Automation Engineer

Stirling Warrington; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Stirling Warrington is seeking a Manufacturing Automation Engineer for our Barnsley site to modernise operations through robotics, automation and process optimisation. You will identify improvement opportunities, lead automation projects and introduce new technologies for measurable gains in efficiency, quality and cost.

Ideal candidates have 2+ years in automotive/high-volume settings, strong knowledge of APQP/Six Sigma/SPC and hands-on experience with robotics and PLC-controlled systems.

Qualifications

• 2+ years' production/manufacturing engineering in automotive tier 1 or high-volume plants
• Experience delivering New Product Introduction (NPI) projects
• Knowledge of APQP, PFMEA, Six Sigma and SPC
• Experience with production cell layout and material flow principles
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience
• Project management experience managing multiple projects
• Strong CAD skills, preferably AutoCAD
• Degree in Manufacturing Engineering or related field
• Strong experience with robotics, automation and PLC-controlled systems

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop and deliver automation opportunities across manufacturing operations.
• Lead installation, commissioning and integration of robotic and automated systems.
• Develop, optimise and troubleshoot robot programmes and PLC-controlled processes.
• Support new manufacturing technologies and equipment introductions.
• Carry out cost-benefit analyses for capital investment decisions.
• Lead automation projects from concept through implementation.
• Drive continuous improvement using data analysis, Lean and problem-solving methods.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering and Quality to improve performance.
• Support process optimisation, cell layout and material flow improvements.
• Contribute to NPI and general manufacturing engineering activities.

Skills

Robotics

PLC programming

Automation

Lean manufacturing

Project management

CAD

Education

Manufacturing Engineering degree

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Manufacturing Automation Engineer

Location: Barnsley
Salary: £60,000
Shift: Monday - Friday Days

The Opportunity

An established UK manufacturing business is investing significantly in new technology, automation and capital equipment. As part of this continued development, we are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Automation Engineer to join the team at its Barnsley site.

This is a hands-on engineering role focused on modernising manufacturing operations through robotics, automation and process optimisation. You will have the opportunity to identify improvement opportunities, lead automation projects and introduce new technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, productivity and cost.

The role would suit an Automation, Manufacturing or Production Engineer with strong experience of robotics, PLC-controlled systems and continuous improvement, who enjoys working directly with production teams and delivering practical solutions within a complex manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, develop and deliver automation opportunities across manufacturing operations.

• Lead the installation, commissioning and integration of robotic and automated systems.

• Develop, optimise and troubleshoot robot programmes and PLC-controlled processes.

• Support the introduction of new manufacturing technologies and equipment.

• Carry out cost-benefit analysis and provide technical input into capital investment decisions.

• Lead and support automation and engineering projects from concept through to implementation.

• Drive continuous improvement using data analysis, Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving techniques.

• Work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality and other cross-functional teams to improve manufacturing performance.

• Support process optimisation, cell layout and material flow improvements.

• Contribute to NPI and manufacturing engineering activities.

About You

You will ideally have:

• At least 2 years' Production or Manufacturing Engineering experience within an automotive Tier 1, FMCG or similar high-volume manufacturing environment.

• Experience delivering New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.

• Strong knowledge of APQP, PFMEA, Six Sigma and Statistical Process Control (SPC).

• Experience with manufacturing process design, production cell layout and material flow principles.

• Practical experience of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Project management experience, ideally managing multiple engineering projects simultaneously.

• Knowledge of CAD software, preferably AutoCAD.

• A degree in Manufacturing Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

• Strong experience with robotics, automation and PLC-controlled manufacturing systems.

Key Skills

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong project management and organisational ability.

• Effective communication and stakeholder management.

• The ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

• A practical, hands-on approach to engineering and problem solving.

• A continuous improvement mindset, with a focus on delivering measurable results.

• The ability to quickly understand and adopt new technologies and manufacturing processes.

Why Join?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established manufacturing organisation during a period of continued investment and technological development.

You will play a key role in shaping the future of manufacturing operations, with the opportunity to work on robotics, automation, capital projects and process improvement while making a tangible impact on production performance.