Automation Engineer

Automation Engineer
Aberystwyth
Circa £55,000 DOE

Yolk Recruitment is exclusively representing an established food manufacturer in the search for an Automation Engineer to strengthen its site capability.

This is a rare opportunity for an engineer with SCADA, controls, or industrial automation expertise to take ownership of fault-finding and system reliability within a high-volume production environment. The vacancy is planned around a weekday afternoon shift, extending engineering automation support across a greater portion of the operating day while avoiding a traditional rotating shift pattern.

• Maintain, monitor, and troubleshoot site SCADA and industrial automation systems
• Respond to controls failures, system interruptions, and automation-related production issues
• Identify the root causes of faults and restore equipment to safe operation as efficiently as possible
• Maintain existing controls infrastructure rather than focusing primarily on developing entirely new systems
• Support PLC, drive, inverter, sensor, and wider control-system fault-finding, according to your experience
• Provide hands-on electrical and mechanical engineering support when production machinery requires attention
• Complete planned preventive maintenance alongside automation-focused responsibilities
• Work closely with production teams and the wider engineering department to improve reliability and reduce downtime
• Share knowledge with colleagues and learn from a highly experienced on-site SCADA specialist
• Maintain accurate records of faults, repairs, and scheduled work through the site maintenance system
• Operate in accordance with stringent health, safety, hygiene, and food manufacturing standards

• Experience working with SCADA, PLC-controlled machinery, or industrial automation systems
• Strong diagnostic and fault-finding skills within a live production or process environment
• The ability to investigate existing code, controls, and system parameters when equipment stops or behaves unexpectedly
• A practical engineering background and the willingness to work directly on machinery when required
• Electrical engineering knowledge, ideally supported by a relevant qualification or apprenticeship
• Experience within food, beverage, FMCG, pharmaceutical, process manufacturing or another regulated environment would be advantageous
• A calm, logical and methodical approach to complex technical issues
• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively with engineers, operators, and production colleagues
• A genuine interest in developing broader controls, electrical and maintenance expertise

Automation engineers are often expected to choose between highly specialised controls work and general maintenance. This role offers a balance of both. You will be the automation-focused member of the team, concentrating on SCADA and control's reliability while remaining close to the machinery and production process.

The planned hours are based around a Monday-to-Friday afternoon shift. The precise working pattern will be agreed around site coverage requirements, with the qualification call discussing an approximate afternoon start and finish around midnight rather than a permanent overnight pattern. Other engineers remain on site until 10:00pm, and the facility continues operating with wider production staffing beyond that point.

You will also benefit from working alongside a highly experienced SCADA specialist with extensive knowledge of the plant, providing valuable access to site-specific guidance and technical mentoring.

The package includes:

• Salary of up to £60,000 for an engineer with the right depth of automation expertise
• A consistent weekday afternoon shift, with final hours agreed during the recruitment process
• 33 days' annual leave for a five-day working pattern
• Employer pension contribution of 5%, with a 3% employee contribution
• Health and wellbeing support, including dental and optical cashback
• Three times annual salary life assurance
• Holiday buying and selling options
• Company sick pay increasing with length of service
• Accredited technical training and support for relevant development requests
• Regular investment in site equipment and manufacturing capability
• A structured interview process, normally involving an initial Teams conversation followed by one on-site meeting and factory tour

This is a particularly strong opportunity for a controls-focused engineer who wants a high level of technical responsibility, access to an experienced mentor and the backing of a well-established manufacturing organisation.

Ready to Apply?

If you can bring together automation expertise, practical fault-finding and a hands-on engineering mindset, Yolk Recruitment would like to hear from you.

Contact Jacob Purcell to find out more.

Please apply with a CV and a cover letter outlining why you're perfect for the role.

Know someone great for the job? We offer a referral scheme, just get in touch!

Note: We do our best to respond to every application, but due to volume, we can't always guarantee it. If you haven't heard back within 7 days, unfortunately, you haven't been successful this time. Keep an eye on our site for new opportunities!