Research and Development Engineer

Research and Development Engineer

About the job

Our client is a leading global multi-metal company and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide. We process complex metal concentrates, scrap metals, and metal-bearing recycling materials into metals of the highest purity. These metals serve as the basis for key megatrends such as digitalization, renewable energies, e-mobility, and urbanization. Our client has about 7,100 employees, production sites in Europe and the US, and an extensive worldwide distribution system. Join our team and promote progress together with us!

Job Summary

As the on-site Senior Research and Development (R&D) Engineer, you will be an integral part of the Productions team. While leading the research and development team, your role involves the development and design of new processes while enhancing existing ones. Through the exploration of metallurgical and mathematical models, you will identify significant improvements in production processes spanning commercial, energy, and other domains. Your responsibilities include engineering research, data collection, sample testing, and the management of key R&D projects, contributing to strategic initiatives and investment decisions.

Responsibilities

Scientifically plan, execute, control, and evaluate experiments.

Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety standards, including risk assessments and preparation of operating instructions.

Draft patents, monitor competition, and ensure freedom-to-operate for new technologies.

Lead optimization and debottlenecking tasks in collaboration with production managers to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.

Develop flowsheet scenarios to model the impact of new processes on existing material flows.

Generate creative ideas for the use of new technologies or methods

Conduct competitor analyses and scout new technologies in adjacent value chains.

Act as a key contact for metallurgical and mathematical process developments across the organization.

Contribute to fostering an international business and innovation culture.

Prepare profitability assessments of projects and analyze potential projects.

Collaborate with universities, research institutes, and external partners for process or product optimization and development.

Provide technical management for assigned personnel in project contexts.

Create plant and process specifications.

Design, plan, construct, and operate test facilities on a laboratory and pilot scale.

Utilize experience gained from R&D concepts in the basic and detail engineering of production plants.

Conceive, plan, and implement prototypes.

Develop and implement new mathematical methods and strategies for Group-wide use.

Collaborate on projects using mathematical methods to support investment decisions.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum of 3 years of work experience.

Excellent expert knowledge in modeling, advanced analytics, pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, or electrometallurgical processes.

Understanding of non-ferrous industry processes, their economic and technological assessment, and knowledge of all products.

In-depth knowledge and use of expert systems such as Factsage / HSC / MPE.

Additional experience in dynamic process modeling, mathematical modeling, optimization, or data science using AIMMS, MATLAB, Python, C++, or comparable languages.

Experience with ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001 / ISO 45001 is a plus.

Education

University degree in metallurgy, process engineering, chemistry, mathematics, or equivalent; PhD or postdoc desirable.