Chemical Engineer

Are you a hands-on chemist eager to create real impact in the agricultural sector? Do you want to contribute to sustainable innovation and help solve the nitrogen challenge? Then this is your opportunity!

At Lely, we’ve developed the Lely Sphere – an innovative and circular barn system that separates and transforms mineral flows into valuable fertilizer. This not only closes cycles on the farm, but also contributes to a healthier barn climate. As a chemical engineer/chemist within the Lely Sphere team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effectiveness of the system's chemical processes. Your work spans from the lab to the barn and the boardroom, as you collaborate with universities, government bodies, and international partners.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the expert in chemical washing processes and manure treatment within Lely Sphere.
• Checking and optimizing chemical procedures to ensure robust and efficient system performance.
• Ensuring compliance with (inter)national regulations and guiding relevant certification processes.
• Supporting real-time emission monitoring and research on CO₂ and NH₃ emissions at the farm level.
• Modeling chemical processes to forecast and improve operational efficiency.
• Co-shaping the system’s future design to maximize its sustainability and impact.

What experience do you bring?

We are looking for an analytical and curious chemist who is eager to make a difference. You enjoy exploring, experimenting, and improving—whether you’re in the lab or in the field.

• A Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• An inquisitive mindset and a passion for understanding chemical processes.
• A pragmatic and hands-on mentality—you’re just as comfortable on a farm as in a laboratory.
• The drive to innovate and explore new ideas with suppliers and partners.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Fluency in English; Dutch is a plus.

What do we offer you?

Working at Lely means contributing to sustainable progress within one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You contribute to making the agricultural sector future-proof – and we make sure that you get all the space, resources and support you need to do so.

• An international working environment with opportunities for own initiative and entrepreneurship.
• Excellent working conditions, including up to 8 weeks of vacation per year and a good pension scheme.
• A salary within the scale of € 4886,- to € 6980,- gross per month, in which we like to see opportunities for growth from your starting salary towards the future.
• Good growth opportunities: you are in control of your development and can choose from various training courses through our Lely Academy – from personal development to job-specific training.
• Our modern Lely Campus offers daily access to extensive sports facilities: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, an outdoor basketball and volleyball court, table tennis and table soccer. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training – and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our own barista, with milk straight from our farm, as well as a healthy and affordable company restaurant.
• A healthy work-life balance thanks to our hybrid work policy: you work at least three days a week on Campus, with flexible working hours and plenty of room to spend extra time on site (between 06:00 and 20:00).
• A free shuttle bus will take you to and from the metro in Maassluis, so your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• Successes need to be celebrated: from anniversaries to Christmas parties – at Lely we know how to do it!

Over Lely

A sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future for dairy farmers by combining robotics, engineering, and farming expertise. That’s what we believe in.

It all began in 1948 with a dream of two brothers in Maassluis. Since then, we have become an innovative leader in automated systems for dairy farmers worldwide. With 2,500 specialized professionals, we continuously work on new agricultural revolutions. We do this from our Campus in Maassluis (the building with the highest possible sustainability performance in the Netherlands), as well as from various international locations. Together, we share one goal: making dairy farming appealing for the next generation too.