Advanced Process Control Engineer

Job Description: Advanced Process Control Engineer

Role Purpose

The APC Engineer serves as a technical specialist and advisor supporting the Future Engineering Team in the development and deployment of Advanced Process Control (APC) solutions. The role provides technical expertise, engineering design, process modeling, and control strategy recommendations.

Leveraging deep expertise in control engineering, PID control, inferential control, and Model Predictive Control (MPC), the APC Specialist performs technical assessments, analyzes process and historical data, identifies root causes of control performance issues, and develops control concepts and algorithms to improve process stability, quality, efficiency, and sustainability.

This position acts in an advisory and execution/support capacity. The role is expected to provide technical expertise, engineering analyses, process models, simulations, and implementation recommendations. All technical proposals must be reviewed, aligned, and approved through Future Engineering governance before deployment.

Key Accountabilities

APC Engineering & Strategy

• Operate as a technical consultant and implementation support specialist under the direction of the Future Engineering Team.
• Develop technical recommendations, control concepts, simulation studies, and implementation proposals for review.
• Ensure all APC designs, models, algorithms, tuning methodologies, and deployment approaches are formally aligned with Future Engineering standards and approved prior to implementation.
• Escalate technical deviations, architectural changes, or alternative approaches for evaluation
• Technology selection, platform architecture, design standards, cybersecurity requirements, deployment methodologies, and implementation are managed through the Future Engineering Governance.

APC Technical Support

• Provide technical support and subject matter expertise during APC deployments, working in close collaboration with the Future Engineering Team. All proposed designs, control strategies, simulation approaches, and implementation recommendations must be reviewed and validated through the Future Engineering governance process prior to implementation.
• Support the complete lifecycle from data diagnostics, system identification and controller design through simulation, commissioning and long-term monitoring.
• Provide remote and on-site support during startup, stabilization, tuning and performance verification.
• Support with initial data analysis and potential solution assessments.

Advanced Process Modeling & Simulation

• Develop and execute simulation-based validation frameworks to assess model fidelity, quantify implementation risks, and ensure that advanced control and optimization solutions can be safely transitioned from theory to plant operation.
• Leverage dynamic process simulation to validate, refine, and optimize mathematical models.
• Support the Simulation Platform to identify, develop and maintain key asset modeling in MATLAB.

Capability Building & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build documentation & training to support the upskilling of plant teams.
• Contribute to the APC Technology Platform and capture lessons learned from pilots and deployments.
• Translate complex control concepts into practical guidance for plant teams and stakeholders.
• Promote reuse, standardization and scalable technical support across the global manufacturing network.

Required Technical Expertise

• Process Control: Advanced PID, Dynamic PID, Adaptive Control, Inferential Control, MPC, ARC, multivariable systems and constraint management.
• Advanced MATLAB & Simulation Expertise: MATLAB and Simulink as the primary environment for dynamic process modeling, system identification, advanced control design, digital simulation, and virtual commissioning. Proven ability to develop and validate Dynamic PID, Inferential Control, Adaptive Control, and Model Predictive Control (MPC) applications using specialized toolboxes including System Identification, Control System, MPC, Signal Processing, Machine Learning, and Industrial Communication. Experience deploying industrial solutions through OPC-UA connectivity, edge computing architectures, automatic code generation, and containerized runtime environments, ensuring scalable and maintainable APC implementations across manufacturing operations.
• Deployment Technologies (nice to have): Ability to deploy and support APC solutions through OPC-UA connectivity, edge computing architectures, and automated code generation.
• Process Knowledge (nice to have): Strong understanding of spray drying, evaporation, thermal processing and FMCG / food manufacturing processes.

Experience & Education

• Master’s degree or PhD in Process Control, Chemical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in APC, MPC, process optimization, dynamic simulation, industrial automation or advanced control deployment.
• Experience in FMCG, dairy, food, beverage, chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing is a strong advantage
• Experience supporting multi-site deployments, global standards, supplier management and industrial platform governance is a strong advantage.