Process Engineering Expert
to improve industrial processes with fast, precise AI matchingHire experts who design, model and optimize production processes, from mass and energy balances to process safety and plant commissioning. FRATCH matches you with vetted, available freelancers whose skills fit your technical goals quickly and precisely.
Meet FRATCH Experts who have recently used Process Engineering
Volker W.
Last position:
Analyst – Platform Optimization at TradingView ProRealtime
Programming custom indicators with ProBuilder (for the ProRealTime platform)
6 months at RCP - Rabe Academy (basics - trading account - TWS Interactive Brokers) Focus: ETH price history - NVIDIA stock (NASDAQ and CBOE)
- 500 hours total (TradingView & ProRealTime), including approx. 1,500 hours of tick data analysis using ProRealTime
Systematic market analysis, development of custom indicators, pattern recognition.
Michael T.
Last position:
Advisor at AI Governance & Evaluation Advisory
- Advisor on AI readiness and evaluation structures for enterprise-level adoption in finance and technology contexts
- Developed rubric-based evaluation frameworks assessing reasoning quality, factual reliability, and compliance alignment of AI models
- Embedded human-in-the-loop oversight and reporting standards
Anneliese S.
Last position:
Consultant at Global Trust Impact Capital
- M&A advisory
- Strategic deal support
- Impact investments
Jörg S.
Last position:
Engineer & Founder at SchemTech
- Simulations and development of hybrid digital twins to enable deep process understanding and to support better decision-making and outcomes in industrial R&D and manufacturing.
Thomas S.
Last position:
Automation Technology Lecturer at HWK Munich and Upper Bavaria
- Training professionals in PLC technology, pneumatics, control engineering, and KUKA robots
- Creating scripts for Siemens systems: STEP 5, STEP 7, TIA Portal, WinCC
- Creating scripts for pneumatics, control engineering, and KUKA robot programming
- Serving on the examination committee for quality assurance in vocational training
- Training and certifying over 500 professionals
Jochen G.
Last position:
Senior Specialist Software Compliance at Inter Versicherung
- Designing processes for implementing regulatory IT requirements (VAIT, BAIT, DORA, MaGo) and establishing them within the IT organization
- Monitoring the execution of these processes, quality assurance and adaptation to new requirements
- Support and coordination of the annual audit regarding regulatory IT requirements (PwC)
- ITK governance
- Software lifecycle management
- Documentation and control of the IDV development process
- Process support and policy creation when setting up test management with regard to DORA and VAIT
- Policy creation for IAM processes
- Tools/Applications: ServiceNow, Confluence, Jira, M365, Loop, Connect, Omada
Christian M.
Last position:
Interim advisor / coach / facilitator
COO/CFO, CRO, multi-site operations manager, advisor, task force, PMO, SCRUM master and agile coach
Technical/commercial operations lead with P&L responsibility
Operations, supply chain, services, sourcing, OPEX, digitalization, IT, engineering, quality, governance
Interim multi-site operations management, insolvency management, financial management/CFO, commercial management/sales
Enterprise lean transformation and digitalization
Agile networks strategy for global operations
Industrialization: process management, reporting and KPI matrix
Agile workforce organization: structures and processes
Head of PMO – agile transformation and digital squad manager
Launch management / ramp up / NPDI
Project and performance management system (Hoshin/TGROW)
SCRUM master leadership and project engagements
Qualification programs: Lean / Six Sigma / agile methods
Data analytics and business intelligence market data analytics
Value creation / buy & build / M&A management
Various private-equity engagements
Operational management / SCM
Restructuring / transformation
Operational excellence / Lean
Performance management
Experience with Deloitte Consulting and BCG
Industrial experience in healthcare services, pharma/biotech, medical devices, manufacturing/electronic, automotive OEM/tier x, manufacturing automation, IT services/digitalization
Private-equity related work with firms including Aurelius, Rank, 3i, Emeran, Advent, TA Associates, Cinven, TPG, Duke Street, Dubag, Wellington Partners, Bridgepoint, Barclays Private Equity, Arques, BC Partners, CVC, KPS Capital, KKR, EQT, Astorg
Clients and engagements with Fresenius (Fresenius Medical Care, Kabi), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Philips, Danaher, MediGlobe, Roche, Boehringer, Cinfa Biotech, 3M, Qiagen, Stada, Pfizer, Sanofi, Catalent, Aenova, Recipharm, Elanco, Suez, Ametek, Syntegon, Magna, Demmel, Faurecia, Kongsberg, Bosch, Continental, Räuchle, WAFA, Lufthansa
Education: MBA, City University (USA); Dipl. Ingenieur Environmental and Process Technology
Certifications: Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Lean Manager (Toyota); Change Manager and performance coach TGROW; Prince 2 and OKR Master; Regulatory affairs / GxP manager
Languages: German – mother tongue; English – business fluent
International work experience across Asia (especially China, Japan and Singapore), USA, Western and Eastern Europe
Jovan J.
