Senior Technical R&D Project Manager – Thermal Systems & Energy Integration

Senior Technical R&D Project Manager – Thermal Systems & Energy Integration

We are looking for a highly technical R&D Project Manager to lead a groundbreaking industrial energy integration project. Our goal is to radically optimize the energy footprint of our spray drying operations by capturing and upgrading latent heat. You will be at the helm of integrating a high-capacity, multi-stage heat pump system into a unified, closed-loop solution around our spray dryer. This is not a standard off-the-shelf installation; it is a complex, multidisciplinary R&D challenge involving advanced compressor mapping, thermodynamics, and significant system integration challenges. If you are passionate about process engineering, industrial decarbonization, and taking complex concepts from the whiteboard to the real world, this is the role for you.

Become part of GEA Process Engineering A/S in Søborg.

Our R&D Department in Søborg functions as an integral part of GEA's global technology hub for powders. Here, we innovate and create new processes, devices, measurement tools, and machinery for the production and handling of powder products—from catalyst and battery powders to infant formula and instant coffee.

As a Project Manager, you must understand not only the mechanical/mechatronic solutions but also the core processes in which the equipment will operate. This dual focus makes R&D at GEA both challenging and fascinating. Our team enjoys privileged access to state-of-the-art testing facilities, advanced laboratories, and robust high-performance computing resources.

Assignments and Responsibility

You will report to the Director of Process Innovation & Sustainability and collaborate closely with specialists, Product Managers, and commercial stakeholders. You will manage and lead development projects from the idea phase and project initiation, all the way to the final prototype test and handover of the fully matured product to the business.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Lean & Effective Project Management: Manage the R&D budget, Capex forecasts, and critical path timelines, adjusting for the inherent uncertainties of experimental engineering.
• Technical Integration: Act as the technical bridge between process engineers, automation experts, and mechanical designers to ensure the heat pump and spray dryer communicate and function as a seamless system.
• Team Leadership: Lead, navigate, and inspire our specialists with adept stakeholder management, ensuring optimal utilization of their time and resources.
• OEM & Vendor Management: Source, evaluate, and collaborate with specialized OEMs. Translate our complex process requirements into strict equipment specifications.
• Risk & Safety Management: Proactively manage technical risks and ensure the project is safe and compliant with all relevant rules and regulations.
• Technical Guidance: Guide key decisions throughout the project lifecycle by leaning on your understanding of intricate technical and thermodynamic details.
• Clear Communication: Provide transparency by hosting regular meetings and reporting key figures and progress to the wider organization.

The Ideal Profile

• BSc, MSc or Ph.D. degree in Chemical, Process, Mechanical, Energy Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience involving industrial heat pumps, refrigeration cycles, MVR, steam generation, or complex evaporation/drying processes.
• 5+ years of project management or relevant technical experience in physical R&D, process engineering, or heavy industrial execution. (PMP or similar certification is a plus).
• We value technical brilliance combined with a genuine passion for innovation and a drive to introduce new products to the market. A natural curiosity and an eagerness to delve into unfamiliar territories are vital.

Why Join?

• Solving technical problems that can lead to significant industrial impact
• Directly contribute to cutting-edge industrial decarbonization.

We will process the applications as we receive them, but please submit your application no later than March 15, 2026.

Please apply via the indicated link. Please note that GEA exclusively uses electronic recruiting, and only applications received through our application system will be considered.