Job Description: Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Company: Kaffe Bueno

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (On-site with flexibility)

Department: Manufacturing/Operations

Reports To: Head of Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full-Time

Start Date: As soon as possible (Target: September 2025)

About Kaffe Bueno

Kaffe Bueno is a pioneering Danish startup revolutionizing sustainability by upcycling coffee by-products into high-value ingredients for personal care, agriculture, and beyond. We're in an exciting growth phase, focusing on standardizing quality in our demo plant while preparing for commercial scaling. Fresh off our Gold win at ICI 2025 for KLEANSTANT, we're building a resilient team to drive innovation and efficiency. Join us to make a real impact in circular economy solutions—where your expertise will help turn waste into world-class products.

Role Summary

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you'll lead the optimization of our production systems, ensuring efficient, scalable operations in our demo plant. Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing, you'll handle day-to-day production challenges, workflow improvements, and equipment integration to support quality goals and prepare for high-volume scaling. This hands-on role is perfect for an engineer with deep practical experience in manufacturing and production, focusing on lean principles, safety, and team training to achieve milestones like consistent batch runs.

Key Responsibilities

● Production System Optimization: Design, implement, and continuously refine lean manufacturing workflows to streamline operations across all stages (e.g., reducing cycle times in filtration, drying, and mixing processes). Conduct thorough performance analyses through direct floor involvement, identifying inefficiencies, implementing corrective measures, and monitoring outcomes to achieve targets like >90% uptime and improved yield rates. Collaborate on process mapping and simulation to anticipate and mitigate potential bottlenecks.

● Daily Operations Support: Provide expert oversight on the factory floor, including routine equipment maintenance, calibration, and upgrades to ensure reliable performance. Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs for operators and technicians on standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and troubleshooting techniques. Respond to real-time issues (e.g., equipment malfunctions or process deviations) with root-cause analysis and immediate solutions, while maintaining compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards.

● Scaling & Plant Design: Lead efforts to transition processes from demo to commercial scale, including evaluating and recommending capital expenditures (CAPEX) for equipment upgrades (e.g., with a 20% contingency buffer for unforeseen needs). Optimize plant layout for better material flow, energy efficiency, and capacity expansion. Develop scalable protocols for various product lines, incorporating feedback from pilot runs to ensure robustness and adaptability to raw material variations.

● Quality & Efficiency Integration: Partner with quality assurance/control (QA/QC) and process teams to define, validate, and refine key performance metrics (e.g., turbidity levels, residue thresholds). Perform in-depth root-cause investigations for any deviations or failures, recommending preventive actions. Apply continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Kaizen events, Six Sigma tools) to enhance overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), reduce waste, and address variability in inputs or outputs.

● Team & Cross-Functional Leadership: Mentor junior engineers, operators, and technicians, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and skill development through hands-on coaching and workshops. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with R&D, commercial, and supply chain teams to align on production feasibility, timelines, and resource needs. Contribute to risk assessments and contingency planning for operational disruptions, ensuring seamless integration across departments.

● Documentation & Reporting: Create and maintain detailed documentation, including process flow diagrams, SOPs, maintenance logs, and technical reports. Track and report on key metrics (e.g., OEE, downtime, yield) to inform strategic decisions and milestone achievements. Support procurement by evaluating suppliers for equipment and materials, ensuring reliability and cost-effectiveness.

● Sustainability Focus: Integrate circular economy practices into all processes, such as minimizing waste through by-product valorization and optimizing resource use to align with environmental regulations (e.g., EU standards). Champion sustainable manufacturing initiatives, including energy-efficient upgrades and eco-friendly material handling.

Qualifications

● Education & Experience: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Minimum of 5+ years in manufacturing engineering roles, with proven experience in food processing, biotechnology, agrotech, or similar industries involving plant operations and scaling. Extensive hands-on background in leading production teams from lab/pilot to demo/commercial scales is essential; experience in startup or fast-paced, sustainability-focused environments is highly preferred.

● Technical Skills: Profound practical knowledge of unit operations in manufacturing (e.g., mixing, drying, filtration, extraction, and refining processes). Expertise in equipment troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization, including familiarity with pumps, heaters, conveyors, and automated systems. Strong proficiency in lean manufacturing techniques, continuous improvement tools (e.g., Kaizen, Six Sigma, 5S), and quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, GMP, HACCP). Ability to conduct root-cause analyses using methods like fishbone diagrams or FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis). Experience with process scaling, capacity planning, and CAPEX budgeting, including contingency planning for variability in raw materials or outputs.

● Soft Skills: Exceptional leadership and mentoring abilities to guide cross-functional teams and train junior staff effectively. Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset, with the capacity to make data-driven decisions under pressure. Excellent communication skills for conveying technical concepts to non-experts, facilitating workshops, and reporting to management. Proactive, adaptable, and collaborative approach, thriving in dynamic settings where hands-on involvement is key. Commitment to safety, sustainability, and continuous learning.

● Preferred: Fluency in English; experience with sustainable or circular manufacturing practices, such as waste reduction or by-product utilization. High comfort level with extensive floor time (70%+), including shift work if needed for troubleshooting. Knowledge of regulatory compliance in EU food/agro sectors.

● Other: Must be eligible to work in Denmark; willingness for occasional travel (e.g., supplier audits or training).

What We Offer

● Competitive compensation, plus performance bonuses and equity options.

● 5 weeks vacation, pension contribution

● Growth opportunities in scaling to a commercial plant; collaborative culture focused on impact.

● A meaningful mission in sustainability—help us hit quality goals and scale with your hands-on expertise.