Automation Engineer

Company profile: A leading manufacturer of consumer packaging, encompassing both cartons and flexibles are looking to recruit an Automation Engineer /PLC Controls Specialist

Title: Automation Engineer

Role and Responsibilities:

We are looking for an experienced Automation Engineer / PLC Controls Specialist to provide technical support for automated machinery at customer sites.

You will be responsible for diagnosing and resolving PLC, electrical and controls issues, as well as supporting machine installations, commissioning, upgrades and continuous improvement projects.

• Act as the technical specialist for PLC, controls and automation systems.
• Diagnose and resolve complex PLC, electrical, HMI, sensor, drive and controls faults.
• Carry out PLC interrogation and fault finding to identify root causes of machine failures.
• Support PLC/control system modifications and machine upgrades.
• Support the installation, commissioning, testing and start-up of automated machinery.
• Use electrical drawings, schematics and PLC software to troubleshoot equipment.
• Identify improvements to increase machine reliability, uptime and performance.
• Conduct machine audits and technical performance assessments.
• Work with internal engineering teams, customers and OEMs to resolve technical issues.
• Provide technical training to customer maintenance and engineering teams.
• Produce service reports, technical documentation and updated schematics.
• Support continuous improvement and equipment optimisation projects.

Qualifications and knowledge:

• Ideally 4+ years' experience within automation, controls, PLC engineering or a similar environment.
• Strong experience working with PLC-controlled automated machinery.
• Strong PLC fault-finding and diagnostic skills.
• Experience with HMIs, sensors, drives, motors and machine safety systems.
• Ability to read and fault-find from electrical drawings and control schematics.
• Experience with automated manufacturing, production or packaging machinery.
• Relevant Electrical, Automation, Controls or Mechatronics qualification, or equivalent experience.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.

Full driving licence and willingness to travel to customer sites

Skills and experience:

Experience with any of the following would be advantageous:

• Siemens S7 / TIA Portal
• Rockwell / Allen-Bradley
• HMI programming and diagnostics
• VSDs, servo systems and motion control
• PROFINET, PROFIBUS or EtherNet/IP
• Safety PLCs and machine safety
• High-speed automated production or packaging machinery

You will be a technically minded, hands-on engineer who enjoys solving complex automation problems. You will be confident working independently, dealing directly with customers and taking ownership of technical issues through to resolution.

Most importantly, we are looking for a PLC/controls specialist rather than a general Service Engineer, with strong automation knowledge and the ability to diagnose and resolve complex machine control issues.

Salary: Up to £60,000