Automation Engineer

Manufacturing Automation Engineer

Location: Barnsley
Salary: £60,000
Shift: Monday - Friday Days

An established UK manufacturing business is investing significantly in new technology, automation and capital equipment. As part of this continued development, we are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Automation Engineer to join the team at its Barnsley site.

This is a hands-on engineering role focused on modernising manufacturing operations through robotics, automation and process optimisation. You will have the opportunity to identify improvement opportunities, lead automation projects and introduce new technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, productivity and cost.

The role would suit an Automation, Manufacturing or Production Engineer with strong experience of robotics, PLC-controlled systems and continuous improvement, who enjoys working directly with production teams and delivering practical solutions within a complex manufacturing environment.

• Identify, develop and deliver automation opportunities across manufacturing operations.
• Lead the installation, commissioning and integration of robotic and automated systems.
• Develop, optimise and troubleshoot robot programmes and PLC-controlled processes.
• Support the introduction of new manufacturing technologies and equipment.
• Carry out cost-benefit analysis and provide technical input into capital investment decisions.
• Lead and support automation and engineering projects from concept through to implementation.
• Drive continuous improvement using data analysis, Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality and other cross-functional teams to improve manufacturing performance.
• Support process optimisation, cell layout and material flow improvements.
• Contribute to NPI and manufacturing engineering activities.

You will ideally have:

• At least 2 years' Production or Manufacturing Engineering experience within an automotive Tier 1, FMCG or similar high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience delivering New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
• Strong knowledge of APQP, PFMEA, Six Sigma and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Experience with manufacturing process design, production cell layout and material flow principles.
• Practical experience of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Project management experience, ideally managing multiple engineering projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of CAD software, preferably AutoCAD.
• A degree in Manufacturing Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong experience with robotics, automation and PLC-controlled manufacturing systems.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong project management and organisational ability.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management.
• The ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• A practical, hands-on approach to engineering and problem solving.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with a focus on delivering measurable results.
• The ability to quickly understand and adopt new technologies and manufacturing processes.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established manufacturing organisation during a period of continued investment and technological development.

You will play a key role in shaping the future of manufacturing operations, with the opportunity to work on robotics, automation, capital projects and process improvement while making a tangible impact on production performance.