Key Skills

Job Description

From innovative ideas to real production processes. Ready to make it happen? Are you a hands-on technologist who enjoys turning ideas into reality? Someone who doesn't just want to understand how a process works, but also wants to test, improve and scale it up? Are you looking for a role that combines practical work in a pilot plant with process development, data analysis and project preparation? Then we might have just the right opportunity for you at Bodec! At Bodec, we help companies from around the world develop and scale up innovative food ingredients and production processes. Our customers range from ambitious start-ups to major international food companies. At our pilot plant in Helmond, we work with a wide variety of technologies, including extraction, membrane filtration, centrifugation, evaporation and different drying techniques. No two days are the same. One day, you're running a trial in the pilot plant. The next, you're analysing results, discussing a project with a customer or preparing a new process. What will you be doing? As a Pilot Plant Technologist, you will connect technology, customers and practical execution. You'll be involved throughout the entire process, from preparing trials to evaluating the results. Prepare pilot trials and test productions in close cooperation with colleagues and customers. Translate technological challenges into practical trial setups and process parameters. Carry out trials on our processing equipment and guide operators during execution. Analyse results, identify opportunities for process optimisation and contribute to scale-up activities. Document results and prepare clear reports for internal use and customers. Communicate with national and international customers about project preparation, execution and results. Contribute to the continuous improvement of our processes and working methods. You'll enjoy the best of both worlds: hands-on work with processing equipment combined with technical challenges, analysis and project preparation. Who are we looking for? We're looking for an enthusiastic technologist with a technical mindset, a practical approach and preferably some relevant work experience. You have a bachelor's or master degree of education, preferably in Food Technology, Process Technology, Chemical Engineering or a related field. Ideally, you have 1–3 years of relevant experience in a technical environment, pilot plant, R&D or food production. You enjoy combining hands-on work with processing equipment and desk-based technical work. You work accurately, independently and take ownership of your responsibilities. You're analytical, curious and solution-oriented. You have good written and spoken English skills to communicate with our international customers. You're a team player. You're flexible when a trial occasionally requires working outside regular office hours. You don't need to know all our technologies and equipment already. We provide internal training to help you become familiar with our processes, equipment and working methods. A solid technical foundation, curiosity and a willingness to learn are what matter most to us. What do we offer? A varied position for 32 to 40 hours per week, combining hands-on technical work with analysis and project development. A gross monthly salary of €3,400 to €4,300, based on a 40-hour working week and depending on your knowledge and experience. 30 days of annual leave, based on full-time employment. Travel expense reimbursement. An initial one-year contract, with the prospect of a permanent position. Internal training on our equipment, processes and technologies. A small, experienced and supportive team with an informal working atmosphere and short communication lines. Independence, responsibility and room to contribute your own ideas. A unique working environment with diverse products, international customers and innovative technologies. Why Bodec? At Bodec, you won't be working on just one product or a single, repetitive production process. You'll help different companies turn innovative ideas into reality. You'll see the results of your work not only in reports, but also directly in the pilot plan, from the first trial to a process ready for further scale-up. And because we're a relatively small team, you'll have plenty of opportunities to contribute ideas, take initiative and develop a broad range of technical skills. Ready to join us? Would you like to apply your technical knowledge in an environment where you can learn something new and make a real impact every day? We'd love to hear from you! Send your CV and a short motivation to Paul Deckers, Operations Director, at [email protected].

Core Responsibilities

Prepare and conduct pilot trials and test productions, translating technical challenges into practical setups and process parameters while coordinating with colleagues, operators, and customers. Analyze and document results, identify process improvements, support scale-up, and communicate project progress and outcomes to customers.

Requirements

A bachelor's or master's degree is preferred, ideally in Food Technology, Process Technology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field; 1–3 years of relevant experience in a technical environment, pilot plant, R&D, or food production is also preferred. Candidates should be practical, analytical, accurate, independent, solution-oriented, comfortable with equipment and technical desk work, fluent in written and spoken English, and flexible when trials require occasional work outside regular hours.

Benefits

• 30 Days of Annual Leave
• Travel Expense Reimbursement
• Internal Training
• Supportive Team and Informal Working Environment
• Independence and Responsibility
• Opportunities to Contribute Ideas and Develop Technical Skills