Automation Engineer

Pangea Recruitment Ltd; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Pangaea Recruitment Ltd is seeking an Automation Engineer (Controls Systems Engineer) to join a leading engineering group delivering capital equipment for food manufacturing. The role is project-focused with hands‑on PLC/HMI programming and control-system design.

You will lead automation projects from concept through to commissioning, requiring robust PLC/HMI/SCADA expertise and cross-functional collaboration. Travel up to 20% may be required.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• 5–7 years of automation engineering experience.
• Proficient in PLC programming, HMI, SCADA, CAD and EPLAN.
• Qualified electrician with testing credentials.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation and control projects from concept through commissioning.
• Design motor control systems, automated equipment and robotic cells.
• Produce FDS, technical documentation and project deliverables.
• Prepare quotations, cost estimates and technical scopes.
• Design electrical schematics and control panel layouts.
• Lead FAT/SAT and provide on-site troubleshooting.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI

SCADA

Schematic design

EPLAN

Project management

Education

Degree in engineering or equivalent

Tools

EPLAN

CAD

Job description

Automation Engineer (Controls Systems Engineer)

- High Speed Food Manufacturing Equipment (Processing, Packaging, Inspection & Materials Handling Solutions)

(Monday to Friday: 08:00 - 16:30)

Previous Relevant Experience is Essential OR Transferable Skills from a Relevant Technical Industry

Our Client is a Market Leading Company in the sector with an excellent reputation and over 40 years of experience providing high-performance automation solutions to various sectors including food & beverage, meat, poultry and seafood, dairy and bakery, ready meals, snacks and convenience foods, fresh produce, health & beauty, home care, pet food and other industrial sectors.

Due to substantial growth we are looking for a Automation Engineer (Controls Systems Engineer) focused on Capital Equipment Food Manufacturing/Production and Complex Engineering Solutions and Integration.

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for an Automation Engineer/Controls Systems Engineer to join a leading engineering company focused on developing excellence in-house for design, build and testing. This is a project-focused Automation Engineer role with hands‑on programming on a variation of projects.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in leading end‑to‑end automation projects from initial concept through to development and implementation within an engineering environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead automation and control projects from initial concept and feasibility through design, manufacture, installation, testing, and commissioning.
• Design and engineer motor control systems, automated equipment, robotic cells, tooling, fixtures, and custom machines.
• Produce Functional Design Specifications (FDS), technical documentation and project deliverables throughout the project life cycle.
• Prepare accurate quotations, cost estimates, and technical scopes for medium to large‑scale automation projects.
• Specify and design hardware and control solutions compliant with applicable standards.
• Design electrical schematics, control panel enclosure layouts, and backplate layouts using ECAD tools.
• Develop and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), assembly instructions and technical documentation.
• Design, program, configure, test, and commission PLC, HMI, and automation control systems, including integration of external devices and systems.
• Design, program, and integrate robotic systems, including external axes
• Lead system integration, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and support Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and commissioning activities.
• Act as a technical point of contact for clients, suppliers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders throughout project delivery.
• Support fabrication, assembly, installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting phases of automation projects.
• Provide ongoing production and operational support to improve reliability, efficiency, and performance of manufacturing systems.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (customers, tooling, project management, manufacturing, and engineering) to define requirements and deliver complete automation solutions.
• Participate in design reviews, prototyping, testing, and process simulations to validate solutions prior to deployment.
• Improve existing systems to achieve optimal performance, reliability, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Research, evaluate, and apply new automation technologies, devices, and components to enhance system capability and efficiency.

Requirements

• Degree qualification in a relevant discipline (or similar).
• 5-7 years' experience in automation engineering.
• Expertise in PLC programming, HMI, SCADA, CAD, Schematic tools (Eplan).
• Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Project management certification (PMP) is desirable but not essential.
• Qualified electrician with testing and verification credentials.
• Valid passport for international installs
• Valid driving licence
• The Company has two main locations. The ideal candidate must be able to travel 20% of the time.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a talented team of individuals with an exceptional company culture that is fun, friendly, fast paced and focused on growth! Customer service and satisfaction is at the heart of this business. If you share these values

We look forward to hearing from you