Last position:
CSV Manager, Technical Engineering at CureVac Printer GmbH
- Assist with the development of system requirements and specifications to ensure requirements are testable and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements are met
- Coach implementation teams in the proper execution of validation documents
- Evaluate proposed changes to validated computer systems and recommend level of validation activities required
- Coordinate audits of internal computer systems validation activities, protocols and procedures, and prepare responses
- Identify and qualify all computer systems impacting cGMP operations using a risk-based methodology
- Develop CFR Part 11 computer systems validation plans, qualification test protocols, traceability matrices, reports, IQ/OQ protocols and all deliverables within the scope of the validation plan
- Develop and maintain test plans, test scripts and user acceptance tests and manage their execution
- Act as CSV lead for all validation projects and execute or oversee validation plans and documents
- Perform project management activities for the CSV process within the scope of system projects
- Work with project manager to include validation activities in implementation timelines
- Manage internal CSV resources to facilitate completion of qualification activities
- Ensure initiation, preparation and closeout of all CSV-related deviations, discrepancies and change control documents
- Work closely with Validation Manager and QA Compliance to ensure appropriate validation of cGMP computer systems
- Conduct or facilitate validation and 21 CFR Part 11 training
Andreas H.
Last position:
Paint Department Manager at Montaplast GmbH
- Disciplinary and technical leadership of the paint production area with series production, polishing and rework, surface technology, robot application technology, and paint line technology
- Weekly reporting of key figures such as overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), machine utilization, setup times, scrap/rework rate, productivity per employee, and absence rate
- Ensuring the availability of personnel, material, equipment, and paint systems
- Continuous development of employees, processes, standards, and the organizational structure
- Implementation and establishment of lean management principles for waste-free production and continuous improvement process (CIP)
- Planning and implementation of investments as well as budget responsibility
- Targeted project coordination through to successful completion
- Derivation and implementation of annual goals as well as individual target agreements with employees
- Fulfillment of employer duties with regard to occupational, environmental, and health protection
Andrea C.
Last position:
Founder at SCM Forward
- Consulting project. Member of Program Management Office leading the turnaround of a EUR 5 bil engineering Group, responsible for Indirect Spend reduction and targeting EUR 60 mil savings across 10+ spend categories
Abir B.
Last position:
Independent Consultant — Project Management at Freelance
- Managed complex CAPEX and process enhancement projects for Guidepoint, AlphaSights, L.E.K. Consulting, and NanoHelix involving cleanroom expansions, automated bioprocess systems, and validation program rollouts.
- Established and maintained comprehensive project schedules integrating engineering, validation, quality assurance, and operations milestones ensuring GMP compliance and regulatory readiness.
- Oversaw FAT/SAT coordination with vendors for bioprocess skids, monitoring instrumentation calibration, and clean utility validation protocols.
Eugen B.
