Projektingenieur Energie & Nachhaltigkeit

The core mission of this role is to bridge engineering and sustainability within Big Dutchman's agricultural systems portfolio. Day to day, the Projektingenieur will develop technical concepts for energy-efficient and future-proof supply solutions for agricultural facilities, from the initial idea through to an implementable design. This includes steering special projects such as energy-autonomous barn concepts, cooling systems, and heat exchanger solutions, which require close collaboration with sales, product management, and global engineering teams. A significant part of the role also involves creating environmental calculations and determining the CO2 footprint of products and system solutions, as well as developing regional sustainability approaches for Europe and the Middle East Africa region. Beyond project work, the position carries responsibility for accompanying regional product developments and leading projects aimed at improving processes and structures. This means the person will not only execute technical tasks but also shape how Big Dutchman integrates sustainability into its product lifecycle and regional strategies. Coordination of external partners is another key responsibility, likely involving research institutes, technology suppliers, or engineering consultancies that contribute specialised knowledge or components. Longer-term, the role is expected to contribute to Big Dutchman's overarching motto of "Taking action for future generations" by embedding energy efficiency and carbon consciousness into the company's global offerings. The Projektingenieur will help translate that ambition into concrete, measurable outcomes across different regions and product lines, ensuring that sustainability becomes a practical design criterion rather than a side consideration.

This role offers a rare blend of technical engineering and sustainability strategy. You would likely deepen your expertise in energy-efficient supply systems for agricultural facilities, including energy-autonomous barn concepts, cooling systems, and heat exchanger technologies. The responsibility for environmental calculations and CO2 footprint determination means you could gain hands-on experience with carbon accounting methodologies and life-cycle thinking applied to real products and installations, a skill set in high demand across industries. Because the role involves developing regional sustainability approaches for Europe and the Middle East Africa region, you would build cross-cultural project management skills and learn how sustainability priorities differ across geographies. Coordinating external partners and working alongside sales, product management, and global engineering would sharpen your stakeholder management and communication abilities. The Big Dutchman Academy likely offers structured training in both technical and personal development areas, and mentorship from experienced engineers could accelerate your growth. Exposure to the full project lifecycle, from idea to implementable solution, means you would learn how to balance technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental impact. For someone aiming to become a sustainability leader in the agritech or manufacturing sector, this role provides a strong foundation in both the technical and strategic dimensions.

The ideal candidate likely holds a completed technical degree in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, agricultural engineering, or a comparable field, combined with relevant experience in concept development, project engineering, or technical project management. Big Dutchman appears to value structured thinking and the ability to break down complex technical content and align it with various stakeholders, so strong analytical and communication skills are essential. Experience with energy systems, cooling concepts, or heat exchanger technologies would be a strong plus, as would familiarity with environmental calculations or CO2 footprinting. Because the role involves developing regional sustainability approaches for Europe and the Middle East Africa region, international exposure or cross-cultural project experience could be advantageous. The position requires very good German and English communication, so bilingual fluency is non-negotiable. An interest in agriculture and willingness to travel up to 20% are also expected. The company's focus on practical, economical, and environmentally friendly solutions suggests they seek someone who balances engineering rigour with pragmatic, farmer-oriented thinking. Soft skills matter here: the ability to coordinate external partners, work with sales and product management, and lead projects that improve processes and structures. A candidate who is curious about how agricultural systems can become energy-autonomous or climate-neutral, and who can translate that curiosity into concrete technical concepts, would likely thrive. Certifications in energy management, project management, or sustainability reporting could differentiate a candidate, though the company's academy suggests they invest in developing the right person.

Given that Big Dutchman is a global agritech player with deep engineering roots, your application should bridge two worlds: technical credibility and sustainability fluency. Tailor your CV to highlight concrete project engineering work, especially anything involving energy systems, cooling, heat exchangers, or process optimisation. Quantify results where possible (e.g., energy savings, CO2 reductions, project timelines). Because the role explicitly involves CO2 footprint calculation and environmental assessments, mention any exposure to life-cycle assessment tools, carbon accounting methodologies, or environmental calculation standards, even academic projects count. Your cover letter should explicitly connect to Big Dutchman's motto "Taking action for future generations" and its focus on protein and plant solutions for farmers in over 100 countries. The company is family-founded, long-established, and proud of its practical, farmer-oriented approach; generic ESG language may land flat. Instead, speak about the tension between agricultural productivity and environmental responsibility and how you would approach energy-autonomous barn concepts or regional sustainability strategies for Europe and MEA. Show that you understand the stakeholder environment, sales teams, product management, global engineering, and external partners. Since the role requires very good German and English, consider writing your application in German if you are comfortable, or at least ensure your German-language CV is flawless. The hiring process will likely involve a conversation with HR Business Partner Mareike Reckfort and then technical interviews. Prepare to discuss how you would structure a special project from idea to implementation, and be ready to explain how you would handle competing priorities between regional sales needs and global engineering standards. A thoughtful question about how Big Dutchman measures sustainability success across regions could set you apart.

