Automation Engineer

What We Do

At Sonoco Chesterfield we manufacture composite cans used as packaging mainly for food and powdered beverages.

You have probably seen some of our products on the shelves in the supermarket:
Pringles, the nation’s favourite Bisto, Nestlé Coffee Mate, Slim Fast powdered beverages, Heinz Baby Food, etc… We are aiming to be one of the first fully paperboard cylindrical packing suppliers, where our packaging is durable and 100% recyclable.

Within the operations department and reporting directly to the Engineering Manager, your role is to improve the efficiency and reliability of our plant manufacturing processes by application automation.

Supporting the production and engineering team through line breakdowns, aiding fault‑finding of the root cause and designing the issue out in the shortest period possible. You’ll be supported by the shift‑engineer team, the process‑improvement engineers and our operators. Running automation projects to plan for continued upgrades of equipment and control systems, ensuring none of our equipment becomes obsolete or out of date.

You will also be involved in projects and day‑to‑day activities at our sister site in Bradford. Additional support required for 5S, SMED, centre lining, process‑control automation, product defect identification systems, component lifespan identification.
Machines installation & qualifications on site: factory acceptance test, commissioning, team training.
New products introduction: trials of new materials and new product launch support at manufacturing level.

The candidate will report to the site Engineering Manager and interact daily with Manufacturing, Engineering, Warehouse, Supply Chain, sister plants (in Europe) and suppliers. The Automation Systems Engineer is expected to be a subject‑matter expert and mentor engineers within the business.

• Provide technical support to all areas daily across electrical, mechanical and automation disciplines.
• Configure and program controllers and visualisation systems using Siemens (Simatic Manager, TIA Portal and WinCC flexible software).
• Plan and program drive technology and servo drives – emphasising SEW Drive and Allen‑Bradley systems.
• Develop, conceive, design and create hardware and circuit diagrams.
• Perform automation troubleshooting following a recognised process.
• Experience with bus systems and bus technology such as “Profinet” and “Profibus” and knowledge of ASI bus and CAN bus.
• Project‑manage and coordinate site automation projects.
• Use Auto Cad/Cad systems to maintain documentation updates and produce 2D CAD drawings of control panels, P&IDs and electrical wiring diagrams.
• Provide onsite services for start‑up or troubleshooting.
• Support and lead automation activities at both the Chesterfield and Bradford production sites.
• Develop HMIs for operator use.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams to resolve automation issues.
• Write programs for newly designed automatic and semi‑automatic machines and conveyor systems for Siemens and Allen‑Bradley hardware.
• Debug and test new or modified PLC and robotic programmes on the production floor.
• Conduct comprehensive machine and system testing.
• Ensure the department operates in accordance with current legislation, company and statutory requirements.
• Ensure the safe and efficient operation of equipment throughout the site.
• Install production and plant equipment, commission, analyse breakdowns and perform repairs.
• Identify areas for engineering improvements to increase safety, quality, efficiency or reduce waste.
• Assist with training company apprentices and shift engineers.
• Assist in developing operational manuals for newly designed machines and conveyor systems.
• Assist in risk assessment of newly designed machines, emphasising machine safety.
• Help refine and develop programming standards and methods.
• Coordinate with other engineers and programmers on large systems and machines.
• Maintain and enhance software and robotics solutions for the two sites.
• Document software changes and updates to support equipment modifications and continued operation.
• Wo…