation, and continuous improvement of a newly installed polymeric media development pilot line. The successful candidate will be closely involved in developing, optimizing, and documenting membrane manufacturing processes, from dope preparation to casting and post-treatment. The role also covers quality testing , data generation, and procedure development.

The pilot line is part of a big investment in a new membrane laboratory and scale-up capability. It will support the development of novel membrane technologies with the potential to significantly contribute to Donaldson's future Life Sciences portfolio.

This role requires a structured, safety-conscious engineer with strong mechanical and electrical affinity , excellent laboratory discipline, and the ability to work with delicate materials and complex equipment in a pilot-scale R&D environment.

What's in it for you

• You will join an international and growing technology team working on a novel membrane platform with strong visibility across Donaldson
• This role offers the opportunity to help bring a newly developed technology from laboratory scale to pilot scale and to shape how the new line is operated from the beginning.
• Collaborate with international engineering teams.
• Enjoy a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package, including hospitalization and group insurance, 20 vacation days plus 12 additional leave days (32 days in total), meal and eco vouchers, a net allowance, and the option to lease a bike.
• Be part of a vibrant workplace culture with plenty of social events throughout the year: from summer BBQs and family days with great food and drinks to quiz nights, charity pancake events, and sporting activities such as our annual volleyball tournament and the C-Valley Run. And that's just the beginning!

Role Responsibilities

• Support R&D activities to develop and improve products, processes, and technologies.
• Operate the membrane pilot line in line with approved procedures and safety requirements.
• Prepare polymer dope solutions and perform membrane casting and post-treatment.
• Record process conditions, observations, and test results to ensure traceability and reproducibility.
• Troubleshoot pilot equipment and coordinate support for complex technical issues.
• Inspect, clean, maintain, and calibrate laboratory and pilot-scale equipment.
• Perform laboratory testing using specialized membrane characterization equipment.
• Maintain a safe workplace and comply with all quality and safety requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Relevant technical experience in a laboratory, pilot-line, manufacturing, process-development, or comparable engineering environment.
• Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude and confidence working directly with complex equipment.
• Practical experience with chemical solution preparation or laboratory processes.
• Ability to work carefully and consistently with delicate materials and precise process conditions.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Professional proficiency in English.
• Willingness to work predominantly on-site in the Leuven laboratory.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience commissioning, operating, or maintaining pilot-scale or production equipment.
• Experience calibrating laboratory instruments, process sensors, or measurement equipment.
• Familiarity with polymer processing, membranes, coatings, or thin-film technologies.
• Basic knowledge of statistics and experimental data analysis.
• Basic programming or data-processing skills, for example in Python, VBA, or similar tools.
• Experience developing operating procedures, test methods, or technical documentation.

Employment opportunities for positions in the United States may require use of information which is subject to the export control regulations of the United States. Hiring decisions for such positions are required by law to be made in compliance with these regulations. Applicants for employment opportunities in other countries must be able to meet the comparable export control requirements of that country and of the United States.

Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity and/or expression, or other status protected by law.