Application Specialist, Grain Processing & Bio-Industrial Solutions

Are you ready to apply your process engineering expertise to bioscience innovation and help develop sustainable solutions for grain processing and adjacent bio-industrial applications?

IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.

Health & Biosciences: Channeling our passion for nature and bioscience into sustainable, life-enhancing technologies that power innovative solutions across healthcare, food, consumer and industrial markets.

The role is based in Castelo Branco, SP (on-site). Be part of a collaborative, innovative, and solution-oriented team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Design and execute lab- and pilot-scale experiments across grain processing operations, supporting the development of robust and scalable application solutions.
• Lead process optimization activities, with a strong focus on enzymatic oil degumming, as well as key grain ethanol production steps such as liquefaction, saccharification, fermentation, and downstream processing.
• Generate, analyze, and translate experimental data into industrial recommendations that support product development, customer applications, and business opportunities.
• Apply process engineering principles, including mass and energy balances, unit operation optimization, and process troubleshooting, to improve application outcomes.
• Support innovation beyond core ethanol applications, including coproduct upgrading for fiber, oil, and protein streams, as well as alternative process routes and adjacent bio-industrial applications.
• Contribute to the evaluation of biodiesel integration, oil processing value chains, alternative substrates, and new process configurations.
• Collaborate with global Research & Development, Commercial, and Technical Service teams to translate early-stage concepts into customer-relevant applied solutions.
• Provide advanced technical support for key customers, strategic initiatives, industrial trials, and regional projects across Latin America.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, technical discussions, innovation workshops, and capability development within the regional team.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 9 years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience, in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Strong background in chemical engineering is highly preferred, particularly in process engineering, unit operations, and industrial process optimization.
• Solid hands-on experience in grain processing, industrial fermentation, biofuels production, or related application development environments.
• Deep technical knowledge of biodiesel and/or oil processing, with the ability to apply this expertise to grain processing and adjacent bio-industrial applications.
• Experience working with process engineering tools and concepts, including mass balances, process simulation, process scale-up, and unit operation optimization.
• Proven ability to design experiments, interpret data, and convert technical findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work with complex industrial processes in a structured and data-driven way.
• Fluent English and Portuguese are required to support global collaboration and regional business needs.
• Willingness to travel up to approximately 20% for customer visits, industrial trials, regional project support, and occasional global technical meetings.

How Would You Stand Out?

• Spanish language skills would be a strong advantage for regional collaboration across Latin America.
• Experience with enzymes, yeast, process aids, or other technologies used in grain processing applications.
• Previous exposure to innovation programs, exploratory technical projects, or cross-functional product development initiatives.

Why Choose Us?

• Opportunity to contribute to innovation in Health & Biosciences and support sustainable, life-enhancing technologies.
• Exposure to advanced application development across grain processing, biofuels, coproduct valorization, and adjacent industrial markets.
• Collaboration with global Research & Development, Commercial, and Technical Service teams.
• Opportunity to work closely with customers and translate technical expertise into practical industrial impact.
• Participation in regional and global projects that support learning, development, and technical growth.
• A dynamic environment where your technical knowledge can help shape new solutions beyond traditional ethanol applications.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more