Freelance Siemens Automation Engineer – Greenfield Food Production Project – Antwerp, Belgium
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Duration: 12 months (freelance contract)
Sector: Food & Beverage / Industrial Automation
Overview
We are seeking a Freelance Siemens Automation Engineer to play a key role in a greenfield food production project in the Antwerp area. This is a unique opportunity to work on the full lifecycle delivery of an entirely new automation system, from being involved in the initial design through to commissioning and production ramp-up.
The project involves the implementation of a brand-new Siemens-based control architecture across multiple production lines and plant utilities. You will be instrumental in building the automation environment from the ground up, ensuring robust, scalable, and high-performance systems tailored for a modern, high-throughput food manufacturing facility.
Your Role
* Design, program, and commission Siemens PLC and HMI systems for new production lines, utilities, and plant-wide processes.
* Develop automation architecture from scratch using Siemens TIA Portal (Step 7, WinCC).
* Define control philosophies, functional specifications, and system standards for a new facility.
* Configure and integrate industrial communication networks (Profinet, Profibus) across the plant.
* Lead and support FAT, SAT, and full on-site commissioning of newly installed systems.
* Work closely with electrical, mechanical, and OEM suppliers during installation and integration phases.
* Troubleshoot and resolve issues during commissioning and production ramp-up.
* Optimize automation systems for performance, reliability, and efficiency in a high-speed production environment.
* Develop and maintain detailed technical documentation, including software structure and as-built systems.
* Ensure all systems comply with safety regulations, industrial standards, and food production requirements.
Your Profile
* 5+ years’ experience in automation engineering within food & beverage or industrial manufacturing environments.
* Strong hands-on experience with Siemens PLCs (S7-1200/1500) and TIA Portal.
* Proven experience delivering automation systems from design through to commissioning.
* Experience with HMI/SCADA systems (WinCC).
* Solid understanding of industrial communication protocols (Profinet, Profibus).
* Experience working on greenfield or large-scale upgrade projects is highly desirable.
* Familiarity with electrical systems and control panels is a plus.
* Knowledge of Belgian and European standards (AREI / IEC) is advantageous.
* Fluent in English.
* Eligible to work as a freelance contractor in Belgium.
* Available for on-site work in Antwerp.
Bonus Skills
* Experience with Siemens drives and motion control systems (Sinamics).
* Knowledge of batch processing, recipe management, and traceability systems in food production.
* Experience integrating SCADA with MES or data collection platforms.
* Familiarity with commissioning strategies for new plants and production ramp-up.
* Experience in high-throughput or 24/7 production environments.
Apply now — the client is ready to interview immediately!