Automation Engineer

SJS Recruitment; Liverpool City Region; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is looking for an Automation Engineer to enhance manufacturing systems in the Liverpool area. The ideal candidate will have strong skills in PLC troubleshooting, HMI, and SCADA configuration, particularly within FMCG, food, or beverage manufacturing sectors. This position involves optimizing automation and control systems, leading troubleshooting efforts, and implementing improvements for maximum equipment uptime. A proactive approach and strong safety mindset are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG, food, or beverage manufacturing.
• Strong technical skills in PLCs, HMI, and SCADA.
• Proficient in diagnosing complex automation issues.

Responsibilities

• Support and optimise automation and control systems.
• Lead troubleshooting of electrical and automation faults.
• Implement sustainable improvements to automation processes.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

HMI configuration

SCADA systems

Electrical competency

Problem-solving

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Automated production equipment

Job description

Are you an Automation Engineer with a strong electrical background and a passion for enhancing manufacturing systems? Do you thrive on diagnosing complex automation issues, improving system performance, and supporting production with reliable technical solutions?

We re looking for an Automation Engineer with experience in FMCG, food, or beverage manufacturing who can provide hands‑on automation expertise while driving improvements to PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems across the site.

In this essential role, you will support and optimise automation and control systems - ensuring maximum equipment uptime, rapid fault resolution, and robust system performance. You will take the lead in troubleshooting electrical and automation faults, supporting system upgrades, and applying programming skills to eliminate recurring issues. Working closely with maintenance and production teams, you will identify root causes, implement sustainable improvements, and influence automation best practice on site.

We are seeking someone with solid technical skills in PLCs (Allen-Bradley), HMI and SCADA configuration, along with strong electrical competencies and experience working on production lines and automated equipment. You should be comfortable supporting both engineering reliability activities and live manufacturing environments, bringing a proactive approach, clear communication, and a strong safety mindset to everything you do.

This role offers the opportunity to have a real and measurable impact on automation resilience, process stability, and production performance, while supporting the evolution of site automation standards and future technologies.

Due to the volume of applications, we can only respond to successful candidates. Therefore, if we do not make contact within 5 working days, this means your application was not successful. We are more than happy to discuss why if you would like to contact us.