This role sits squarely at the intersection of energy efficiency and carbon accounting within agricultural technology. The Projektingenieur will focus on reducing the environmental footprint of Big Dutchman's products and installations, particularly through energy-efficient supply concepts, energy-autonomous barn systems, and cooling or heat exchanger technologies. A major component is the calculation of CO2 footprints for products and system solutions, which directly feeds into the company's ability to make credible sustainability claims and support farmers in reducing their own emissions. The regional dimension is important: developing sustainability approaches for Europe and the Middle East Africa means adapting strategies to different regulatory environments, climate conditions, and market expectations. In Europe, tightening ESG regulations and farm-to-fork policies likely drive demand for documented carbon reductions. In the MEA region, energy autonomy and resource efficiency may be more pressing due to infrastructure or cost constraints. The role would therefore involve tailoring sustainability narratives and technical solutions to regional realities. Governance and stakeholder engagement are also implicit: by coordinating with sales, product management, and external partners, the Projektingenieur helps embed sustainability into commercial processes and product development. The focus is less on corporate-level ESG reporting and more on product-level environmental performance, making this a hands-on, engineering-driven sustainability role with tangible impact on how agricultural systems are designed and operated.

One challenge could be navigating the tension between standardised global engineering and region-specific sustainability requirements. Big Dutchman operates in over 100 countries, and what works for an energy-autonomous barn in Germany may not fit the Middle East Africa region due to climate, regulation, or market maturity differences. The Projektingenieur would need to develop regional approaches that are flexible enough to be relevant yet structured enough to be scalable. This requires strong stakeholder alignment and the ability to manage expectations across sales, product management, and global engineering. Another challenge might be the data intensity of CO2 footprint calculations. Agricultural systems involve complex inputs (feed, energy, equipment, transport) and obtaining reliable data from suppliers, partners, or customers could be difficult. The role requires creating environmental calculations that are credible and defensible, which means dealing with uncertainty and potentially incomplete information. Balancing scientific rigour with practical timelines could be a constant negotiation. Finally, the position involves leading special projects and improving processes and structures. In a company with a long history and established workflows, introducing new sustainability-driven approaches may meet internal resistance or require careful change management. The candidate would need to be persuasive and patient, building trust with colleagues who may see sustainability as secondary to core engineering priorities. Travel up to 20% could also add complexity to project continuity.

A typical day might start with a project team check-in, reviewing progress on an energy-autonomous barn concept or a cooling system design. The Projektingenieur could spend the morning modelling energy flows or calculating the CO2 footprint of a specific product configuration, using spreadsheets or specialised software. This work requires deep focus and often involves cross-referencing data from suppliers, internal engineering specifications, and regional requirements. Mid-morning might bring a call with a colleague in the Middle East Africa region to discuss local sustainability priorities or to align on a regional product adaptation. After lunch, the afternoon could shift toward stakeholder coordination. This might involve a meeting with the sales team to prepare technical documentation for a customer, or a session with product management to embed sustainability criteria into an upcoming product development. If an external partner is involved (say, a research institute working on heat exchanger efficiency) the Projektingenieur might review their progress and integrate their findings into the broader project plan. Travel days, up to 20% of the time, could involve visiting a pilot installation, attending a trade fair, or meeting partners on-site. Not every day is project-focused; some time would go to process improvement, documenting lessons learned, or contributing to the Big Dutchman Academy as a learner or mentor. The role likely offers variety, balancing deep technical work with collaborative problem-solving and strategic discussions, all within a company that values practical, farmer-oriented innovation.

Big Dutchman is a large, globally active company with around 3,500 employees, so internal mobility is a real possibility. A Projektingenieur specializing in energy and sustainability could grow into a senior project lead role, a product management position focused on sustainable solutions, or a regional sustainability manager for Europe or MEA. The company's structure (with sales, product management, and global engineering functions) offers natural lateral moves for someone who understands both the technical and sustainability sides. The Big Dutchman Academy supports personal and professional development, so certifications in energy auditing, carbon accounting, or project management could be within reach. Because the role involves developing regional sustainability approaches for Europe and the Middle East Africa region, success could lead to a more strategic, cross-regional mandate over time. The company's 85-year history and family-owned ethos suggest that long-tenured employees are valued, and demonstrating impact on energy-efficient barn concepts could fast-track advancement. A potential path could also lead toward a sustainability-focused product owner role, shaping the company's portfolio of energy-efficient and low-carbon agricultural systems. As regulations tighten and farmers demand more sustainable solutions, the strategic importance of this role is likely to grow, creating visibility with senior leadership.

Internally, this role would interact closely with the global engineering team, product management, and sales colleagues across regions. Sales teams in Europe and the Middle East Africa region would rely on the Projektingenieur to provide technical and sustainability data that supports customer conversations, for example, demonstrating the CO2 savings of a particular barn system. Product management would partner on regional product developments, ensuring sustainability considerations are embedded early in the design phase. Global engineering would be a key counterpart for aligning technical standards and sharing best practices across countries. Externally, the role involves coordinating external partners, which could include technology suppliers, research institutes, or engineering consultancies. These partners might support energy simulations, environmental certifications, or the development of novel cooling and heat exchanger systems. Farmers and agricultural cooperatives could also be indirect stakeholders, as the solutions developed need to be practical and economical for them. The candidate would likely engage with them through sales channels or pilot projects. Within Big Dutchman, the HR Business Partner and potentially the leadership team in Vechta would be important for career development and project sponsorship. Since the role reports into the German headquarters but serves regional needs, managing the relationship between local management and regional counterparts would be a delicate and important part of the job.