Functie Process and conceptual design: o Understand the end-to-end process to be automated, on the shop floor and with operators o Challenge existing ways of working and apply lean principles, together with the OE team o Identify cross-functional dependencies (safety, IT, maintenance, operations,…) o Evaluate feasibility considering operational and environmental constraints Technical and solution design: o Capture and structure functional and technical requirements o Write the first technical specifications and concept descriptions o Design and evaluate automation solutions and architectures o Scout for solutions, using internal resources or external suppliers o Supervise and validate solution design choices o Assess technical feasibility, including integration requirements across IT, LIMS, MES, networking and safety systems Business and stakeholder alignment: o Build business case proposals for automation initiatives o Facilitate alignment across operations, maintenance, engineering, IT, EHS and safety Project leadership and front-end definition: o Lead assigned automation projects during the concept and design phases o Plan and manage scope, timeline, resources, risks and dependencies o Prioritise across several initiatives running in parallel o Track progress and report status to the program level o Coordinate cross-functional inputs to ensure a complete and consistent definition o Ensure the project is well defined, validated and ready for execution, and hand it over to the engineering team for implementation Functievereisten Master's degree in Engineering (Automation, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial or similar), or equivalent experience 6+ years of experience in industrial or production environments, open for strong medior profiles Background in manufacturing, such as pharma, automotive, food and beverage or chemical; a pure IT background is not a fit Proven experience delivering automation or engineering projects, ideally from concept through to handover Strong knowledge and experience with industrial automation systems, process improvement or lean initiatives, and multidisciplinary project environments Ability to translate operational needs into functional and technical requirements and specifications Experience building business cases for technical investments Understanding of how automation integrates with IT and OT layers (LIMS, MES, networking, safety systems) Creative and analytical thinker with solid process understanding Strong stakeholder management and communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders Builds relationships, manages change and addresses resistance Strong priority management; able to analyse and consolidate input from many sources into one clear definition Structured, methodical and solution-oriented Strong coordination and teamwork capabilities Keeps a clear head under pressure Language proficiencies: Fluent in English / Dutch is an advantage, not a blocking requirement Aanbod