Pilot Line Operator

About us

NoPalm Ingredients produces yeast oils & fats, made from agri-food waste streams that are perfect substitutes to palm and other vegetable oils in food, cosmetics, and home care products. Our products offer a two-sided solution that reduces both the use of palm oil and food waste.

Founded in 2021, NoPalm Ingredients is on a mission to challenge companies and product manufacturers to implement our local, circular, and sustainable oils as an alternative to palm oil.

By upcycling agri-food side streams into circular yeast oils, we are making a worldwide environmental impact, contributing to a waste-free world, decarbonizing the entire value chain with 90% less greenhouse gas emissions, and limiting the impact on natural habitats as we reduce land-use by 99%.

About the role

As Pilot Line Operator, you run NoPalm’s pilot line day to day. Reporting to the Pilot Line Supervisor, you execute upstream (USP) and downstream (DSP) pilot activities at our facility: media preparation, sterilization, inoculation, fermentation monitoring, harvest, and the separation and extraction steps that follow. You work to clear standard procedures and keep the records that make every run traceable.

The work is a combination of routine and improvement. A large part of the week follows a fixed rhythm of runs, cleaning, calibration and documentation, executed precisely and the same way every time. The rest is development: the process is still young, and you are expected to notice what does not work, propose changes, and help test and standardize them together with the Supervisor, R&D and process engineering.

This is a hands-on, on-site role. The pilot line cannot be operated remotely, so the position is full-time at our facility and working from home is not possible.

The main focus of the role:      

1. Fermentation & DSP execution

• Prepare and execute pilot runs in batch and continuous mode: media prep, sterilization/SIP, inoculation, monitoring and harvest.

• Operate bioreactors, following set points and feed strategies for DO, pH, temperature and agitation, and respond to deviations during the run.

• Operate DSP equipment such as solid-liquid separation, extraction and carry out in-process QC sampling.

• Take samples according to the sampling plan and record online and offline process data completely and on time.

2. Equipment & daily readiness

• Keep pilot equipment ready for use: bioreactors, pumps, sensors, DSP equipment and filters, including cleaning and set-up between runs.

• Calibrate sensors and probes on schedule and flag anything out of specification.

• Perform first-line troubleshooting and basic preventive maintenance; escalate to the Supervisor or vendor when needed.

• Manage consumables and materials at the line: stock checks, ordering signals, and clear labelling and storage.

3. Safety, quality & documentation

• Work to EH&S standards for chemical and biological safety

• Follow SOPs and checklists as written; record deviations instead of working around them.

• Maintain accurate batch records, logbooks, cleaning logs, calibration records and electronic data entries, so runs stay traceable for QA and audits.

• Keep the pilot hall orderly and hygienic, applying aseptic technique where the process requires it.

4. Improvement & standardization

• Bring observations from the floor into post-run reviews: what cost time, what repeated, what could be simpler or more reliable.

• Propose and trial practical improvements to set-up, cleaning, sampling and handling together with the Supervisor and R&D.

• Help write and update SOPs, checklists and one-point lessons once a change proves itself.

• Support the introduction of new equipment and new process steps, including trial runs and early operator training material.

About you

You are practical, structured and calm under pressure. You like operating equipment yourself and you take pride in a run that goes exactly to plan. You work precisely: procedures are followed, records are complete, and you notice when a number looks wrong before it becomes a problem.

At the same time you are not rigid. A pilot line changes, and you are comfortable with plans that shift, equipment that is new, and questions that do not have an answer yet. You speak up with ideas, try things out in a controlled way, and are happy to be the one who turns a better method into the new standard. You communicate openly with the Supervisor, R&D scientists, the analytical team and process engineers, and you care about the mission: less palm oil, less food waste.  

More specifically, we are looking for someone who has: 

• MBO or HBO education in Process Technology, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Chemical or Bioprocess Engineering, or equivalent experience.

• 1-3 years of hands-on experience operating process or fermentation equipment in a pilot plant, production or advanced laboratory setting. Candidates with less experience and strong technical aptitude are welcome to apply.

• Practical feel for equipment: set-up, cleaning, sterilization, sensors and first-line troubleshooting.

• Working knowledge of aseptic technique and of downstream unit operations such as separation, filtration and drying is a plus.

• Strong documentation discipline; experience with SOPs, batch records or quality frameworks such as HACCP is a plus.

• Comfortable with physical, hands-on work in a pilot hall and with flexibility in run planning, including occasional early, late or weekend runs.

• Good communication skills in English; Dutch is a plus.

• Willingness and ability to work full-time on site at our facility.

 We value diversity and believe that our team's unique perspectives and experiences makes us stronger. While we may have listed specific requirements for this role, we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We are looking for individuals who are passionate, driven, and excited about the opportunity to join us on our mission. Don't let a lack of exact qualifications hold you back from applying - we are excited to learn more about you and what you can bring to the table! 

What's in it for you?

• Being part of a fast-growing purpose-driven start-up where you can make an impact from day 1

• Competitive salary

• Participation in our Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) plan

• 25 days of vacation allowance

• Commuting allowance

• Pension plan

• Flexibility in working from home / working in the office

• Team outings and monthly get-together’s

• Great coffee