Product & Process Innovation Engineer – Downstream Processes

About Tereos With a long-term vision of valuing agricultural raw materials and developing quality products for the food, health and renewable energy sectors, Tereos is a leader in the sugar, alcohol and starch markets. The Group’s commitments to society and the environment contribute to the company’s performance in the long term while strengthening its contribution as a responsible player. The Tereos cooperative group, a union of 11,200 cooperative members, has a recognized knowhow in the processing of beet, sugarcane, cereals, alfalfa, and potatoes. Through 43 industrial sites, a presence in 15 countries and the commitment of its 15 800 employees, Tereos supports its customers close to their markets with a broad and complementary range of products. In 2022/23, the Group posted €6,6 bn turnover.Contract : PermanentPosition location : Buchtstraat 10, Aalst 9300 BELAbout the RoleWe are looking for a Product & ProcessInnovation Engineer to join our R&D team at the Tereos Corporate Technology Center. As part of the sweeteners and carbohydrates development team, you will contribute to the innovation in downstream processes, supporting industrial operations and driving the development of innovative products and technologies from lab to pilot and industrial scale. You will also lead and manage development projects in refining and sweetener processes. The ideal candidate brings at least 3 years of relevant experience, a hands-on mindset, and strong problem-solving skills.Key ResponsibilitiesLead and support R&D projects focused on downstream process innovation and product development.Design and execute lab, pilot, and industrial trials to validate new concepts and troubleshoot on existing processes.Build expertise related to downstream and on water and wastewater treatment; by the usage of membrane processes, adsorption and other relevant technologies.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve productivity, yield, energy, and water usage.Conduct process modeling, cost estimation, pre-engineering studies, hand-over of projects to the capex and engineering teams and contribute to technology assessments.Stay at the forefront of industry trends through literature review, expert networking, and conference participation.Ensure safe and efficient lab and pilot operations, contributing to SOPs and 5S standards.Master’s degree in Bioengineering, Chemical, Process, Environmental Engineering (or comparable).Minimum 3 years of industry experience, ideally in food, bioprocessing, or water treatment.Hands-on expertise in membrane technologies (MF, UF, RO), ion exchange, and activated carbon.Solid understanding of physical separation, thermal operations, complemented by a foundational knowledge of enzymatic reactions and starch-based conversionsExperience in process upscaling and in pilot plant operations.Skilled in interpreting P&IDs and managing data in Excel or similar tools.Proactive, analytical, sense of urgency, and an ability to work and manage multiple projects independently.Collaborative mindset with strong communication skills.Fluent in English; Dutch and French are a plus.Willingness to travel to production sites and partners across Europe.Reasons to join us :Joining Tereos means giving yourself the opportunity to develop within a cooperative group that is a leader in its markets. It is also the opportunity to undertake in a collaborative and meaningful environment in order to meet the challenges of tomorrow in terms of food, energy and health through the valorisation of plant raw materials. We ensure personal and collective development through our initiatives to promote quality of life at work and personal and professional life balance. Convinced of the richness of diversity, an essential component of our growth, we are committed to parity and the development of an inclusive corporate culture where everyone can bring their authenticity and particularities to work.