Process Engineer

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people across the globe. We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet. Everything we do is about Making Better Happen.

This position is based on site in Hull, United Kingdom. At AAK Hull, we operate the UK’s largest refinery for edible oils and fats at our King George Dock site and supply ingredients and finished products to businesses in the food manufacturing, baking, foodservice, and retail sectors. We enjoy working closely with customers to co-develop bespoke products in our well-equipped Customer Innovation Centre.

As a Process Engineer within AAK’s Refinery team, you will play a key role in supporting the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Hull Refinery. Applying chemical engineering principles to plant performance, process safety, troubleshooting and continuous improvement, you will use operating data and technical analysis to identify practical improvements across safety, quality, reliability, throughput, energy efficiency and cost performance. In this role, you will work closely with operations, engineering and other site functions to provide technical support and deliver defined engineering activities. You will also provide process engineering input to capital and modification projects from design through to commissioning and start-up, while developing your practical site experience under the guidance of senior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Support the site process safety programme by participating in hazard studies, maintaining process safety information and progressing assigned actions.
• Analyse plant performance and lead defined continuous improvement activities to enhance safety, quality, yield, throughput, energy efficiency, reliability and cost.
• Provide operational support and structured troubleshooting, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions.
• Provide process engineering input to capital and modification projects, including design calculations, equipment specification, design and safety reviews, commissioning and start-up.
• Maintain accurate process documentation, including calculations, operating envelopes, P&IDs, technical reports, procedures and training materials.
• Work collaboratively with operations, maintenance, engineering, HSE, quality and supply chain teams to implement improvements and promote consistent operating practices.
• Monitor implemented changes and communicate performance, risks, actions and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.

About you

We are looking for a Process Engineer with a strong foundation in chemical engineering principles and an interest in developing their career within a process manufacturing environment.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in Chemical Engineering.
• Sound understanding of chemical engineering principles, including mass and energy balances, heat transfer, fluid flow, thermodynamics and process control.
• Ability to interpret process data, trends, P&IDs and technical documentation.
• Understanding of process safety principles and methods.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver defined engineering work packages.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with different teams.
• Relevant industrial experience in a process manufacturing environment is desirable.
• Working towards Chartered Engineer status is desirable.

In return AAK offers

• 10% non-contribution pension.
• Bonus scheme.
• UK Healthcare scheme.
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays.
• Group life cover.
• Group income protection scheme.
• Ride2Work scheme.

For further information about the position, please contact Emily Lumb, Talent Acquisition Specialist by email: Emily.lumb@aak.com.

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer with the unique flexibility of our production assets and deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate and Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice, and Personal Care.

Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen for more than 150 years.