Last position:
Test Manager at Research Industrial Systems Engineering (RISE) Forschungs-, Entwicklungs- und GroĂźprojektberatung GmbH
- Creation of test concepts
- Requirements management
- Release planning and support
- DDS management
- Reporting (test report, AFO TestMatrix)
- UAT/BAT coordination
- Onboarding of new team members
- Team planning / capacity planning
- Support with documentation
- Methods/tools/technologies: black box, white box, exploratory testing, E2E testing, regression testing, L&P testing, acceptance testing and interface testing, integration and system testing, networking, JIRA with Zephyrscale plug-in, Confluence, RISE Portal, Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6, Linux, VM, Postman, SQL, SQL-Developer, Bruno, Wireshark, cloud, Burp Suite, Notepad++
Andreas K.
Last position:
Project Manager at Winkelmann Building+Industry / Reflex Winkelmann
As part of a greenfield project, a new production plant is being built in Slovakia to produce industrial media storage for OEMs and distributors once completed.
Procurement and industrialization of production equipment for prefabrication.
Design, procurement, installation and integration of complete production lines based on stamping, forming and welding technology with integrated, labor-reducing processes.
Establishment of a production environment under strategic aspects according to the latest state of the art.
Overall and continuous communication with the entire greenfield team, adjacent departments and plant and executive management.
Development of concepts together with key suppliers and identification of ratio potentials along manufacturing process chains using value stream analyses.
Collection, assessment and application of process data such as throughput times, manufacturing times, setup times, wait and idle times using time and multimoment studies as well as surveys.
Forward-looking design of production systems and processes with the goal of implementing automated and competitive process solutions as part of comprehensive supply chain management.
Planning of production workflows, definition of manufacturing methods, design of the overall layout and workstations.
Determination and recording of process cost rates, overhead rates, cost evaluation of production processes, machine hourly rates, depreciation as well as expected share of claims and rework costs to optimize manufacturing costs.
Continuous optimizations of product designs for their adaptation into automation-oriented production environments until the plant's SOP.
Multi-project management for the engineering, design, procurement, installation and process integration of all relevant trades with respect to plant engineering, lifting equipment, production equipment and QA installations.
Ongoing establishment of an overall concept in constructive, plant engineering, logistical, IT and QA aspects.
Eugen P.
Last position:
Interim Project Manager / Program Management / Operational Excellence
Gerhard S.
Last position:
Member of the Board of Directors at Windisch S.A.
- Board member
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using Process Engineering
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
26 years
Position duration
4.7 years
Positions per freelancer
11
Top business areas
Project Management, Quality Assurance, Product Development
Top industries
Manufacturing, Automotive, Professional Services
Certification focus areas
Quality Assurance, Operations, Information Technology
Bachelor's degree or higher
93%
Master's degree or higher
57%
Doctorate
11%
Certifications per freelancer
3
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
92%
Based on our profile pool as of 26 Sep 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of experts in this technology are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows the share of experts charging within that range.
Average rates of experts using Process Engineering
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 26 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Process Engineering experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Manufacturing (83%)
- Automotive (48%)
- Professional Services (36%)
- Chemical (35%)
- Energy (29%)
- Pharmaceutical (29%)
- Information Technology (27%)
- Education (23%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the technology
What Process Engineering Covers
Process Engineering turns raw materials, energy and operating conditions into safe, repeatable production systems. It covers process design, equipment selection, utility planning, operating procedures and the control of material and energy flows. Experts work across chemical, pharmaceutical, food, energy, water and manufacturing environments.
Typical Deliverables
A process specialist can take a concept from early feasibility through commissioning and operational improvement. Typical deliverables include:
- Process flow diagrams and piping and instrumentation diagrams
- Mass, energy and utility balances
- Equipment specifications and datasheets
- Process simulations and operating envelopes
- Commissioning, validation and handover documentation
Methods and Tooling
The work combines thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering and process control. Depending on the project, professionals use Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, gPROMS, MATLAB, AutoCAD Plant 3D or AVEVA tools. They also work with PFD and P&ID standards, hazardous-area requirements, instrumentation data and plant information systems.
