Automation Engineer

Gap Technical Ltd; Northampton; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

4 on, 4 off shift

Modern automation technology

Technical development opportunities

Key engineering team

Job summary

Gap Technical Ltd in Northampton is seeking a motivated Automation Engineer to join a busy, highly automated warehouse operation. You will maintain, fault-find and optimise automated systems, ensuring high availability and minimal disruption to operations.

You will support conveyors, control systems, sensors and drives, diagnosing faults, performing planned maintenance and driving continuous improvement across the site. The role involves a 4 on, 4 off shift pattern with days and nights.

Qualifications

• Experience in automation maintenance within manufacturing or logistics environments.
• Strong fault-finding and diagnostic capabilities across electrical and mechanical domains.
• Experience with PLC-controlled automation and materials handling equipment.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and reactive maintenance on automated warehouse systems and equipment.
• Diagnose and resolve electrical, mechanical and automation faults to minimise downtime.
• Fault-find across automated conveyor systems, sensors, motors, drives and control equipment.
• Support maintenance and optimisation of automated processes for safe and reliable operation.
• Respond to breakdowns, identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor and improve performance of automated systems to reduce downtime and boost productivity.
• Work with PLC-controlled equipment to diagnose faults and support resolution.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and communicate issues to the team.

Skills

Electrical fault-finding

Mechanical fault-finding

PLC systems

Conveyor systems

Education

NVQ Level 3 / BTEC in Electrical/Mechanical/Automation/Controls

Tools

PLC controllers

Sensors & actuators

Industrial drives

Job description

Automation Engineer

Location: Northampton

Salary: £56,500 per annum

Shift Pattern: 4 on, 4 off - days and nights

We are looking for a motivated and technically capable Automation Engineer to join a busy, highly automated warehouse and distribution operation in Northampton.

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a fast-paced environment where automation, equipment reliability and operational efficiency are critical to business performance. You will play a key role in maintaining, fault-finding and optimising automated systems and materials handling equipment, ensuring maximum availability and minimal disruption to operations.

Working as part of the engineering team, you will support the performance of automated conveyor systems, control systems, sensors, motors, drives and associated equipment, helping to identify recurring faults, improve system reliability and drive continuous improvement across the site.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive maintenance on automated warehouse systems and materials handling equipment.
• Diagnose and resolve electrical, mechanical and automation-related faults to minimise downtime and maintain operational performance.
• Fault-find across automated conveyor systems, sensors, motors, drives, actuators and associated control equipment.
• Support the maintenance and optimisation of automated processes, ensuring equipment operates safely, efficiently and reliably.
• Respond to system breakdowns, identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions to prevent recurring issues.
• Assist with the monitoring and performance improvement of automated systems, identifying opportunities to reduce downtime and improve productivity.
• Work with PLC-controlled equipment and automation systems to diagnose faults and support effective fault resolution.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, reliability improvements and engineering projects across the site.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records, document recurring faults and communicate technical issues to relevant team members.
• Ensure all engineering activities comply with site health and safety procedures, safe systems of work and relevant engineering standards.

The Ideal Candidate

• Previous experience in an Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer or multi-skilled maintenance engineering role within a manufacturing, industrial, logistics or distribution environment.
• Strong electrical and mechanical fault-finding and diagnostic capabilities.
• Experience working with automated machinery, conveyor systems or automated materials handling equipment.
• Knowledge of PLC-controlled systems and the ability to diagnose automation-related faults.
• Experience with sensors, motors, drives, actuators and industrial control equipment.
• A proactive, analytical approach to troubleshooting, root cause analysis and preventative maintenance.
• Relevant engineering qualifications, such as an NVQ Level 3, BTEC or equivalent in Electrical, Mechanical, Automation or Controls Engineering.
• A strong commitment to health and safety, equipment reliability and continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working a 4 on, 4 off shift pattern covering days and nights in a fast-paced, highly automated environment.

What's on Offer?

• £56,500 annual salary.
• Structured 4 on, 4 off shift pattern covering days and nights.
• The opportunity to work with modern automation and materials handling technology.
• A technically challenging role with exposure to automated systems, controls and fault-finding.
• Opportunities to develop your automation and engineering expertise.
• The chance to join a key engineering team supporting a high-volume, automated distribution operation.

Closing Date: 20/11/2026