Controls & Automation Engineer

Chivas Brothers; Dumbarton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Defined Contribution Pension

Private medical insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual holiday entitlement

Share incentive plan

Job summary

Pernod Ricard is hiring a Controls & Automation Engineer to lead CAPEX and continuous improvement projects across our manufacturing operations, from concept through commissioning and handover. You will deliver instrumentation, control systems and Industry 4.0 solutions to optimise plant performance.

The role combines site-based work at Kilmalid, Dumbarton with some remote flexibility to align with business needs.

Qualifications

• Degree in electrical, electronic, software or related engineering discipline.
• Experience in project management and collaborating with contractors and internal teams.
• Experience in control system design, procurement, installation and commissioning.
• Proficient with PLCs (Rockwell or Siemens) and process control systems.
• Interest or experience in Industry 4.0 technologies.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate delivery of CAPEX and continuous improvement projects across manufacturing operations from concept to commissioning.
• Provide technical support, training and guidance to maintenance and operations teams on automation initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with safety and policy standards and drive standardisation across projects.

Job description

Location: Kilmalid, Dumbarton - this role will be mostly site based with some flexibility for remote working around business needs

Contract Type: Permanent

Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and champagne industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand development, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term growth of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive, and responsible culture of authentic conviviality

Chivas Brothers is the Pernod Ricard business dedicated entirely to Scotch whisky. Our award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered single malt and blended Scotch whisky brands, including Chivas, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute, The Glenlivet and Aberlour, which are exported from Scotland to over 100 countries worldwide. As the world’s No.2 Scotch whisky producer with a 1,600-strong team across 26 sites, we are committed to upholding the heritage and pursuing the progress of Scotch and ensuring its sustainable future, as well as opening it up to new audiences across the globe.

About the role

We are currently hiring a Controls & Automation Engineer to be responsible for Coordinating the delivery of Capital Expenditure and continuous improvement projects across manufacturing operations, managing activities from concept and funding approval through to commissioning and handover. The role provides technical expertise in instrumentation, control systems and Industry 4.0 technologies, supporting engineering and operational teams to improve operational effectiveness, drive innovation, and implement smart manufacturing solutions.

What you will do

Project Execution and Delivery

• Managing CAPEX and continuous improvement projects including multi-disciplined teams and any associated contract resource functions.
• Assume responsibility for all aspects from securing of funds through to commissioning and handover.
• Ensure that new systems or ways of working are pro-actively sought and developed to improve the project execution process and ensure they are implemented across all project functions.

Technical Support and Advice

• Providing technical assistance and training to maintenance engineering department and other operations teams to ensure that production is maximized including supporting various Manufacturing Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Provide advice to engineering and operations managers on new or modified installations to ensure a consistency of approach.
• Specify, design, purchase and supervise the installation of instrumentation and control systems and work with internal teams and vendors to incorporate methodologies for setting up smart sensors, ways to extract and exchange data and standards such as OPC UA.

Safety and Policies

• Proactively manage safety to company, group and national standards.
• Support the implementation of Bottling & Blending Control and Automation policies.
• Support and maintain compliance with group and company-wide Control System policies and procedures.

Your skills and background

• Degree in electrical, electronic, software or related engineering discipline, or equivalent practical experience gained in a relevant role.
• Experience in Project Management and work collaboratively with contractors and internal teams.
• Experience in control system design, procurement, installation and commissioning, as well as in hazardous area design, installation, and commissioning.
• Proficient in the use and application of software, PLC (preferably Rockwell or Siemens), Process Control Systems and automation systems and their implementation in a modern business environment.
• Experience with, or an interest in developing expertise in, Industry 4.0 technologies would be beneficial.
• Full UK driving license.

Collective Spirit

You will be part of a connected, international community shaped by iconic brands, a performance mindset, and a proud legacy, where collaboration, fun and ambition coexist.

Craft your path

We empower you to own your career, innovate boldly and grow alongside our business, surrounded by leaders who value curiosity, energy, and impact.

Cultivate the future

You’ll help shape a business with a soul — one that cherishes the land, respects communities, and brings good times from a good place, responsibly and sustainably.

People are at the heart of everything we do at Pernod Ricard and are the foundation of our collective spirit as ‘Créateurs de Convivialité’.We promote inclusion throughout our business and supply chain. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture, an environment where we can truly be ourselves.

We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences, and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Our recruiting team are more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process, in order for you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Our mix of benefits

• Competitive salary, along with performance related bonus
• Defined Contribution Pension
• Private medical insurance, including income protection.
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual holiday entitlement (increasing with length of service) plus public holidays.
• Pernod Ricard share incentive plan and share ownership plan.
• Life Assurance
• An allowance each year to spend on our brands.
• Employee discounts from a range of high street retailers
• Regular events in our very own office bar

Learn more about working with Pernod Ricard https://www.pernod-ricard.com/en

Learn more about Chivas Brothers https://www.chivasbrothers.com/