Are you passionate about food innovation and excited to work hands-on with cutting-edge processes and equipment? At Danone Nutricia Research in Utrecht, we are looking for a Senior Pilot Plant Technician who thrives in a dynamic environment and enjoys supporting product and process development for specialized nutrition.

About the Job

As a Senior Pilot Plant Technician, you will be based at our state-of-the-art Research & Innovation Center in Utrecht. You will play a key role in executing pilot-scale production trials, working closely with Product Developers and Process Technologists to bring innovative nutritional products to life.

You are the go-to expert for specific processes and equipment within the pilot plant. Your practical knowledge of food processing technologies—such as heat treatment, homogenization, spray drying, and powder blending—makes you an essential contributor to our development projects.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring high-quality execution of trials, maintaining a safe and compliant working environment, and continuously improving our pilot plant operations.

Key responsibilities:

• Execute pilot plant trials together with your direct colleagues in collaboration with our stakeholders.
• Write clear work instructions and trial reports; communicate findings effectively.
• Actively contribute to cross-functional project teams.
• Ensure a safe working environment by conducting risk assessments and motivating others to prioritize safety in their daily work.
• Comply with food safety standards (e.g., ISO 22000).
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives within the pilot plant.
• Supervise contractors and guide visitors during pilot activities.
• Act as the deputy for the Pilot Plant Supervisor when needed.

As a senior team member, you take ownership beyond your own tasks. You help oversee daily operations, support team coordination, and make operational decisions in alignment with the Pilot Plant Supervisor.

You are a hands-on technician with a strong interest in food processing and with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset. You enjoy working in a collaborative environment and take pride in delivering high-quality results.

Your qualifications and experience:

• At least 5 years of working experience in a similar environment
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative attitude.
• Pro-active and eager to learn.
• Experience in a quality-regulated environment (e.g., ISO- / FSSC 22000, ISO 9001) is a plus.
• Strong affinity with safety standards.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is an advantage.

Danone’s mission is bringing health through food to as many people as possible and we want to invite people to join the movement for a healthier world. We recognize the power people have to impact the world through their daily choices. Healthy food needs a healthy planet, and this is what our new signature One Planet One Health embodies. Click here to discover more about Danone in the Benelux.

Nutricia Research Center for Specialized Nutrition located in the Utrecht Science Park in the Netherlands is a state-of-the-art innovation center for the development of new product, process and packaging concepts for Specialized Nutrition. We create formulas that provide clinically substantiated health benefits to vulnerable consumers – infants, toddlers, elderly and patients.

We Offer

At Danone, we offer a complete package of benefits, with a competitive primary salary and yearly bonus, but also benefits like a premium free pension, 30 days annual leave and several discounts on a collective health insurance.