Lead Plant Engineer

Royal IHC; Kinderdijk, Nieuw-Lekkerland; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 vacation days

Profit-sharing scheme

Home office allowance

Travel allowance

Pension plan

Training budget

IHC Academy access

In-house gym access

Disability insurance

Job summary

Royal IHC is seeking a Lead Plant Engineer in Kinderdijk to translate process requirements into integrated plant layouts and engineering solutions. You will work with process, piping, structural and electrical engineers to deliver safe, reliable installations.

The role covers conceptual and basic design, PFD/P&ID development, equipment layouts and cross-disciplinary coordination across international teams. English skills are essential; Dutch is a plus.

Qualifications

• Higher professional education (BSc) or MSc in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Proven experience in industrial plant engineering or heavy industrial projects.
• Understanding of PFDs, P&IDs and plant layouts.
• Experience with 3D plant design environments and relevant codes.

Responsibilities

• Translate PFDs into practical plant configurations and equipment layouts.
• Develop and review P&IDs and define plant layouts and maintainability concepts.
• Develop piping routing concepts and coordinate interfaces with process and mechanical systems.
• Coordinate electrical routing with Electrical Engineers and support structural activities.
• Prepare design philosophies, equipment specs, layout drawings and interfaces.
• Ensure integration between process, mechanical, piping, structural and electrical disciplines.
• Participate in design reviews, HAZOPs and multidisciplinary workshops.
• Support commissioning, FAT/SAT activities and technical validation.
• Coordinate work packages with international stakeholders and partners.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in industrial plant design.

Skills

Systems thinking

Multidisciplinary design

English communication

Dutch language (advantage)

Project coordination

Education

BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AVEVA E3D

PDMS

Plant 3D

Job description

Your job

We are looking for a Lead Plant Engineer with experience in industrial plant design who can translate process requirements into practical and well-engineered solutions.

• Location: Kinderdijk
• Time type: Full time

You will play a key role in the development of industrial installations, working closely with process, piping, structural and electrical engineers to create integrated designs that are safe, reliable and fit for purpose.

What you'll do:

Contribute to the conceptual and basic design of industrial plants by transforming process requirements into integrated plant layouts and engineering solutions.

You will support the development of process flow schemes, plant arrangements, piping concepts, equipment layouts and multidisciplinary design philosophies that provide the foundation for detailed engineering.

Responsibilities:

• Translate Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) into practical plant configurations and equipment arrangements
• Support the development and review of Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
• Define plant layouts, equipment positioning and maintainability concepts
• Develop piping routing concepts and coordinate interfaces with process and mechanical systems
• Coordinate electrical routing requirements in collaboration with Electrical Engineers
• Support structural engineering activities by defining equipment loads, supporting structures and spatial requirements
• Prepare design philosophies, equipment specifications, layout drawings and interface documents
• Ensure integration between process, mechanical, piping, structural and electrical disciplines
• Participate in design reviews, HAZOPs, constructability reviews and multidisciplinary workshops
• Support commissioning, FAT/SAT activities and technical validation where required
• Contribute to technical delivery by coordinating work packages with international stakeholders and engineering partners
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation within industrial plant design and engineering

What we're looking for:

• Higher professional education (BSc) or university degree (MSc) in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
• Proven experience in industrial plant engineering, process installations or heavy industrial projects
• Sound understanding of process design principles and the relationship between PFDs, P&IDs and physical plant layouts
• Experience with equipment arrangement, piping routing and multidisciplinary plant design
• Familiarity with structural concepts and coordination of supporting steel structures
• Experience working in industries such as mining, minerals processing, chemical, petrochemical, energy, offshore or industrial manufacturing
• Strong systems-thinking capability and ability to understand complex multidisciplinary interfaces
• Experience with 3D plant design environments such as AVEVA E3D, PDMS, Plant 3D or similar platforms
• Familiarity with relevant design codes and standards for piping and industrial installations
• Experience in greenfield and brownfield industrial projects
• Ability to work effectively in international project teams and coordinate stakeholders from multiple engineering disciplines
• Strong communication skills in English; proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage
• Based in the Netherlands or holding a valid EU work permit

Why join us?

• Work on innovative projects that make a real impact.
• Collaborate with a team of skilled professionals.
• Enjoy a supportive and inclusive work environment.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

What we offer:

• Gross monthly salary between € 4.500 and +€ 6.600 plus 8% holiday allowance depending on relevant working experience
• Plenty of time off: 40 vacation days for a full-time position, with the option to buy or sell additional leave.
• A profit-sharing scheme that lets you share in Royal IHC's success.
• Flexible working: A home office allowance of €2,45 per day + a one-time payment of €750 to set up your workspace.
• Travel allowance of €0.21 per kilometer for the days you commute to the office.
• A solid pension plan through PME.
• Room to grow: Numerous internal career opportunities and a training budget + access to our IHC Academy to support your development.
• Health and energy: Unlimited access to our in-house gym (in exchange for the sustainable employability day).
• Royal IHC takes care of things you'd rather not worry about, but that are still important—such as disability insurance, partner pension, and the option to have additional healthcare costs reimbursed through our Social Fund.

About IHC Mining

At IHC Mining, we develop (innovative) solutions and equipment across dry‑to‑wet mining, underwater remote mining, deep‑sea mining, and urban mining. Supporting customers throughout the entire mining cycle is a core part of our work — from early‑phase project evaluation studies, through engineering, delivery, and after‑sales support, all the way to mine closure. Within this global playing field, the needs of mining customers are translated into fully integrated solutions, achieved through close collaboration with colleagues in Brazil, South Africa, and Australia. We ensure that valuable minerals are recovered in a manner that aligns seamlessly with the environmental, operational, and economic requirements of each client. This includes minerals such as, but not limited to, mineral sands, silica sands, and alluvial and sedimentary deposits (gold, tin, diamond, potash, lithium) — including those that serve as key inputs for high‑value battery materials. In addition, we support tailings removal and re‑handling where secondary mineral recovery is required.