Junior Group Project Engineer

Share our taste for life! Want to empower you to achieve this mission with us. We value you as a person and actively support you on your professional journey, while caring about your future. Join our big little family and let’s make products for you and the world to love.  Do you share our taste for life?  Your role As a Group Project Engineer you are responsible for the end-to-end design, engineering, and execution of “small-scale” capital projects across the Vandemoortele group operations network. This role provides technical leadership on standard projects, ensures alignment with group engineering standards, and supports business objectives related to capacity expansion, efficiency, quality, safety, and sustainability. In this position, you will work closely with operations, quality, maintenance, procurement and HSE departments as well as external engineering partners, and act as a technical authority during project definition, execution, commissioning and start-up. Your key responsibilities Project Design & Engineering You lead the conceptual design, basic engineering, and detailed engineering of food manufacturing projects (process, utilities, infrastructure). You define technical specifications, equipment selection, layouts, PFDs, basic P&IDs and automation concepts in compliance with: Food safety standards (HACCP, BRC, IFS, …) Hygiene design principles (EHEDG, … where applicable) Local and international regulations You standardize engineering solutions and best practices across group sites. You apply the group “Project Management Process” during the project lifecycle Project Execution & Implementation You manage capital projects from feasibility through commissioning and handover. You develop and control project scope, schedule, budget, and risks. You coordinate internal stakeholders and external contractors, suppliers, and engineering partners when needed. You oversee construction, installation, site supervision, and FAT/SAT activities. You collaborate on creating an optimal plan for commissioning, start‑up, and performance verification (including OEE ramp‑up) Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Collaboration You act as the technical interface between group engineering, plant teams, quality, HSE, procurement, and finance. You support sites during project execution and post‑implementation optimization. You provide technical input for CAPEX planning, business cases, and investment prioritization. Operations, Quality, Safety & Compliance You ensure all projects comply with food safety, hygienic design, HSE, and legal requirements. You initiate and support risk‑assessment sessions (FMEA, HAZOP, hygienic risk analysis, etc.) throughout the project lifecycle. You promote safe construction practices and strong contractor safety performance. Continuous Improvement & Innovation You identify opportunities for process optimization, energy efficiency,…