Automation Maintenance Engineer (Pool)

Royal Mail; Plympton; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Night shift allowance

Pension scheme

Annual leave 22.5 days

Weekend shift supplement

Job summary

Royal Mail is seeking an Automation Maintenance Engineer (Pool) at the Plymouth Mail Centre to keep cutting-edge automation systems running and deliver reliable parcel sortation services. The role involves shift rotation, covering late and night shifts, with potential overtime and weekends as part of the pool system.

The successful candidate will have electrical/mechanical qualifications, PLC experience, and a UK driving licence, with a view to contributing to continuous improvements and safe

Qualifications

• Qualified in electrical and mechanical engineering (ONC Electrical Engineering / NVQ Level 3 or equivalent).
• Experienced in maintaining automation equipment, ideally with PLC knowledge.
• Full manual UK driving licence for occasional travel to other sites.

Responsibilities

• Keep automation assets performing through preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance.
• Drive continuous improvement projects from concept to implementation.
• Collaborate with Engineering Manager and team leaders, logging faults and completing reports.
• Diagnose and resolve automation breakdowns to keep operations flowing.
• Monitor performance and work with stakeholders to boost output.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Mechanical engineering

PLC knowledge

Driving licence

Education

ONC Electrical Engineering

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Job description

Automation Maintenance Engineer (Pool)

Job number: 341731

Date posted: 2026-08-03

Profession: Engineering

Employment type: Full time

Location

Cattedown, Devon, GB, PL4 0, Any

Job Details

Application deadline: 2026-12-20T11:04:00.75

Description

Are you a skilled multi-disciplinary engineer looking for a role that challenges and rewards? We're seeking an Automation Maintenance Engineer, at our Plymouth Mail Centre site, to ensure the smooth running of our cutting-edge automation systems.

Royal Mail is undergoing one of the biggest technological transformations in its history, moving to a predominantly mechanised parcel sortation process. With a major investment in state-of-the-art automation technology, this is an exciting time to join us and help shape the future of delivery services in an ever-growing e-commerce society.

In this role your potential earning will be over 55,000 per annum. Salary: 54,791 per annum, plus night shift allowance, 22.5 days annual leave with bank holidays, and a defined contribution pension scheme. A weekend supplement for Saturday (54.73 per attendance) and Sunday (109.47 per attendance) shift attendance is applicable.

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Shift attendance equates to 40 hours per week - Full time.

The successful candidate will be required to cover the Plymouth Mail Centre shift rotation system, as outlined below with some degree of flexibility to meet our 24/7 operational needs, including overtime coverage and shift pattern flexibility. This role is a pool position, requiring significant adaptability / flexibility as you'll be stepping in for other Technicians during their annual leave or sick leave. The pool attendance will cover the late and night shifts plus ad hoc weekends.

Outside of these periods, your standard shift will be the day shift, typically from 07:30 - 16:30, Monday to Friday.

The Role

• Keep our automation assets performing at their best through preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance.
• Drive continuous improvement projects from concept to implementation.
• Collaborate with the Engineering Manager and team leaders, completing reports and logging faults.
• Diagnose and resolve automation breakdowns quickly to keep operations flowing.
• Monitor performance and work with stakeholders to boost output.
• Take ownership of Continuous Improvement projects - from concept to implementation - focused on enhancing machinery performance in our Hub/Mail Centre.

About You

• Qualified in electrical and mechanical engineering (minimum ONC Electrical Engineering / NVQ Level 3 or equivalent).
• Experienced in maintaining automation equipment, ideally with PLC knowledge.
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety legislation.
• A proactive team player who can also work independently.
• Full manual UK driving licence (for occasional travel to other sites).

What happens next?

After initial application, any shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an assessment, incorporating practical elements and a competency-based interview. You'll also be asked to supply proof of any quoted formal qualifications at this interview.

About Us

Five centuries in business has made Royal Mail more than a household name. We connect companies, customers, and communities across the country, delivering a 'one-price-goes-anywhere', universal postal service to more than 29 million addresses across the UK.

Our market is changing, but as one of the UK's leading companies, we are focused on achieving our vision of being recognized as the best delivery company in the UK and across Europe. We want to be more commercial, flexible, and efficient and are employing our strong brand and a range of new products and services to achieve this.