Automation Engineer

Finsbury Food Group; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Death in Service Benefit

Employee Assistance Programme

Retail discounts

Refer a Friend Scheme

Employee Recognition Awards

Job summary

Finsbury Food Group in Cardiff is seeking an Automation Engineer to take ownership of PLCs, robotics, and control architecture. You will drive automation standards and system reliability, collaborating with engineering, operations, and IT. Ideal candidates have experience with Allen Bradley systems, strong fault-finding skills, and the ability to work independently. The role offers various employee benefits, including enhanced leave and a pension scheme, within a leading bakery manufacturer.

Qualifications

• Electrical/Electronic indentured apprenticeship trained.
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley / Rockwell (Studio 5000).
• Experience working with Siemens, Omron, or Mitsubishi PLCs.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of PLCs, robotics, vision systems, and control architecture.
• Implement long-term corrective actions to improve reliability.
• Integrate PLC systems into SCADA/MES platforms.

Skills

Allen Bradley ControlLogix

Root cause analysis

PLC programming

Siemens PLCs

Robotic systems

Ethernet/IP

Documentation skills

Food manufacturing experience

Education

Degree/HND in Control & Automation Engineering

Tools

Studio 5000

SCADA/MES platforms

Keyence

Thingtrax

Job description

Location: MLC – Memory Lane Cakes, Cardiff
Shift: Weekdays (with call-out support as required)

We have a new opportunity for an Automation Engineer within our Engineering team at Memory Lane Cakes, part of the Finsbury Food Group.
As our Automation Engineer, you will act as the site’s sole automation specialist, taking full ownership of PLCs, robotics, vision systems, and control architecture. This is a highly autonomous role where you will drive automation standards, system reliability, and digital integration across the site. You will play a key role in reducing downtime, improving OEE, and ensuring robust, future-proof automation systems.
Finsbury Food Group is a leading specialty bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards and build long‑term relationships within the foodservice channel. Finsbury offer a wide range of bakery products and are a leading frozen supplier into the Foodservice sector.
To be successful, you will take a structured and analytical approach to automation, with strong technical expertise and the confidence to challenge and improve existing systems. You’ll work closely with engineering, operations, and IT to ensure automation systems are reliable, compliant, and aligned with site and group standards. This is a new opportunity where you can truly make your mark, building and shaping automation systems with full ownership and accountability.

This is what you’ll actually do!

As Automation Engineer, you’ll take ownership of all site PLC platforms, primarily Allen Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix, while also supporting Siemens, Omron, and Mitsubishi systems where required. You’ll maintain and optimise robotic systems including ABB, Fanuc, and Mitsubishi, alongside supporting vision systems such as Keyence and Thingtrax.

You’ll lead structured root cause analysis for automation‑related failures, implementing long‑term corrective actions to reduce repeat issues and improve reliability. You’ll develop, implement, and enforce PLC programming standards, ensuring consistency across naming conventions, documentation, alarm handling, and governance.

You’ll own all backup and version control processes, ensuring secure storage, change tracking, and full compliance with governance standards. Working closely with cross‑functional teams, you’ll integrate PLC systems into SCADA/MES platforms, ensuring data integrity, accurate downtime capture, and reliable OEE reporting.

You’ll also support capital projects from specification through to commissioning and validation, ensuring robust technical handovers. In addition, you’ll collaborate with IT on network infrastructure, support machine safety systems, and provide coaching and guidance to engineers to build automation capability across the site.

Ideally this is you!

• Electrical/Electronic indentured apprenticeship trained.
• Degree/HND and equivalent experience in Control & Automation Engineering
• Strong experience with Allen Bradley / Rockwell (Studio 5000)
• Experience working with Siemens, Omron, or Mitsubishi PLCs
• Knowledge of robotics systems such as ABB, Fanuc, or Mitsubishi
• Experience with industrial communication protocols (e.g. Ethernet/IP, Profibus, RS232/485)
• Experience integrating PLC systems with SCADA/MES platforms
• Strong fault‑finding and root cause analysis capability
• Strong experience of machine safety principles and safety PLC systems
• Experience with vision systems (Keyence, Thingtrax) (desirable)
• Detail‑driven with strong documentation discipline and analytical mindset
• Experience within fast‑paced food manufacturing (desirable)
• Familiarity with Health & Safety and Food Safety regulations
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills
• Able to work independently while collaborating and communicating cross‑functionally

What’s in it for you

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
• Death in Service Benefit
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
• Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent)
• Employee Recognition Awards, Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in‑house development course!)
• An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation.

Are you the perfect fit for Automation Engineer?