Job Description:

Automation Engineer
Middleton, Manchester
Up to £58,000 + 5% Bonus
Permanent | Rotating Day Shifts | No Nights

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Automation Engineer to join a highly automated Food Manufacturing operation in Middleton, Manchester.

This role offers the opportunity to become the site's recognised Automation & Controls specialist, supporting a complex process manufacturing environment whilst driving automation improvements, reliability initiatives and future capital projects.

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you'll take ownership of automation reliability across the site, working closely with Engineering and Operations teams to improve performance, reduce downtime and support future investment programmes.

This position would suit an Automation Engineer who enjoys improving processes, solving complex technical challenges and implementing long-term automation solutions rather than simply reacting to day-to-day breakdowns.

The Role

• Supporting and developing Allen Bradley and Siemens PLC systems.
• Maintaining and improving SCADA, control and automation systems.
• Delivering automation improvement and Continuous Improvement projects.
• Conducting root cause analysis and implementing permanent corrective actions.
• Improving automation reliability and manufacturing performance.
• Supporting capital investment and automation upgrade projects.
• Identifying equipment obsolescence risks and recommending long-term improvements.
• Working closely with Engineering and Operations teams to improve efficiency and productivity.
• Providing technical support and guidance on automation and controls systems.
• Contributing to the site's longer-term automation and reliability strategy.

The Environment

This is a highly automated Food Manufacturing facility producing a range of food products within a process-driven manufacturing environment.

The site includes:

• Allen Bradley PLCs (approximately 80% of the automation estate).
• Siemens S5 and S7 PLCs.
• SCADA systems.
• Industrial communications networks.
• Pumps and valves.
• Drives and motors.
• Flow meters and instrumentation.
• Storage tanks and process pipework.
• CIP systems.
• PID control systems.

This is a true Process Manufacturing environment where automation, instrumentation and process control play a critical role in operational performance.

What We're Looking For

• Experience working as an Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer or Automation & Controls Engineer.
• Strong PLC programming and fault-finding experience.
• Experience with Allen Bradley PLCs preferred.
• Siemens PLC experience beneficial but not essential.
• SCADA and industrial automation experience.
• Experience within Food Manufacturing, FMCG, beverage, chemical or wider process manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of instrumentation, process control and PID loops.
• Experience working with pumps, valves, drives and flow systems.
• Strong fault-finding and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive approach to reliability improvement and Continuous Improvement activities.
• The ability to identify opportunities to improve plant performance, maintainability and automation reliability.

Experience within Food Manufacturing or FMCG is highly desirable due to the site's focus on food safety, allergen control, CIP systems and process safety.

Future Projects

This role offers involvement in several significant site-wide initiatives, including:

• New SCADA implementation planned for 2027.
• Industrial network infrastructure upgrades.
• Automation modernisation projects.
• Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) initiatives.
• Approximately £500,000 of capital investment projects.
• Process optimisation and efficiency improvement programmes.

We're looking for someone who can challenge the status quo, bring forward ideas and help shape the future direction of automation across the site.

Salary & Benefits

• Up to £58,000 salary.
• 5% Annual Bonus.
• 25 Days Holiday plus Bank Holidays.
• Buy & Sell Holiday Scheme.
• Pension matched up to 10%.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• On-Site Physiotherapy.
• Occupational Health Support.
• Employee Discount Platform.
• Staff Referral Scheme.

Working Hours - 39 hours per week

Week 1

• Monday to Thursday: 6:00am to 2:00pm.
• Friday: 6:00am to 1:00pm.

Week 2

• Monday to Thursday: 9:15am to 5:45pm.
• Friday: 11:00am to 4:00pm.

No formal on-call requirement. Any support provided outside normal working hours is returned as time off in lieu.

If you're an experienced Automation Engineer looking for an opportunity to influence projects, improve reliability and play a key role in the future development of a leading Food Manufacturing operation in Middleton, Manchester, we'd be interested in hearing from you.

Automation Engineering, Allen Bradley PLC, Siemens S5, Siemens S7, PLC Programming, PLC Fault Finding, SCADA, Industrial Automation, Process Control, Instrumentation, PID Control, Continuous Improvement, Root Cause Analysis, Reliability Engineering, Food Manufacturing, FMCG, Process Manufacturing, Industrial Networks, CIP Systems, Pumps, Valves, Drives, Motors, Flow Meters, Capital Projects, Controls Engineering

To find out more about Progressive please visit (url removed)

Progressive Recruitment, a trading division of SThree Partnership LLP is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy | Registered office | 8 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ, United Kingdom| Partnership Number | OC(phone number removed) England and Wales