R&D Scientific Engineer: AI, Data Processing & Cloud...

Fette Compacting () is a leading supplier of high-tech process equipment for the pharmaceutical industry. Headquartered near Hamburg, with sales and service offices in all major markets, our group designs, produces, installs, and maintains advanced machines for the production of pharmaceutical tablets worldwide:

The combination of high speed, high precision, and full automation requires the very best engineering skills in the fields of process, mechanics, electronics, and software design. Fette Compacting Belgium, located in Mechelen, is a crucial element in the innovation tasks of the Fette group for the development of new technologies and machines for the pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities of the future, especially in the field of Continuous Manufacturing.

To strengthen our team, we are looking for a:

R&D Scientific Engineer: AI, Data Processing & Cloud Infrastructure

Function:

As R&D Scientific Engineer, you will be part of our Future Technologies team at our R&D site in Mechelen. Moreover, you are working in close collaboration with the global R&D teams of Software Development, Process Design and Mechanical Engineering thereby contributing significantly to the development of new pharmaceutical technologies & automation.

In this role, you will design and implement modern data platforms that connect our machines to cloud- and edge-based data infrastructures. These platforms enable digital twins, predictive maintenance, machine learning, AI, and advanced analytics. You will build proofs of concept and functional prototypes that serve as a foundation for future products, covering the full pipeline from machine data ingestion to analytics and visualization.

You will also contribute to hybrid edge/cloud architectures, including Docker-based edge systems for real-time data processing, local storage, visualization, and execution of local (edge) neural networks. In addition, you will set up and experiment with ML/AI and LLM infrastructure for internal analytics and engineering use cases.

A key aspect of this role is visualization and user interaction. You will collaborate closely with GUI and front-end development teams to build C# and web-based prototype user interfaces that are intuitive, technically sound, and mature enough to be smoothly transferred into production by our Software R&D teams.

As a scientific engineer, you bring a critical, curious mindset, exploring new ideas from academia and industry and translating them into practical solutions e.g. for continuous pharmaceutical tablet production. You will work in multidisciplinary teams and interact with suppliers and pharmaceutical customers to help design, build, and debug some of the world’s most innovative production and control systems for modern medicines.

Your main responsibilities:

• Contribute to innovation projects within the Future Technologies Team, focusing on data processing, cloud, and edge infrastructure
• Design and implement data lakehouse–style architectures that ingest, store, and process machine data
• Build and maintain data pipelines from machines and business systems to centralized data platforms
• Support and prototype ML/AI and analytics applications, including internal LLM-based solutions
• Develop Docker-based edge infrastructures for real-time processing, storage, visualization, and local ML inference
• Design and implement GUI frontends (C# and web technologies) for machine and analytics prototypes
• Realize proofs of concept and prototypes that can be transferred into product development
• Support technology scouting through collaboration with academia, conferences, and partners
• Contribute ideas for new projects aligned with our strategic technology roadmap

Profile:

We are looking for a hands-on engineer with a strong technical foundation in data, cloud, and software engineering, who is ready to take ownership of complex prototypes while continuing to grow in the field. The role is primarily aimed at engineers with 3–5 years of relevant experience, but outstanding recent graduates with strong practical skills and motivation are also encouraged to apply.

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• Typically 3–5 years of relevant experience in data, cloud, software, or ML/AI-related roles
• (excellent graduates with strong project or research experience will be considered)
• Strong programming skills in Python and C# (experience with C/C++ is a plus)
• Hands-on experience with:
• Cloud platforms (Azure and/or AWS)
• Data lake / lakehouse architectures, including data ingestion and data pipelines
• Containers and Docker (basic Kubernetes knowledge is a plus)

Experience with or solid understanding of:

• ML/AI infrastructure supporting analytics applications
• LLM infrastructure for internal or engineering-focused use cases
• Experience or strong interest in hybrid cloud/edge architectures, including real-time data processing
• Ability to design and build GUI frontends using C# and/or modern web technologies, with a focus on usability and maintainability
• Familiarity with relational databases (e.g. SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Firebird)
• Interest in industrial systems, machine data, and process control environments
• Structured, quality-focused working style, with awareness of pharmaceutical industry guidelines
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Primary work location is Mechelen (Belgium); regular on-site presence is required, with partial remote work possible
• Permanent residence in Belgium is required

We offer:

• Work as R&D Scientific Engineer: AI, Data Processing & Cloud Infrastructure in an international environment for a market leading equipment and process supplier to the global pharmaceutical industry
• Participate in the R&D of innovative high-end technologies for the pharmaceutical plants of the future, from prototype testing & improving, to final commercial solutions installed in pharmaceutical production sites.
• Opportunity to interact with customers to translate their needs within general solutions.
• Flexible working conditions in a start-up environment supported by a world-leading company, where continuous learning is encouraged and supported.
• Attractive salary package including fringe benefits.

Would you like to join us? Please apply via LinkedIn or send your CV to fcbe@fette-compacting.com