Technology Professional

Umicore; Olen; Remote; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Umicore—Electro Optic Materials in Belgium (Olen) seeks a Technology Professional HPC – NSB Pyro to drive continuous improvement in pyrometallurgical processes. You will lead process and technology projects, document knowledge for operational handover, and collaborate with EHS and capacity teams to ensure safe, efficient production.

The role requires a technical degree, 5+ years in related fields, and fluency in English and Dutch, with a hands‑on, collaborative leadership style to drive changes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Environmental Sciences, EHS or another technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years in R&D, Process Engineering, production or project management in a chemical/metallurgical setting.
• Fluent in English and Dutch. Strong analytical and collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Investigate pyrometallurgical processes in HPC‑NSB Pyro, driving safety, cost and capacity improvements.
• Lead process and technology projects from concept to industrialization using PM principles.
• Build expertise in HPC‑NSB Pyro processes and document knowledge for operations handover.
• Collaborate with EHS and Capacity & Slow Moving Stock program owners to align priorities.
• Provide technical input for new installations, expansions and MOC actions.
• Support root cause investigations for EHS and process safety incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Support MOC activities for new/modified installations with EHS integration.

Skills

English

Dutch

Analytical thinking

Continuous improvement

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Environmental Sciences, EHS

Job description

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Electro Optic Materials

Power in space. Vision at night. Coatings thinner than human hair. Umicore is a world leader in material solutions for the space, optics and electronics sectors – enabling every day cutting‑edge technologies. We guarantee our customers secure access to supply, plus recycling technologies that give materials a new lease of life. To produce materials with even higher performance, and provide recycling to new markets, we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new processes. Which is where you come in.

Your Key Accountabilities

Within HPC (High Purity Chemicals), a wide range of Germanium containing feed materials are converted into high‑purity germanium products through pyro/hydro metallurgy and refining processes. These products are essential for the optical fiber industry and for further internal processing into material solutions that help people connect around the world.

As Technology Professional HPC – NSB Pyro, you will investigate the pyrometallurgical processes taking place in this department, driving towards continuous improvement on safety, cost and Ge‑treatment capacity in the industrial processes on the shopfloor.

Main responsibilities are:

• Identify process improvements through a combination of data analysis, subject matter knowledge, empirical observations, and gathered insights from the CRD, operational, EHS and maintenance teams.
• Lead process & technology improvement projects, using established project management principles, taking improvements from idea to industrialization.
• Build knowledge and expertise in the pyrometallurgical processes taking place at HPC-NSB Pyro, and document this newfound knowledge in existing process and safety documentation (process description, PHA, PRA, …), and ensure hand‑over and training towards Operations.
• Work closely with the EHS and Capacity & Slow Moving Stock program owners, aligning priorities and findings.
• Provide required technical input for new installations, expansion projects and Management of Change actions.
• Support root cause investigations for significant EHS, process safety or installation‑related incidents and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Support Management of Change activities for new and modified installations, ensuring EHS requirements are built in from concept through commissioning and handover to Operations.

Who we are looking for

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Environmental Sciences, EHS or another relevant technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in Research & Development, Process Engineering, production or project management within a chemical or metallurgical manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of industrial processes and installations, with the ability to translate technical requirements into practical improvement actions.
• Fluent in English and Dutch.
• An analytical way of thinking, supported by curiosity, technical depth and a continuous improvement mindset.
• A collaborative spirit and the leadership maturity to steer teams, challenge constructively and create commitment across departments and hierarchy levels.
• Strong communicator along with a hands‑on approach to manage and implement change on the shopfloor.

What we offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world‑leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?