Process Engineer

DUDOK; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ChainCraft is building a first-of-its-kind full-scale plant for the production of bio-based fatty acids from organic waste. The FS1 project is based in Amsterdam with significant on-site work at Ter Apelkanaal during construction and commissioning.

The role leads technically complex process areas from detailed design through to start-up and handover. You bring at least five years in process engineering, with a strong thermodynamics and heat/mass transfer background, and experience with process

Qualifications

• Five+ years of hands-on experience in process engineering, design and scale-up on complex capital projects.
• Experience in oleochemical, green chemical or food industries is a plus.
• Strong communication skills in English; Dutch is a plus.
• Willingness to work from both Amsterdam and Ter Apelkanaal with on-site presence during construction and commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Own assigned process areas and key technologies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Design, scale-up and optimize process technologies, reviewing vendor packages and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Provide construction, commissioning and startup support with on-site presence as required.
• Ensure health, safety and environmental compliance within technical designs.
• Maintain clear technical documentation including calculations and operating philosophies.

Skills

Process ownership

Scale-up

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Mass transfer

Process simulation

English communication

Education

MSc in Chemical Engineering

MSc in related field (Biotechnology/Comparable)

Tools

Process simulation software

Job description

ChainCraft is building a first-of-its-kind full-scale plant for the production of bio-based fatty acids from organic waste. FS1, located in Ter Apelkanaal, is the flagship project that takes our proven technology from pilot and demonstration scale to full commercial reality. The project is in active execution and runs through to delivery in 2028.

We are looking for an experienced Process Engineer to join our engineering team on an interim basis and take on substantive ownership of key process areas within FS1. This is not a support role. You will be in the lead on technically complex systems from day one, working closely with contractors, technology suppliers and internal specialists across mechanical, piping and process disciplines.

Your role

You will take technical ownership of assigned process areas and key technologies within FS1, contributing across the full project lifecycle from detailed design through to commissioning and start-up. You are based in Amsterdam and spend significant time on site in Ter Apelkanaal during construction and commissioning phases.

You work closely with contractors, technology suppliers, project managers and internal engineering specialists. You are comfortable taking the lead in technical discussions, challenging assumptions and translating complex process requirements into practical engineering solutions.

In this position, you will:

• Process engineering ownership:you prepare, review and maintain engineering deliverables including PFDs, P&IDs, mass and heat balances, stream tables, operating and control philosophies, process calculations and design basis. You maintain technical ownership of assigned process areas and contribute to technical discussions with contractors, suppliers and engineering partners.
• Design, scale-up and optimisation of key process technologies:you translate R&D results and conceptual process requirements into practical engineering designs. You critically challenge the design basis, identify process risks and propose mitigations. You review vendor packages and lead technical clarifications to ensure compliance with functional and regulatory requirements.
• Construction, commissioning and start-up support:you are a subject matter expert for your assigned process areas. You troubleshoot issues, support installation activities and validate system functionality during commissioning and start-up. This includes regular presence on site in Ter Apelkanaal.
• Health, safety and environmental compliance:you integrate safety, permitting and regulatory requirements into the technical design. You identify process and environmental risks, support functional safety activities and contribute to emissions reduction and energy efficiency considerations.
• Engineering documentation:you maintain clear and structured technical documentation including functional descriptions, operating philosophies, traceable process calculations and process change registers.

The process areas and technologies central to this assignment:

• Thermal and mass transfer separation equipment
• Falling film evaporation
• Fractional distillation
• Utilities: compressors, cooling water systems, water treatment, gas and chemical scrubbers for emission control
• Process simulation

About you

You bring at least five years of hands-on experience in process engineering, process design and scale-up within complex capital projects, with experience in the oleochemical, green chemical or food industry considered a plus. You have demonstrable experience with the unit operations listed above, including scale-up and implementation in cooperation with technology and package unit suppliers. You combine this with a strong background in thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and process simulation.

You have experience working within industrial health, process safety and environmental frameworks, and you have proven your ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary project environment with contractors, suppliers and internal specialists.

You bring:

• MSc in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology or a comparable discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in process engineering, process design and scale-up within complex capital projects. Experience in the oleochemical, green chemical or food industry is a plus.
• Strong communication skills in English. Dutch is a plus.
• Availability and willingness to work from both Amsterdam and Ter Apelkanaal, with increased site presence during construction and commissioning phases.

We offer

The assignment starts as soon as possible. The expected duration is approximately one year, with the intent to remain involved with ChainCraft through to plant delivery in 2028. For the right candidate, there is a genuine prospect of a permanent role within ChainCraft's engineering team after the initial interim period.

You will be embedded in a hands-on, technically driven team with an open culture and short lines to decision-makers. The work you do here has a direct and visible impact on how ChainCraft's technology comes to life at scale.