Senior Automation Engineer

Blackbook Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackbook Recruitment is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer for a leading FMCG manufacturer in Western Sydney. You will provide technical leadership across electrical, controls and automation systems in a high-volume environment.

You will lead PLC/HMI/SCADA troubleshooting, drive reliability improvements and contribute to capital projects, with a focus on safety, standards and hands-on problem solving across Engineering, Maintenance and Operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in electrical, controls or automation in manufacturing.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting capability with industrial controls.
• Experience leading or coaching technical personnel and collaborating across functions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the site's long-term electrical and controls architecture.
• Lead PLC, HMI/SCADA and automation troubleshooting across the plant.
• Drive improvements in equipment reliability, controls performance and plant efficiency.
• Establish and maintain electrical, instrumentation and controls standards.
• Provide technical leadership across automation upgrades and capital projects.
• Support projects from scope development and design through commissioning and handover.
• Work with Engineering, Maintenance and Operations to resolve complex technical issues.
• Manage controls documentation, software backups and equipment obsolescence planning.
• Coach and develop Controls Engineers, electricians and technical personnel.
• Coordinate external contractors, suppliers and automation integrators.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA experience

Industrial networks

People leadership

Capital projects experience

Education

Electrical/Electronic/Mechatronics/Automation/Control Systems Engineering

Tools

Allen-Bradley/Rockwell

FactoryTalk

Wonderware/AVEVA

Job description

The Company

My client is a leading FMCG manufacturer looking for a Senior Automation Engineer to provide technical leadership across electrical, controls and automation systems within a high-volume manufacturing environment.

The Role

Reporting into the Engineering Manager, the responsibilities of the role include:

• Develop and maintain the site's long-term electrical and controls architecture.
• Lead PLC, HMI/SCADA and automation troubleshooting across the plant.
• Drive improvements in equipment reliability, controls performance and plant efficiency.
• Establish and maintain electrical, instrumentation and controls standards.
• Provide technical leadership across automation upgrades and capital projects.
• Support projects from scope development and design through to commissioning and handover.
• Work with Engineering, Maintenance and Operations to resolve complex technical issues.
• Manage controls documentation, software backups and equipment obsolescence planning.
• Coach and develop Controls Engineers, electricians and technical personnel.
• Coordinate external contractors, suppliers and automation integrators.

This role is based in Western Sydney.

Your Background

In order to be successful in this role, you will have:

• A tertiary qualification in Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronics, Automation or Control Systems Engineering.
• At least 5 years' experience across electrical, controls or automation in manufacturing.
• Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience, ideally with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell.
• Experience with HMI/SCADA platforms such as FactoryTalk, Wonderware or AVEVA.
• Strong knowledge of industrial networks, instrumentation, VFDs and controls infrastructure.
• Experience supporting capital projects, equipment upgrades and commissioning.
• The ability to lead complex technical investigations and implement sustainable solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management skills across Engineering, Maintenance and Operations.
• Experience coaching or developing technical personnel.
• An electrical trade background or electrical licence will be highly regarded.

What's On Offer

In return, you will be given the opportunity to take ownership of automation and controls across a major FMCG manufacturing site, with exposure to complex technical challenges, capital projects and long-term site improvement initiatives. This is an opportunity to combine hands‑on technical expertise with broader engineering leadership, while developing the capability of the site's controls function and influencing future automation strategy.