Manufacturing Vision Engineer

Manufacturing Vision Engineer / Machine Vision Engineer – Industrial Automation

Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Department: Manufacturing Automation
Employment: Full-time

Overview:

We are currently recruiting for our client in Sheffield, for a Manufacturing Engineer that has experience of getting involved in building machine vision systems behind next-generation green hydrogen manufacturing. This is an exciting role that would suit a hands-on Machine Vision Engineer, Vision Systems Engineer, Automation Engineer or Manufacturing Engineer with hands-on experience of industrial vision, automated inspection and production equipment?

The Role:

The role will work with machine vision cameras, optics, lighting, image processing, Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), Data Matrix/DMC identification and PLC-controlled automation, helping ensure our production equipment can consistently detect defects, identify products and capture the data required for quality and traceability.
This role will also play an important role in introducing new manufacturing equipment, supporting NPI and production ramp-up, troubleshooting vision systems and establishing robust, repeatable vision standards across multiple machines and production areas.
The role will be joining a manufacturing organisation where automation, inspection and industrialisation are critical to scaling production.
This is an opportunity to have genuine technical ownership: you'll help determine how machine vision is integrated into production equipment, solve real manufacturing problems and develop inspection solutions that need to work reliably in a live production environment.
Duties & Responsibilities:

Lead the integration and commissioning of industrial machine vision systems into automated manufacturing equipment and production lines.
Configure and optimise machine vision cameras, lighting, optics and image-processing systems to achieve reliable and repeatable defect detection.
Develop and implement Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) solutions for manufacturing applications.
Integrate vision systems with PLC-controlled machinery and industrial automation systems.
Support the installation, setup, commissioning and ramp-up of new manufacturing equipment.
Translate manufacturing and quality requirements into practical vision inspection specifications and system configurations.
Troubleshoot machine vision problems including image quality, lighting, camera setup, detection performance, communications and system integration.
Work with equipment suppliers, machine builders and automation engineers to specify, validate and improve vision systems.
Implement and maintain standards for machine vision, inspection and DMC/Data Matrix identification across multiple machines and production areas.
Support NPI and industrialisation activities by ensuring vision and inspection systems are production-ready.
Ensure vision data is captured correctly and made available to MES, traceability and downstream manufacturing systems.
Drive continuous improvement of inspection capability, system reliability, repeatability and manufacturing robustness.
What we're looking for:

Essential experience

Degree, HND, HNC or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline.
Around 5+ years' experience in manufacturing engineering, industrialisation, NPI or manufacturing automation.
Proven hands-on experience with industrial machine vision, automated inspection or AOI systems.
Strong understanding of industrial cameras, optics, lighting, image acquisition and image processing.
Experience integrating vision systems into automated manufacturing machinery or production lines.
Experience working with PLCs and industrial automation systems.
Practical experience of commissioning, setting up, troubleshooting and optimising machine vision systems.
Experience working with machine builders, OEMs or equipment suppliers during equipment integration or commissioning.
Ability to translate manufacturing and quality requirements into effective vision inspection solutions.
Experience working in a production/manufacturing environment where system reliability, repeatability and uptime are important.
Desirable experience:

Experience with any of the following would be advantageous:
Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)
Data Matrix / DMC / 2D code identification
Barcode and traceability systems
MES integration
Industrial communications
Vision system standardisation across multiple production machines
New Product Introduction (NPI)
Manufacturing equipment introduction
Industrial automation and controls
Robotics and automated handling systems
High-volume manufacturing environments
Continuous improvement / manufacturing optimisation
What makes someone successful in this role?
We're looking for someone who enjoys solving real-world manufacturing and automation problems.
You'll be well suited if you are:

Hands-on and comfortable working directly with production equipment.
Naturally analytical when diagnosing vision, automation and inspection problems.
Comfortable commissioning and troubleshooting equipment rather than working purely from a design office.
Able to work effectively with Automation, Manufacturing, Process and Quality Engineers.
Confident working with external machine builders and equipment suppliers.
Focused on making systems stable, repeatable, reliable and production-ready.
Comfortable taking ownership of technical problems and driving them through to resolution.
If you're currently working as a Machine Vision Engineer, Vision Systems Engineer, AOI Engineer, Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer, Manufacturing Automation Engineer, Industrialisation Engineer, NPI Engineer or Inspection Systems Engineer, we'd be interested in hearing from you.

Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.

In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included