Job Purpose:
The Automation Engineering Leader will spearhead the strategy, design, commissioning, and continuous improvement of our automated manufacturing systems. They will work with a high-performing team of automation engineers and technicians to maximise equipment uptime, optimise throughput, and ensure operational safety. This role balances high-level hands-on technical leadership and people management.
Responsibilities:
• Define and execute the long-term automation strategy aligned with corporate and site targets
• Manage, mentor, and upskill a team of Automation Engineers and Technicians
• Manage automation projects plant wide as required and liaise with vendors in the design, procurement, evaluation and acceptance of new equipment
• Support the continuous improvement of all automated equipment using Lean / Six Sigma and Project Management techniques
• Assign engineering resources to support both daily plant operations and long-term project deployments
• Act as the ultimate escalation point for complex, systemic automation failures to minimize plant downtime
• Work closely with cross functional teams in monitoring equipment performance using proven troubleshooting and problem-solving techniques / methods to solve to root cause
• Provide front line technical support and leadership to Engineering, Operations, Validation, Development & Quality departments
• Support plant wide automation change control and manage software revision control systems
• Assist the Validation team in new process validation, equipment upgrades and NPI's
• Ensure all new equipment and tasks are risk assessed, support investigation and near miss resolution, and proactively drive actions to reduce safety risks
• Provide assistance in the preparation of budgets.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives as appropriate – Lean, LDMS, Blitz’s.
Educational Requirements and Relevant Experience:
• B.Eng. in Electrical, Software, Manufacturing or related engineering discipline
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• At least 8 years’ experience in a similar role with Equipment Automation, Software or related experience
• Specific experience and in-depth knowledge of Allen Bradley / Rockwell Automation products including capability to write code from specification
• Experience of High Speed Vision systems (Cognex) and Control Networks & Communication Systems (ControlNet, DeviceNet, Ethernet)
• Experience integrating and configuring complex VFD/Servo motion systems
• Experience of development, deployment & maintenance of SCADA / HMI systems (Allen Bradley, Schneider)
• Deep knowledge of network architectures and fieldbus protocols (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, OPC UA)
The Automation Engineering Leader will spearhead the strategy, design, commissioning, and continuous improvement of our automated manufacturing systems. They will work with a high-performing team of automation engineers and technicians to maximise equipment uptime, optimise throughput, and ensure operational safety. This role balances high-level hands-on technical leadership and people management.
Responsibilities:
• Define and execute the long-term automation strategy aligned with corporate and site targets
• Manage, mentor, and upskill a team of Automation Engineers and Technicians
• Manage automation projects plant wide as required and liaise with vendors in the design, procurement, evaluation and acceptance of new equipment
• Support the continuous improvement of all automated equipment using Lean / Six Sigma and Project Management techniques
• Assign engineering resources to support both daily plant operations and long-term project deployments
• Act as the ultimate escalation point for complex, systemic automation failures to minimize plant downtime
• Work closely with cross functional teams in monitoring equipment performance using proven troubleshooting and problem-solving techniques / methods to solve to root cause
• Provide front line technical support and leadership to Engineering, Operations, Validation, Development & Quality departments
• Support plant wide automation change control and manage software revision control systems
• Assist the Validation team in new process validation, equipment upgrades and NPI's
• Ensure all new equipment and tasks are risk assessed, support investigation and near miss resolution, and proactively drive actions to reduce safety risks
• Provide assistance in the preparation of budgets.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives as appropriate – Lean, LDMS, Blitz’s.
Educational Requirements and Relevant Experience:
• B.Eng. in Electrical, Software, Manufacturing or related engineering discipline
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• At least 8 years’ experience in a similar role with Equipment Automation, Software or related experience
• Specific experience and in-depth knowledge of Allen Bradley / Rockwell Automation products including capability to write code from specification
• Experience of High Speed Vision systems (Cognex) and Control Networks & Communication Systems (ControlNet, DeviceNet, Ethernet)
• Experience integrating and configuring complex VFD/Servo motion systems
• Experience of development, deployment & maintenance of SCADA / HMI systems (Allen Bradley, Schneider)
• Deep knowledge of network architectures and fieldbus protocols (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, OPC UA)
