Innovation & Discovery Engineer (Front-End Innovation)

About the role

Orbia Building & Infrastructure (Wavin) is looking for a Discovery Engineer in Dedemsvaart, Netherlands. The role sits at the front end of innovation, where customer needs, technology and business opportunities meet. You turn unmet customer needs into products, systems and services, working with customers, market segments, business units and Technology & Innovation colleagues to explore, build and validate new concepts through prototypes, proofs of concept and proofs of value.

Key responsibilities

• Gather market insights and uncover customer pain points by engaging with contractors, engineering consultancies, municipalities, developers and other partners.
• Translate those insights into innovative product, system and service concepts.
• Build and validate prototypes, PoCs and PoVs using an Explore, Build, Validate approach.
• Assess technical feasibility, customer value and commercial potential through rapid experimentation.
• Collaborate across market segments, business units, Product Management and Technology & Innovation, and build external networks with customers, start-ups and knowledge partners.

Required profile

• BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Product Design or a comparable technical discipline.
• At least 5-8 years of experience in engineering, product development or innovation, with a track record of turning ideas into working solutions.
• Strong technical problem-solving skills, hands-on prototyping and validation experience, and sound commercial awareness.
• Ability to communicate with customers and stakeholders internationally; professional English is required.

What we offer

• Pay grade 5 of the OWASE collective labour agreement, with a minimum of 37 vacation days.
• Discounted gym membership, employee assistance coaching and development opportunities via LinkedIn Learning and the GROW Hub.
• Fresh fruit every day.
• Pension plan with the employer contributing 23.5% of the premium.