Automation Engineer

Are you an experienced Automation Engineer with a solid background in control systems, across a range of special purpose machinery? Can you write PLC software from scratch if needed? Do you want a role with less travel - where you'll support the whole engineering team remotely across installation, commissioning, service and repair in the United Kingdom? Home based, you will likely only be on customer sites 2-3 days a month.
 
BASIC SALARY: Up to £85,000 dependant on your relevant experience
 
BENEFITS:
· Home based - remote / hybrid working
· 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
· Company Vehicle
· 5% Pension
 
LOCATION: Birmingham
 
COMMUTABLE LOCATIONS: Stoke on Trent, Manchester, Sheffield, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Coventry, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leeds, Huddersfield, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, Teesside, Wirral, Bradford, Newcastle, Bolton, Hull, Preston, Wigan, Barnsley, Luton, Northampton, Worthing, London.  
 
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY:
 
· You can live anywhere in the UK if you are the right person
· This is a brand new role, created to ease our reliance on global machine support and bring it in house, in the UK
· If you're currently an Automation Engineer or Controls Engineer, then this should be a lot less travel than you're currently used to - so a better work life balance for you
 
JOB DESCRIPTION: Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer - Programmable Logic Controller, FMCG
 
We're a global manufacturer of filling and packaging machines and provide a comprehensive service to include installation, commissioning, service and breakdown to our customers.
 
We need an experienced Engineer that can remotely support that engineering team across customer sites in the United Kingdom.
 
You will need a broad appreciation of control systems and automaton and be able to write PLC software from scratch. Although most of the work will be editing and modifying.  
 
RESPONSIBILITIES: Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer - Programmable Logic Controller, FMCG
 
· Liaise with customers regarding retrieving backups of PLC programs, HMI programs and robot programs for modifications.
· Modifying software for conversions and writing software for extensive modifications, to provide new functionality to already existing equipment
· Support our service engineers with any technical issues and manage their work during upgrades and modifications
· Resolve issues with third party suppliers and / or customers interfacing
· Troubleshoot network issues.  This could be ethernet, Profinet, Profibus, DeviceNet, ControlNet etc
· Assist with the connection of machines to MES / PDA systems, modify our equipment to provide necessary data to those systems.
 
YOUR BACKGROUND: Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer - Programmable Logic Controller, FMCG
 
· You'll have a proven track record as a Controls Engineer or Automation Engineer or equivalent working for a PPMA business or similar supplying the beverage and / or food manufacturing, FMCG, Pharmaceutical, Chemical or water treatment markets. Likely in Siemens S7 or Allen Bradley. Any KUKA / Robot technology knowledge is a bonus.
· You MUST be able to write software from scratch, but 50% of this role will be modifying and upgrading software. Your experience will need to cover machine connectivity and industrial networking issues.
· Any specific experience of filling and packaging machinery, or working for a systems builder or integrator would be advantageous, but is not essential.
· You MUST be a qualified Engineer (likely degree educated) and possess significant practical experience and / or qualifications in the field of automation and controls.
· You MUST be willing to travel through the UK to customer sites where needed supporting the installation, commissioning and service Engineers - likely 2-4 nights per month.
 
THE COMPANY:
 
We are a global German manufacturer of special purpose machinery for the Food, Pharmaceutical and Beverage industries.
 
It is highly likely you will have worked in any of the following roles and/or markets, and worked with the following products and/or services:  Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer, PLC Programmer - PLC Programs - Siemens, Allen Bradley, Mitsubishi, S7, Automate UK, packaging machinery, FMCG, food, chemical, beverage, pharmaceutical, commissioning, installation, KUKA, Robotics,HMI, ethernet, MES, manufacturing execution system, Profinet, Profibus, DeviceNet, ControlNet, OPC server, Weihenstephan, industrial networking, Electrical.
 
INTERESTED? Please click apply. You will receive an acknowledgement of your application.
 
Wallace Hind Selection, alongside our client embrace diversity, champion equality, and foster inclusion to create a work environment where everyone belongs and thrives.
 
Please Note: Wallace Hind Selection have been chosen as the retained recruitment partner of our client and therefore any direct applications to our client from candidates or agencies will be forwarded on to us direct.
 
REF: JAC18485, Wallace Hind Selection