Process Engineer

Nuclear medicine has evolved considerably over recent years with the emergence of radiotheranostics, a modality which combines targeted diagnosis and therapy with radio-isotopes. It offers an important and promising alternative in the treatment of many cancers. Radiotheranostics is based on the use of radioisotopes which, when they decay, emit radiation that enables cancer cells to be precisely located and/or destroyed. Among these radioisotopes, the alpha-emitting Actinium-225 is one of the most promising for therapeutic purposes.

One of the main challenges to making this therapeutic solution accessible for the greatest number of patients is ensuring the availability of high-quality Actinium-225 in large quantities. It is often referred to within the community as “the rarest drug on Earth”. By joining their unique expertise and resources, SCK CEN and IBA have launched the company PanTera, which aims at enabling the production of large-scale quantities of Actinium-225.

In this context, PanTera is looking for a talented and experienced Process engineer to support the development of key-subsystems (such as the Radon (Rn) abatement system) of the Actinium-225 production chain.

• Become the in-house Radon expert, with deep understanding of physical and chemical behaviour of radon isotopes, their decay chain and interaction with adsorbents under various environmental conditions (humidity, temperature, pressure, etc.).
• Lead the design of the Rn abatement system, ensuring compliance with all technical specifications, regulatory and safety regulations, including radiation protection and nuclear safety. Participate to safety assessments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including other production subsystems, building team, radiation safety, quality assurance to integrate the Rn abatement system into the broader production system.
• Ensure the technology de-risking by performing experiments.
• Evaluate system performance under normal, off-normal and failure scenarios to ensure safe and reliable operation.
• Support risk assessments (e.g., FMEA, HAZOP) for the Rn abatement system.
• Review and approve supplier documentation, FAT/SAT protocols and test results.
• Follow-up on project timelines and resources to ensure the successful delivery of the Rn abatement system design on schedule, together with the project manager.
• Ensure that all design documentation, including drawings, specifications and test plans are accurately maintained and updated.
• Define and execute system testing, including adsorption performance, leak tests and operational validation and commissioning.
• Develop procedures for routine operation, regeneration cycles and maintenance of the radon abatement system.
• Provide regular updates to stakeholders, including potential risks and mitigation strategies.

• Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Nuclear Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in project or process engineering.
• Experience in the nuclear and/or (radio)pharmaceutical industries is a strong asset.
• Experience with gas adsorption processes gas purification or ventilation systems is a strong asset.
• Understanding of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and material interactions under varying pressure and temperature conditions.
• Good technical expertise for critical review of equipment design, procurement and integration
• Excellent problem-solving abilities, with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
• Good communication skills, efficient communication with internal & external stakeholders.

• Good oral and written communication skills in English and Dutch

This position offers a unique opportunity to work in a cutting-edge environment, contributing to the production of critical products used in the fight against cancer.