Manufacturing Automation Engineer

MacStaff; Liss; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

MacStaff is seeking a Manufacturing Automation Engineer to develop and implement automation, robotics, PLC-controlled equipment and production processes for a high‑volume, safety‑critical manufacturer in Witney/Oxford.

You will take technical ownership from concept to implementation, working cross‑functionally with Production, Design and Quality teams and driving continuous improvement through Kaizen, 5S and TPM.

Qualifications

• Strong practical manufacturing automation experience is essential.
• Proven track record delivering engineering improvements in an automation/production environment.
• Experience with PLCs, robotics and CNC programming is required.

Responsibilities

• Design, manage and implement new factory production processes.
• Develop manufacturing automation, machinery, tooling and production equipment.
• Undertake PLC, industrial robot and/or CNC machine programming.
• Design and build machinery, jigs, tooling and automated solutions.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), including factory design/layout and capital equipment procurement.
• Use CAD to develop engineering designs and manufacturing solutions.
• Optimise processes to improve quality, efficiency, output and cost.
• Introduce automated inspection and quality-control processes.
• Support SPC and Design for Manufacture (DFM) activities.
• Drive continuous improvement using Kaizen and 5S.
• Develop TPM plans and support equipment reliability.
• Ensure new machinery, installations and processes meet appropriate safety requirements.
• Train production colleagues in the effective use of new and existing equipment.

Skills

Manufacturing automation

PLC systems

Industrial robots

CNC programming

CAD engineering design

High-volume manufacturing

NPI

Kaizen & 5S

ERP systems

Quality systems & SPC

Capital equipment procurement

Cross-functional communication

Problem solving

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

CAD

Job description

Manufacturing Automation Engineer – Witney/Oxford

£50K–£55K + £5K Bonus + Package

You will like

Developing manufacturing automation, robotics, PLC-controlled equipment and production processes for an established, innovative manufacturer in Witney, Oxford, Oxfordshire.

You will join a successful UK manufacturer producing high-quality, safety-critical products used across industry. Operating within a modern, high-volume manufacturing environment, this is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Manufacturing Automation Engineer / Automation Engineer / Production Engineer who enjoys designing, developing and improving machinery, automated equipment and factory processes.

You can expect variety, technical challenge and the satisfaction of seeing your engineering solutions implemented on the factory floor.

You will be

Working as Manufacturing Automation Engineer, taking technical ownership of automation and production engineering projects from concept through to implementation.

This is a hands‑on engineering and technical leadership position rather than a traditional people-management role. Working cross-functionally with Production, Design and Quality teams, you will provide engineering expertise and help develop increasingly efficient, automated manufacturing processes.

More specifically, you will:

• Design, manage and implement new factory production processes
• Develop manufacturing automation, machinery, tooling and production equipment
• Undertake PLC, industrial robot and/or CNC machine programming
• Design and build machinery, jigs, tooling and automated solutions
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), including factory design/layout and capital equipment procurement
• Use CAD to develop engineering designs and manufacturing solutions
• Optimise processes to improve quality, efficiency, output and cost
• Introduce automated inspection and quality-control processes
• Support SPC and Design for Manufacture (DFM) activities
• Drive continuous improvement using Kaizen and 5S
• Develop TPM plans and support equipment reliability
• Ensure new machinery, installations and processes meet appropriate safety requirements
• Train production colleagues in the effective use of new and existing equipment

You will have

As Manufacturing Automation Engineer, you will have a strong practical background within production engineering, manufacturing engineering or industrial automation.

You will ideally bring a healthy mix of:

• Manufacturing / factory automation engineering
• PLC systems, industrial robots and/or CNC machine programming
• Machine, tooling, jig or production equipment design
• CAD engineering design
• High-volume manufacturing or complex production environments
• Production line or manufacturing process development
• NPI and Design for Manufacture
• Continuous improvement, Kaizen and 5S
• ERP systems, BOMs and production routings
• Quality systems, process control and SPC
• Capital equipment specification, procurement and implementation
• Strong practical problem-solving and cross-functional communication skills

Relevant engineering qualifications are valued, although practical manufacturing automation experience and a proven track record of delivering engineering improvements will be key.

You will get

As Manufacturing Automation Engineer / Automation Engineer, you will enjoy a competitive package including:

£50,000–£55,000 salary DOE + £5,000 Bonus + Package

You will also gain the opportunity to make a genuine technical impact within an established manufacturer, developing automation and manufacturing solutions that improve quality, productivity and safety.

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