Automation Engineer

Stirling Warrington Ltd; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Stirling Warrington Ltd in Barnsley is seeking a Manufacturing Automation Engineer to modernise operations through robotics, automation and process optimisation. The role focuses on hands-on delivery, identifying improvement opportunities and leading automation projects that improve efficiency, quality and productivity.

You will work closely with production teams to implement new technologies, optimise layouts and material flow, and drive Lean initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years in production or manufacturing engineering within a high-volume 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.
• Hands-on Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify and deliver automation opportunities across manufacturing operations.
• Lead installation, commissioning and integration of robotic and automated systems.
• Develop, optimize and troubleshoot robot programmes and PLC-controlled processes.
• Support introduction of new manufacturing technologies and equipment.
• Carry out cost-benefit analyses 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.

Skills

Robotics

Automation

PLC Programming

Lean Manufacturing

NPI

APQP

PFMEA

Six Sigma

AutoCAD

Project Management

Data Analysis

Education

Degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Engineering discipline

Tools

AutoCAD

CAD

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.