Process Scale-Up & Pilot Trials Engineer – Mixing & Powder Systems

Overview

Palomba General Trading LLC seeks a highly skilled Process Scale-Up & Pilot Trials Engineer specializing in mixing and powder systems to support industrial projects within the GCC region. This is a technically intensive engineering role focused on pilot trials, process development, and scaling manufacturing from lab or pilot phases to full industrial production.

Key Responsibilities

• Define objectives and protocols for trials using lab, pilot, and industrial equipment.
• Gather and organize customer process data and review material attributes such as particle size, bulk density, viscosity, moisture, oil content, and flow properties.
• Assist in planning, conducting, and evaluating mixing, blending, homogenization, milling, and powder processing trials.
• Identify critical process parameters to ensure scalable and repeatable outcomes.
• Select appropriate pilot equipment and coordinate sample preparation according to customer requirements.
• Monitor pilot testing, analyze influence of variables like mixing time, speed, shear, temperature, throughput, and assess blend quality and repeatability.
• Interpret technical results, including particle size distribution and powder processing performance.
• Anticipate scale-up risks and compare pilot data with target production performance.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to translate trial findings into production-scale specifications.
• Facilitate technical discussions among customers, specialists, and equipment manufacturers; support batch to continuous processing scale-up where applicable.
• Prepare detailed technical reports summarizing trials and recommendations.

Process Areas

Mixing, Blending, High-shear processing, Homogenisation, Powder processing, Particle-size reduction, Liquid addition, Dispersion, Dosing, Material handling, Batch processing, Scale-up.

Critical Parameters

Familiarity with parameters including batch size, throughput, mixer fill level, mixing time, impeller speed, tip speed, shear rate, power input, temperature, viscosity, particle-size distribution, bulk density, moisture, flowability, homogeneity, coefficient of variation, yield, product loss, and residence time is essential.

Candidate Profile

We seek candidates with strong technical and analytical capabilities who appreciate the complexities of scaling up processes beyond equipment size increase. Understanding the impacts of equipment geometry, speed, energy input, material behavior, batch size, and operating conditions on product quality and industrial performance is critical. The role demands comfort with real process data, trial planning and execution, and clear communication of technical findings to diverse stakeholders. Candidates with primarily sales or non-technical roles will not be considered suitable.

Qualifications & Experience

• A degree in Chemical, Process, Mechanical, Food, Pharmaceutical Engineering, or related disciplines.
• At least 3 years of relevant industrial experience in application development, process scale-up, pilot plants, or equipment testing.
• Practical knowledge of mixing, blending, powder processing, and related unit operations.
• Ability to analyze process data and technical test outcomes.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Competency in understanding equipment specifications and process documentation.
• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Preferred Technical Exposure

• Experience with pilot plants and application laboratories.
• Hands-on involvement in mixing trials, powder blending, high-shear processing, homogenisation, particle-size reduction, process development, scale-up, experiment design, industrial manufacturing, and process optimization.

Preferred Industry Background

• Food ingredients
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Nutraceuticals
• Flavors and botanical extracts
• Powders and premixes
• Specialty chemicals
• Process equipment manufacturing
• Industrial R&D and application engineering

Offer & Benefits

• Permanent, full-time role based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Competitive salary range from SAR 13,000 to SAR 20,000 per month based on qualifications and experience.
• Performance incentives linked to project success.
• Exposure to international equipment manufacturers and application centers.
• Participation in pilot trials and industrial scale-up projects across Saudi Arabia and GCC markets.
• Work in a multicultural, international environment connecting customers with technical partners.
• Professional growth opportunities within Palomba's technical process equipment activities.

Company Background

Palomba General Trading LLC operates from Dubai as an international business developing technical and commercial collaborations between Middle East and Europe. Their portfolio covers industrial customers and specialized manufacturing partners across food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, specialty ingredients, and process-equipment sectors. The company acts as a technical and commercial liaison to facilitate successful project delivery.