Automation and Control Engineer

Diageo España SA; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share schemes

Pension - Diageo pays up to 14%

Product Allowance 10%

Annual Bonus

25 Days Annual Leave

Job summary

Diageo is seeking an Automation & Control Engineer for our Belfast packaging facility. The site operates 24/7, handling multiple brands, with a focus on keeping automation equipment running safely and reliably.

You will diagnose faults, improve performance, and work with operators, engineers and suppliers to drive reliability. Ideal candidates will have an electrical/electronic background, experience with Siemens PLCs and SCADA, and a proactive mindset for continuous improvement on a busy

Qualifications

• Recognised Electrical or Electronic apprenticeship and/or an Electrical/ Electronic/Automations qualification.
• Experience with inverter drives and Siemens PLCs (S5/S7/Tia Portal) and SCADA systems.
• Good understanding of industrial networks and safety practices.
• Experience in fast-paced production environments and fault diagnosis.

Responsibilities

• Keep automated machines and control systems running and respond to breakdowns.
• Prevent issues through maintenance, system checks and proactive problem solving.
• Improve machine performance to reduce downtime and waste.
• Support new equipment installations, upgrades and commissioning activities.
• Ensure automation systems are safe and compliant with standards and regulations.

Skills

Problem solving

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Electrical or Electronic apprenticeship

Tools

Siemens PLCs

S5/S7/Tia Portal

SCADA systems

Inverter drives

Job description

Marshalls Road, Belfast Permanent Closing date: 14th September 2026 Base salary £50-55k+ competitive benefits package including pension, shares scheme and bonus!

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company. From global icons like Johnnie Walker, Guinness and Tanqueray to Smirnoff and DonJulio, we create brands consumers love. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate and innovate. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you’ll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join our Supply Chain and Manufacturing Team

Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo’s 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It’s an intricate and sophisticated operation that’s the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations. Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third‑party agreements. We’re committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’ goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we’ll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.

About the role

This role is site based at Diageo’s east Belfast packaging facility is a 12-acre site running a 24/7 operation and is supplied with beer from St James Gate brought to the site in bulk tankers, which each hold up to 30,000 litres of beer. The site packages over 20 brands, including Guinness Draught, Extra Stout and Foreign Extra Stout, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick’s and Rockshore. As an Automation & Control Engineer, you’ll help keep our manufacturing equipment running safely, reliably, and efficiently. You’ll look after the automated systems that control our production machinery, quickly diagnosing and fixing faults, preventing downtime, and improving performance. Working closely with operators, engineers, and external suppliers, you’ll play a hands‑on role in maintaining, improving, and upgrading automation systems while supporting safety, quality, and continuous improvement across the site.

Other key responsibilities include:

• Keeping automated machines and control systems running and responding to breakdowns.
• Preventing issues through maintenance, system checks, and proactive problem‑solving.
• Improving machine performance to reduce downtime, waste, and inefficiency.
• Supporting new equipment installations, upgrades, and commissioning activities.
• Ensuring automation systems are safe and compliant with company and legal standards.
• Act as a technical expert, supporting others through coaching and knowledge sharing.

About You

We’re seeking an experienced Automation Engineer who enjoys solving problems and working hands‑on with automated machinery. You’ll be comfortable fault‑finding control systems, taking a proactive approach to preventing issues, and improving how equipment performs. You work well with others on the factory floor and can explain technical issues clearly, while keeping safety, quality, and reliability at the centre of everything you do.

Experience:

• Recognised Electrical or Electronic apprenticeship and/or an Electrical/ Electronic/Automations qualification
• Extensive experience on inverter drives and Siemens, PLCs, (S5/S7/Tia Portal) and Scada systems.
• Good understanding of industrial communications protocols and associated network infrastructure,
• Experience working with automation and control systems in a fast‑paced production environment.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and confidence diagnosing machine or system faults.
• A good understanding of safety, risk assessments, and safe working practices.
• The ability to work collaboratively with engineers, operators, and external suppliers.
• A proactive mindset, with a focus on continuous improvement and reliability.
• Good communication skills and a willingness to share knowledge and support others.

Working with Us

Flexibility is key to our success. From part‑time and compressed hours to different locations, our people work flexibly in ways to suit them. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported from day one.

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

• Share schemes.
• Pension - Diageo pays up to 14%
• Product Allowance 10%
• Annual Bonus 25 Days Annual Leave And much more!

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you. If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.