Automation Engineer

Winsearch; Middleton; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday per year plus bankhol

Buy & sell holiday policy

Pension contributions up to 10%

Health Cash Plan

On site Physiotherapy

Ride to work

On site health services - Occupational

Perkbox discounts

Staff referral bonus

Free food Wednesday

Job summary

Winsearch is seeking an Automation Engineer to drive continuous improvement across a food manufacturing site in Middleton. The role focuses on automation and control systems with hands-on work on Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs, plus mentoring shift engineers to maintain reliable automated processes.

The successful candidate will lead projects, collaborate with engineering and operations teams, and ensure compliance with safety and industry standards while advancing efficiency and productivity.

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• Proven experience with Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs.
• Proficiency in HMI, SCADA and industrial automation systems.
• Experience in food manufacturing or FMCG environments desirable.

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead automation improvement projects to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity.
• Provide technical support to shift engineers across the site, troubleshooting automation systems.
• Develop and implement automated solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Coach and mentor engineers in automation best practices.
• Design, develop and maintain PLC/HMI/SCADA programs (Allen Bradley/Siemens).
• Perform system upgrades, modifications and enhancements for performance.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for automation issues.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and company policies.
• Document specifications, SOPs and system configurations.
• Stay updated with latest automation technologies and propose innovations.

Skills

Automation engineering

Leadership & mentoring

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Electrical/Automation Engineering or Mechatronics

Tools

Allen Bradley PLCs

Siemens PLCs

HMI/SCADA systems

Industrial networking

Job description

Job Title: Automation Engineer

Location: Middleton, Manchester

Job Type: Full Time, Rotating Shifts

Week 1 - Mon to Thurs 6am-2pm, Friday 6am-1pm

Week 2 - Mon-Thurs 9.15am-5.45pm, Friday 11am-4pm

Salary - Upto £58k inclusive of shift allowance + 5% bonus = £61k DOE

Reports To: Site Engineering Manager

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled Automation Engineer to drive continuous improvement initiatives, support shift engineers across the site, and work collaboratively with engineering and operations teams. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in automation and control systems, with hands-on experience in Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs. This role involves identifying and implementing process improvement projects, coaching and mentoring engineers, and ensuring the reliability and efficiency of automated systems. Experience in the food manufacturing or FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) industry is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and lead automation improvement projects to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity.
• Provide technical support to shift engineers across the site, ensuring smooth operation and troubleshooting of automation systems.
• Collaborate with the engineering and operations teams to develop and implement automated solutions that align with business objectives.
• Coach and support engineers by sharing technical knowledge and best practices in automation and control systems.
• Design, develop, and maintain PLC/HMI/SCADA programs, with a focus on Allen Bradley and Siemens systems.
• Perform system upgrades, modifications, and enhancements to improve operational performance.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for automation-related issues.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and company policies.
• Document technical specifications, standard operating procedures, and system configurations.
• Stay updated with the latest automation technologies and recommend innovative solutions to improve efficiency.

Qualifications and Skills

• Recognised qualification in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Proven experience in automation engineering, with a strong focus on Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs.
• Proficiency in HMI, SCADA, and industrial automation systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in automation and control systems.
• Experience working in food manufacturing or FMCG environments, with knowledge of industry-specific automation challenges and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Experience in continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen is a plus.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills for coaching and mentoring engineers.
• Strong project management abilities to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of industrial networking, sensors, and instrumentation is an advantage.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Buy & sell holiday policy
• Pension contributions up to 10%
• BHSF Health Cash Plan
• Ride to work
• On site Physiotherapy
• Occupational health on site appointments
• Perkbox app - discount rates on many high street stores
• Staff referral bonus
• Free food Wednesday - every month on the Wednesday before pay day

INDWIN

Our clients and their customers come from diverse backgrounds and so do we. We hire our people from various walks of life, each of whom make our company stronger with their talent, uniqueness, and expertise. This is what makes our company special; if you want to help us grow and take this ethos to our clients, then we cannot wait to collaborate with you!

Eligibility

The UK has now left the European Union. Any EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in the UK that wish to remain in the UK post Brexit need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Although the closing date for applications was 30th Jun 2021, if you have not yet applied but believe that you would qualify under the EU Settlement Scheme, the Home Office have confirmed that they will consider late applications. For further information please see (url removed) /