Automation Engineer

Automation Engineer
Middleton, Manchester
Up to £58,000 + 5% Bonus
Permanent | Rotating Day Shifts | No Nights
An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced  Automation Engineer  to join a highly automated  Food Manufacturing  operation in  Middleton, Manchester .

This role offers the opportunity to become the site's recognised  Automation & Controls specialist , supporting a complex process manufacturing environment whilst driving automation improvements, reliability initiatives and future capital projects.
Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you'll take ownership of automation reliability across the site, working closely with Engineering and Operations teams to improve performance, reduce downtime and support future investment programmes.
This position would suit an Automation Engineer who enjoys improving processes, solving complex technical challenges and implementing long-term automation solutions rather than simply reacting to day-to-day breakdowns.

The Role
Supporting and developing  Allen Bradley  and  Siemens PLC  systems.
Maintaining and improving  SCADA , control and automation systems.
Delivering automation improvement and  Continuous Improvement  projects.
Conducting root cause analysis and implementing permanent corrective actions.
Improving automation reliability and manufacturing performance.
Supporting capital investment and automation upgrade projects.
Identifying equipment obsolescence risks and recommending long-term improvements.
Working closely with Engineering and Operations teams to improve efficiency and productivity.
Providing technical support and guidance on automation and controls systems.
Contributing to the site's longer-term automation and reliability strategy.
The Environment
This is a highly automated  Food Manufacturing  facility producing a range of food products within a process-driven manufacturing environment.
The site includes:
Allen Bradley PLCs  (approximately 80% of the automation estate).
Siemens S5 and S7 PLCs .
SCADA systems.
Industrial communications networks.
Pumps and valves.
Drives and motors.
Flow meters and instrumentation.
Storage tanks and process pipework.
CIP systems.
PID control systems.
This is a true  Process Manufacturing  environment where automation, instrumentation and process control play a critical role in operational performance.
What We're Looking For
Experience working as an  Automation Engineer ,  Controls Engineer  or Automation & Controls Engineer.
Strong PLC programming and fault-finding experience.

Experience with  Allen Bradley PLCs  preferred.
Siemens PLC experience beneficial but not essential.
SCADA and industrial automation experience.

Experience with in  Food Manufacturing ,  FMCG , beverage, chemical or wider process manufacturing environments.
Knowledge of instrumentation, process control and PID loops.
Experience working with pumps, valves, drives and flow systems.
Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills.
A proactive approach to reliability improvement and Continuous Improvement activities.
The ability to identify opportunities to improve plant performance, maintainability and automation reliability.

Experience with in  Food Manufacturing  or  FMCG  is highly desirable due to the site's focus on food safety, allergen control, CIP systems and process safety.
Future Projects

This role offers involvement in several significant site-wide initiatives, including:
New SCADA implementation planned for 2027.
Industrial network infrastructure upgrades.
Automation modernisation projects.
Reliability-Centred Maintenance ( RCM ) initiatives.
Approximately  £500,000 of capital investment projects.
Process optimisation and efficiency improvement programmes.
We're looking for someone who can challenge the status quo, bring forward ideas and help shape the future direction of automation across the site.
Salary & Benefits
Up to £58,000 salary.
5% Annual Bonus.
25 Days Holiday plus Bank Holidays.
Buy & Sell Holiday Scheme.
Pension matched up to 10%.
Health Cash Plan.
Cycle to Work Scheme.
On-Site Physiotherapy.
Occupational Health Support.
Employee Discount Platform.
Staff Referral Scheme.
Working Hours -   39 hours per week
Week 1
Monday to Thursday: 6:00am to 2:00pm.
Friday:…