Continuous Extrusion Process Engineer – Food, Pharma & Nutraceuticals

Overview

Palomba General Trading LLC is seeking a technically skilled Continuous Extrusion Process Engineer to handle advanced industrial process-equipment projects in Saudi Arabia and GCC. This role is focused on continuous extrusion and processing technologies in food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and specialty ingredient sectors.

Role Responsibilities

• Interpret and analyze client needs for continuous extrusion and processing operations.
• Assess raw material properties such as particle size, moisture, flowability, bulk density, and temperature sensitivity.
• Determine feed-rate requirements ensuring consistency of both solid and liquid inputs.
• Assist in selecting appropriate extrusion approaches, including single or twin-screw methods.
• Evaluate extrusion screw configurations and processing zones.
• Analyze barrel and product temperature behavior, pressure dynamics, and process stability.
• Optimize screw speed, throughput, residence time, torque, and mechanical energy parameters.
• Facilitate the integration of feeding and dosing systems for powders and liquids.
• Manage continuous blending and ingredient incorporation tasks.
• Oversee upstream material handling and downstream processing like cooling, cutting, shaping, and drying.
• Participate in pilot trials, process development, and review trial data for industrial scaling.
• Identify and resolve process inefficiencies such as feed inconsistency, excessive shear, or pressure fluctuations.
• Coordinate technical engagement among customers, specialists, and international equipment manufacturers.
• Prepare technical documents including specifications and process data sheets.
• Contribute to technical project reviews, equipment selection, and support commissioning activities.

Technical Knowledge and Equipment Experience

The candidate should be familiar with essential process variables including feed rate, screw speed and configuration, L/D ratio, residence time, torque, mechanical energy, temperature profiles, pressure, moisture, particle size, throughput, shear, mixing intensity, product consistency, and stability.

Relevant equipment expertise includes twin-screw and single-screw extruders, continuous processors, gravimetric and volumetric feeders, loss-in-weight dosing, powder and liquid feeding systems, continuous mixers, compounding equipment, downstream cooling, cutting or forming units, process instrumentation, and integrated continuous processing lines.

Application Sectors

Experience in the following areas is advantageous: food and functional ingredients, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical processing, premixes, protein and cereal processing, specialty powders, botanical ingredients, and controlled continuous formulations.

Candidate Profile

The ideal applicant is a hands-on process engineer with a thorough understanding of extrusion systems and continuous processing. They must analyze complex process data effectively, diagnose issues, and communicate well with engineering teams and industrial clients. Candidates with predominantly sales or administrative backgrounds are not suitable.

Qualifications and Experience

• A degree in Chemical, Process, Mechanical, Food, Pharmaceutical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• At least 3 years of relevant industrial or process engineering experience is preferred.
• Practical knowledge in extrusion, continuous processing, compounding, and associated material handling systems.
• Ability to interpret technical parameters and production data, with a good grasp of heat and mass transfer principles being a plus.
• Familiarity with process diagrams, P&IDs, and technical documentation.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
• Effective communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Preferred Technical Exposure

• Extrusion process development and twin-screw processing
• Continuous manufacturing and powder feeding
• Gravimetric and loss-in-weight dosing systems
• Process scale-up, pilot plant operations, and industrial trials
• Process optimization, instrumentation, and equipment commissioning

Preferred Industry Experience

• Food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical manufacturing
• Functional ingredients and specialty chemicals
• Ingredient processing and process-equipment manufacturing
• Industrial research and development and application engineering

What We Offer

This full-time opportunity located in Riyadh offers a monthly salary ranging from SAR 15,000 to 23,000 based on experience and qualifications. Performance-based incentives may be applicable. The position provides exposure to international manufacturers, challenging projects across GCC, and a professional environment fostering growth within process equipment operations at Palomba General Trading LLC.

About Palomba General Trading LLC

Based in Dubai, Palomba General Trading LLC specializes in technical and commercial collaboration between Middle East and European markets, focusing on food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, specialty ingredients, and industrial process equipment. The company acts as a bridge connecting customers with international manufacturers.