Automation & Controls Engineer

Hunter Selection; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £60,000

10% Annual Bonus

25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays

Early Finish Every Friday

4% Matched Pension

Life Assurance

Retail Discount Scheme

Job summary

Hunter Selection is seeking an Automation & Controls Engineer in Plymouth, Devon. Join a growing manufacturing operation to identify automation opportunities, lead projects from concept to deployment, and boost site efficiency and OEE.

You will work on PLC systems (Allen Bradley, Omron, Siemens), support production with rapid issue responses, and drive continuous improvement within a regulated environment. Competitive salary up to £60,000 plus 10% bonus and pension benefits.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND or degree in Electrical/Controls/Automation
• Strong PLC programming and fault-finding experience
• Experience with Allen Bradley, Omron and/or Siemens control systems
• Delivery of automation or controls projects within manufacturing
• Experience of process validation and structured change control procedures
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proactive approach with a passion for continuous improvement and innovation

Responsibilities

• Fault find, maintain and improve existing PLC and control systems
• Support production by providing rapid response to automation and controls issues
• Maintain software backups, system specifications and version control documentation
• Lead automation projects from concept, design and specification through to commissioning and validation
• Work closely with suppliers and contractors, including FAT, SAT and project delivery activities
• Develop connectivity between machinery, manufacturing systems and business systems to improve data capture and traceability
• Support software and process validation activities in line with quality and regulatory requirements
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on OEE, waste reduction and manufacturing performance
• Identify automation risks, obsolescence issues and equipment upgrade opportunities
• Provide technical guidance and support to colleagues across the business

Skills

PLC programming

Fault finding

Allen Bradley

Omron

Siemens

Project management

Continuous improvement

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Electrical/Controls/Automation degree

Tools

SCADA

MES

Job description

510 /28626 (AR)

Plymouth , Devon - easily commutable from Ivybridge, Saltash, Tavistock, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Exeter, Paignton, Liskeard and surrounding areas.

£50,000 - £60,000 + 10% Bonus + Early Friday Finish + Matched Pension + Benefits

An established and growing manufacturer is investing heavily in its Plymouth operation following a significant increase in production demand. With further expansion planned, the business is looking to strengthen its engineering capability through the appointment of an Automation & Controls Engineer.

This is a rare opportunity to join a site that is actively investing in automation, equipment upgrades, and process improvement projects. Working in a standalone specialist role, you will identify opportunities for automation, lead projects from concept through to implementation, and play a key role in improving efficiency, output, and overall equipment effectiveness across the site.

The Role

• Fault find, maintain and improve existing PLC and control systems
• Support production by providing rapid response to automation and controls issues
• Maintain software backups, system specifications and version control documentation
• Lead automation projects from concept, design and specification through to commissioning and validation
• Work closely with suppliers and contractors, including FAT, SAT and project delivery activities
• Develop connectivity between machinery, manufacturing systems and business systems to improve data capture and traceability
• Support software and process validation activities in line with quality and regulatory requirements
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on OEE, waste reduction and manufacturing performance
• Identify automation risks, obsolescence issues and equipment upgrade opportunities
• Provide technical guidance and support to colleagues across the business

The Candidate

• HNC/HND or Degree qualified in Electrical, Controls, Automation or a related engineering discipline
• Strong PLC programming and fault-finding experience
• Experience with Allen Bradley, Omron and/or Siemens control systems
• Previous delivery of automation or controls projects within a manufacturing environment
• Experience of process validation and structured change control procedures
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proactive approach with a passion for continuous improvement and innovation

Desirable

• Experience within a regulated manufacturing environment such as medical devices, food, aerospace or similar
• Knowledge of SCADA, MES or ERP integration
• Experience with Food / FMCG / Plastics / Automotive / Process manufacturing environments

Benefits

• Salary - £60,000
• 10% Annual Bonus
• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
• Early Finish Every Friday
• 4% Matched Pension
• Life Assurance
• Retail Discount Scheme
• Genuine opportunity to shape the site's automation strategy and grow the role as investment continues

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer, PLC Engineer, Systems Engineer or Automation Project Engineer looking for a highly autonomous position where you can drive meaningful change and deliver long-term improvements across a growing manufacturing operation.

Code: INDENM

No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010.