Automation Engineer

?? Automation Engineer?? Aberystwyth?? Circa £55,000 DOEYolk 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.What You'll Do:Maintain, monitor, and troubleshoot site SCADA and industrial automation systemsRespond to controls failures, system interruptions, and automation-related production issuesIdentify the root causes of faults and restore equipment to safe operation as efficiently as possibleMaintain existing controls infrastructure rather than focusing primarily on developing entirely new systemsSupport PLC, drive, inverter, sensor, and wider control-system fault-finding, according to your experienceProvide hands-on electrical and mechanical engineering support when production machinery requires attentionComplete planned preventive maintenance alongside automation-focused responsibilitiesWork closely with production teams and the wider engineering department to improve reliability and reduce downtimeShare knowledge with colleagues and learn from a highly experienced on-site SCADA specialistMaintain accurate records of faults, repairs, and scheduled work through the site maintenance systemOperate in accordance with stringent health, safety, hygiene, and food manufacturing standardsWhat You'll Bring:Experience working with SCADA, PLC-controlled machinery, or industrial automation systemsStrong diagnostic and fault-finding skills within a live production or process environmentThe ability to investigate existing code, controls, and system parameters when equipment stops or behaves unexpectedlyA practical engineering background and the willingness to work directly on machinery when requiredElectrical engineering knowledge, ideally supported by a relevant qualification or apprenticeshipExperience within food, beverage, FMCG, pharmaceutical, process manufacturing or another regulated environment would be advantageousA calm, logical and methodical approach to complex technical issuesGood communication skills and the ability to work effectively with engineers, operators, and production colleaguesA genuine interest in developing broader controls, electrical and maintenance expertiseWhy You Should Apply: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 expertiseA consistent weekday afternoon shift, with final hours agreed during the recruitment process33 days' annual leave for a five-day working patternEmployer pension contribution of 5%, with a 3% employee contributionHealth and wellbeing support, including dental and optical cashbackThree times annual salary life assuranceHoliday buying and selling optionsCompany sick pay increasing with length of serviceAccredited technical training and support for relevant development requestsRegular investment in site equipment and manufacturing capabilityA structured interview process, normally involving an initial Teams conversation followed by one on-site meeting and factory tourThis 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!TPBN1_UKTJ