Automation Engineer

Hilton Foods; Grimsby; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great package

Life assurance

Share Save scheme

Free car parking on site

Enhanced Maternity/Paternity

Job summary

Hilton Food Group in Grimsby is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to join our engineering team. You will provide frontline maintenance and breakdown support for automated equipment across the site, including the automated ColdStore, diagnosing faults safely to minimise downtime and keep production flowing.

The role requires a time-served apprenticeship (NVQ Level 3), a hands-on, flexible team player with strong communication skills, and a track record in fast-paced manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Time served craft apprenticeship or equivalent training to NVQ level 3.
• Multi-skilled with ability to work across disciplines.
• Proven track record in fast-paced manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure health and safety is the first priority during all activities.
• Correct, isolate or promptly report hazards that could cause injury or food safety risk.
• Work in line with food safety requirements and site standards.
• Respond quickly to automation breakdowns, prioritising critical equipment and communicating progress.
• Fault-find PLC-controlled systems, HMIs, sensors, safety circuits, drives and conveyors.
• Support reliable operation of the automated ColdStore with site teams and suppliers.
• Complete planned maintenance, inspections and functional checks on automated equipment.
• Identify repeat failures, support root cause analysis and implement improvements.
• Support automation projects, software and hardware changes, trials and commissioning.

Skills

Team player

Excellent communication

Hands-on approach

Flexible work style

Problem solving

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Job description

Role

Automation Engineer

Location

Estate Road, Grimsby

Shift

Monday-Friday days, 6-2. & 8-4 alternating each week.

About Us

We are a company that takes pride in our people as it is our people who are at the centre of everything that we do.

We have multi-category expertise with a focus on quality and innovation. We deliver what customers need and consumers want with expert taste and growth mindset.

Our business began with meat, and we've developed and extend a market-leading expertise within Seafood, with unmatched quality globally. We’re always investing in new technology to deliver more value, efficiency and consumer-led innovative solutions.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a professional and experienced Automation Engineer to join our growing Engineering team. As an Automation Engineer you will provide frontline maintenance and breakdown support for automated equipment across the site, including the automated ColdStore. Diagnose and rectify electrical, control, automation and mechanical faults safely and efficiently to minimise downtime and maintain production flow and work collaboratively with Engineering, Operations and external specialists to improve equipment reliability, availability and performance.

Key Responsibilities As An Automation Engineer Will Be To

• Ensure the health and safety of yourself and others remains the first priority during all activities.
• Correct, isolate or promptly report hazards that could cause injury, equipment damage or food safety risk.
• Complete all work in line with food safety requirements, good manufacturing practice and site engineering standards.
• Respond quickly and effectively to automation breakdowns, prioritising production-critical equipment and clearly communicating progress and handover status.
• Fault-find PLC-controlled systems, HMIs, sensors, safety circuits, drives, motors, conveyors and associated mechanical equipment within your competence.
• Support the reliable operation of the automated ColdStore, working with site teams and specialist suppliers where escalation is required.
• Complete planned maintenance, inspections and functional checks on automated equipment, recording work and raising follow-on actions through the site maintenance system.
• Identify repeat failures, support root cause analysis and implement practical improvements that increase uptime, safety and maintainability.
• Support automation projects, software and hardware changes, equipment trials, commissioning and the controlled return of equipment to service.

Required experience/expertise to succeed as an Automation Engineer will include:

• Time served craft apprenticeship or equivalent training to NVQ level 3
• Multi-skilled or work towards qualification
• Must be a team player.
• Excellent communications skills
• Can-do, hands-on approach to your work
• Flexible in work approach
• Be able to demonstrate a proven track record within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

What You Get In Return

• Great package with competitive holiday allowance
• Life assurance of minimum two times yearly salary
• Opportunities for development and internal promotion
• Share Save scheme
• Free car parking on site
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity

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