Ready to own the automation foundation for circular concrete?

At everox, we are transforming waste concrete into high-value circular building materials. Our mission is ambitious: reducing the environmental impact of one of the world’s largest industries by creating sustainable alternatives for cement, sand and aggregates.

We are a dynamic, diverse and international team located at SubZero, a hub for Greentech start-ups in the Port of Rotterdam. Our ambition is to bring circular concrete materials to market at scale.

We are moving from pilot-scale operations towards industrial production. At our test site in Rotterdam we develop and validate our process on small-scale pilots, and our first commercial facility in ’s-Gravendeel is the next major step. Next on the roadmap are a second flagship plant abroad and modular product lines that bring our technology to customers in containerised form. Every one of these plants and products needs reliable control systems, and that is where this role comes in.

About the role

As Automation Engineer, you own automation across everox: from the ’s-Gravendeel facility and the Rotterdam pilots to the next flagship plant and the new modular product lines. The control software at ’s-Gravendeel has so far been built by Schneider Electric and other external partners. Your first task is to take over ownership of that software, and from there to progressively bring programming in-house. Our control platform is Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Automation Expert, based on IEC 61499, which gives us the opportunity to build a modular, reusable software standard for every new plant and product.

The position sits in a small, hands-on engineering team of mechanical, process and electrical engineers, reporting to our CTO. Day to day, the work brings you together with operators and process engineers on site, Schneider Electric and system integrators, and our IT partners for process data. Roughly half of the time goes to our flagship plants (the operating facility and the engineering of the next plant), the other half to our modular product lines and pilots. Priorities are set together with the CTO.

This is an individual contributor role: hands-on engineering and programming, not managing a team. The base is our office and test site in Rotterdam. During the first six months, commissioning in ’s-Gravendeel means working on site at least two days a week. After that, travel within Europe and later worldwide adds up to a few weeks per year, depending on FAT/SAT and commissioning schedules.

Responsibilities

Own the control software across everox, from the ’s-Gravendeel facility and the Rotterdam pilots to new flagship plants and modular products.
- Build and maintain an everox standard library of reusable software modules for our equipment and process units.
  - Define the control concept and architecture for our containerised products, from concept to basic design.
    - Review the automation scope of new flagship plants engineered with external partners, and lead or support FAT/SAT and commissioning in the Netherlands and abroad.
      - Act as technical counterpart to Schneider Electric and system integrators: specify, review, test and accept their work, and progressively bring programming in-house.
        Make process data available for analysis and digital twin development, together with our IT partners.
        Set up software version control, back-up and documentation standards for all control systems, and contribute to HAZOPs, risk assessments and design reviews.
        What you bring
        We are looking for an experienced automation engineer who writes code as comfortably as they troubleshoot a plant on site. Building a modular software standard where none exists yet appeals to you, as does steering integrators towards it. The work calls for a structured approach and a practical mindset, and the right candidate sees a new platform as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
        Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics or a related field.
        At least 7 years of experience designing and programming PLC/SCADA systems in the process, bulk-handling or manufacturing industry.
        Strong, hands-on programming skills in IEC 61131-3, with a structured, modular approach to software.
        Proven experience commissioning and troubleshooting control systems on site.
        Solid knowledge of industrial networks, including troubleshooting.
        Working knowledge of variable frequency drives.
        Experience working with, and steering, system integrators and equipment suppliers.
        Fluent English; Dutch language skills are a plus.
        A valid driving licence and willingness to work on site in ’s-Gravendeel at least two days a week during the first six months.
        Willingness to travel a few weeks per year for FAT/SAT and commissioning, first within Europe and later worldwide.
        Nice-to-haves:
        Experience with EcoStruxure Automation Expert or another IEC 61499 platform (training is provided if not).
        Experience with Schneider Electric hardware and software.
        Experience with machine vision or camera integration.
        Knowledge of functional safety for machinery (EN ISO 13849 / IEC 62061) and OT cybersecurity (IEC 62443).
        Experience with skid-mounted or containerised equipment.
        Scripting skills (e.g. Python, SQL) for data handling.
        What we offer
        Competitive compensation based on the market, your experience and qualifications (€75,000-€90,000 gross per year including holiday allowance).
        Employee ownership through our ESOP and a company pension plan at Zwitserleven.
        27 days of annual holiday leave.
        A one-year contract for 40 hours per week, with the intention to extend to a permanent contract.
        Training and development, including vendor training such as EcoStruxure Automation Expert where relevant.
        An impactful position in a fast-growing, mission-driven scale-up.
        Why join us?
        Join a diverse team committed to sustainability and making a real impact on CO₂ reduction. Our flat hierarchy gives you ownership of your work and room to grow, and the chance to set the automation standard that every future everox plant and product will run on.
        Ready to define how everox automates its plants and products? We’d love to hear from you. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, please apply - your unique background could be exactly what we need.

Automation Engineer

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