When Companies Need Expertise
Companies often bring in freelance expertise when an internal team needs focused capacity or a project enters a demanding technical phase. Common triggers include:
- Scaling a laboratory or pilot process for commercial production
- Reducing energy use, waste, downtime or material losses
- Updating a plant, production line or utility system
- Preparing hazard studies, validation or regulatory documentation
- Supporting commissioning, troubleshooting or debottlenecking
Skills That Matter
Strong professionals connect calculations with what operators, maintenance teams and production managers can use in practice. They understand process safety, HAZOP and risk assessment, control strategies, equipment constraints and data quality. They can explain assumptions clearly and coordinate with mechanical, electrical, automation, quality and environmental specialists.
Choosing the Right Specialist
Start with the process stage, substances handled, required deliverables and site constraints. Ask for evidence of comparable process conditions, simulation work, plant changes or commissioning support rather than relying on software familiarity alone. For remote work, define data access, review routines and documentation standards; on-site work may be important for surveys, trials, startup and operator collaboration.
Frequently asked questions
Before you brief your next project: the most common questions about Process Engineering.
Process Engineering is used to design, operate and improve systems that transform materials, energy or chemicals into products. It supports process development, plant design, scale-up, production improvement, commissioning and troubleshooting across many industries.
Process Engineering focuses on flows, transformations, operating conditions, balances, safety and control of a production system. Mechanical specialists focus more on physical equipment and structures, while production specialists often concentrate on throughput, staffing and day-to-day manufacturing performance. The disciplines must work closely together on industrial projects.
A strong Process Engineering expert often brings process simulation, process safety, control concepts and equipment specification skills. Familiarity with HAZOP, P&IDs, validation, data analysis and commissioning is also useful. The right combination depends on whether the project concerns design, optimization or plant operations.
The level of Process Engineering experience should match the project risk and technical scope. A focused balance review may need a different profile from a plant modification, scale-up or startup involving hazardous materials. Review comparable deliverables, process conditions and industry context before deciding.
Process Engineering can often be done remotely when drawings, operating data, specifications and stakeholder access are available. Site visits may still be needed for surveys, equipment checks, trials, commissioning or operator workshops. Agree early on which activities require physical presence and how technical reviews will run online.
Common Process Engineering tools include Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, gPROMS, MATLAB and plant design systems such as AutoCAD Plant 3D or AVEVA. Software choice depends on the process, the required model fidelity and the existing engineering environment. A capable specialist should explain the assumptions behind the model, not only produce a simulation file.
Good Process Engineering work is traceable, practical and consistent with plant constraints. Check whether assumptions, input data, safety considerations, design margins and operating limits are documented. Ask how the professional validates models and communicates risks, trade-offs and unresolved questions.
Before accepting Process Engineering work, clarify the process stage, scope, available data, expected deliverables and decision makers. Confirm site access, confidentiality, software requirements, review gates and responsibility for safety-critical decisions. Clear boundaries help prevent gaps between process design, equipment supply, controls and operations.
The average hourly rate of freelancers who have used Process Engineering in their recent projects is 102 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 812 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers who have used Process Engineering in their recent projects, 93% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 57% hold at least a Master's degree, and 11% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers who have used Process Engineering in their recent projects have 26 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 4.7 years.
The most common languages among freelancers who have used Process Engineering in their recent projects are German (100%), English (91%), and French (20%).
The most common industries among freelancers who have used Process Engineering in their recent projects are Manufacturing (83%), Automotive (48%), and Professional Services (36%).
The most common business areas among freelancers who have used Process Engineering in their recent projects are Project Management (80%), Quality Assurance (80%), and Product Development (77%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used Process Engineering
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home all over Germany — available on-site in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and every major business hub, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg In Austria our freelancers and interim experts support companies from Vienna to Graz — on-site where your project needs them, or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Vienna Graz Across Switzerland our specialists are active in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern — working on-site or fully remote. Choose a city to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Zurich Geneva Basel Bern Countries:
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