Automation Engineering Manager

Tesco PLC; Hinckley and Bosworth; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retail company is seeking an exceptional Automation Engineering Manager for its new state-of-the-art Distribution Centre in Hinckley. This pivotal role involves leading all engineering aspects, managing a multi-million-pound budget, and ensuring strong automation routines are in place. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in automated environments, excellent leadership skills, and a strategic mindset to influence across the business. This is a high-profile position in one of the most important logistics locations in the UK.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading engineering teams in automated environments.
• Solid understanding of compliance and safety within distribution.
• Ability to manage multi-million-pound budgets.

Responsibilities

• Manage engineering across an advanced automated distribution site.
• Ensure strong maintenance routines and manage parts supply.
• Drive continuous improvement and investment planning.

Skills

Automation expertise

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Strategic planning

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Job description

• Managing one of Tesco's most technologically advanced automated Distribution Centres, setting and maintaining the highest of engineering standards.
• Playing a key role in Tesco's UK automation engineering team, contributing to long-term strategy and direction.
• Influencing how automation evolves across the network as we expand our capabilities and modernise our distribution model.
• Ensure strong automation maintenance routines, minimising downtime and managing an effective pipeline of parts, critical spares and repairs.
• Working closely with vendors and contractors to deliver all planned and compliance maintenance activities to the highest standard and within agreed timescales.
• Driving continuous Improvement & Investment Planning - collaborating with senior automation peers to identify where investment is needed and lead the planning and execution of improvement work.
• Oversee capacity planning and workload management, ensuring the team is set up for success through strong, proactive maintenance scheduling.
• Developing trusted, effective relationships across the business and communicate clearly with all stakeholders.

  Automation & AMR expertise at an operational management level, ideally within a fast-paced or high-tech environment.

• Strong senior leadership experience, confident working with senior stakeholders (DCMs, GMs, Directors).
• Proven ability to lead large, multi-skilled engineering teams, including automation specialists across complex areas like RSU and chilled chambers.
• Excellent people leadership skills, able to inspire, coach and develop high-performing teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder and relationship management, influencing effectively across the business.
• Solid financial and commercial acumen, with experience managing multi-million-pound budgets.
• Engineering degree (or equivalent) with significant experience in highly automated distribution or operational environments.
• Strategic mindset, contributing to long-term planning and working closely with senior engineering leaders.
• Adaptive, dynamic working style, able to lead both on-site and remotely.
• Strong understanding of safety, compliance and legal requirements within a distribution centre environment.

  We're opening a state-of-the-art, high-spec Distribution Centre in Hinckley, one of the most strategically important logistics locations in the UK - and we're on the lookout for an exceptional Automation Engineering Manager to help bring it to life.

• We're opening a state-of-the-art, high-spec Distribution Centre in Hinckley, one of the most strategically important logistics locations in the UK - and we're on the lookout for an exceptional Automation Engineering Manager to help bring it to life.

In this pivotal role, you'll lead all aspects of engineering across one of Tesco's most advanced automated sites, while taking full ownership of a multi-million-pound budget and shaping the future of our engineering capability.