Automation Engineer

Job Overview: Our client, an established injection moulding manufacturer, has retained our services to search for an Automation Engineer to join their team.

Remit:

• The role of the Automation Engineer is to design and develop automation systems for injection moulding operations, including robotic part handling, material feeding, automated inspection, and secondary processing.
  
  
• The successful candidate will have experience in automation engineering, ideally within the injection moulding or plastics industry, including robot planning & proficiency in programming and troubleshooting PLCs and HMIs.
  
  Benefits:
  
  
• Days role, with occasional weekend work available paid at 1.5x for Saturday and 2.0x for Sunday
  
  
• Cycle to work scheme
  
  
• Free on-site parking
  
  
• Opportunity to attend company events
  
  Role:
  
  
• Program, maintain, and optimize PLCs and HMIs (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens) used in moulding cells and associated equipment.
  
  
• Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot industrial robot programs (e.g., ABB, Fanuc, Yaskawa), ensuring efficient and safe operation in production environments.
  
  
• Implement and support vision systems for in-line quality inspection, part orientation, defect detection, and measurement (e.g., Cognex, Keyence, Omron).
  
  
• Maintain organized and secure backups of all PLC, HMI, and robot programs, including version control and documentation of software changes.
  
  
• Conduct regular reviews and updates of automation programs to improve cycle times, reduce waste, and increase reliability.
  
  
• Identify and execute automation improvement projects to reduce manual labor, improve product quality, and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
  
  
• Troubleshoot automation-related issues and support maintenance teams in fault diagnosis and resolution.
  
  
• Collaborate with process engineers, tooling engineers, and maintenance staff to ensure cohesive integration of automation within injection moulding operations.
  
  
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including electrical schematics, programming files, and standard operating procedures.
  
  
• Provide training and technical support to maintenance and production staff on automation systems and vision tools.
  
  
• Ensure all automation systems comply with safety standards, electrical codes, and company policies.
  
  
• Work with the maintenance team on electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems
  
  
• Mentoring of apprentices
  
  Experience:
  
  
• Experience in automation engineering, ideally within injection moulding or plastics manufacturing however other industries would be considered.
  
  
• Hands-on experience designing automation systems (robotics, feeders, inspection, secondary processing).
  
  
• Proficient in programming and troubleshooting PLCs and HMIs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens).
  
  
• Experience with industrial robot programming (ABB, Fanuc, Yaskawa).
  
  
• Experience integrating and optimizing vision systems (Cognex, Keyence, Omron).
  
  
• Skilled in troubleshooting electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems.
  
  
• Proven track record improving cycle times, reducing waste, and increasing reliability.
  
  
• Able to support maintenance teams with fault diagnosis and automation troubleshooting.
  
  
• Proficient in creating and maintaining technical documentation (schematics, SOPs, programming files).
  
  Key Words: “Automation Engineer”, “Service Engineer”, “Field Service Engineer”, “Installation Engineer”, “Maintenance Engineer”, “Electrical Engineer”,” “Multi-Skilled Maintenance”, “Robots” “Plastics”, Ancillaries, “Materials Handling”, Automation, “injection moulding”, “PLC programming”
  
  FOOTER
  
  Due to the sheer volume of applications we receive we will only contact successful applications that meet the requirements of our client job brief. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within 10 working days, please deem your application as unsuccessful.
  
  For all UK job positions work seekers must be eligible to work and live in the UK
  
  Sierra 57 Consult –
  
  Technical Engineering & Manufacturing Recruitment Specialist – Plastics, Packaging & Precision Engineering
  
  “Sierra 57 Consult Ltd are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. In compliance with the new regulations (April 2004) in place under the Employment Agencies Act, Sierra 57 Consult will require proof of identification. A current copy of a passport, driving license, ID card or NI card will be required as part of the registration process. Email copies are acceptable”.
  
  Sierra 57 Consult has been designed to project manage the mechanics of all aspects concerning the recruitment processes, implementing a simple and succinct method for targeting and introducing bona fide and skilled candidates to reputable clients and potential employers.
  
  If this advertised position does not interest you, please consider our other opportunities by sending your updated CV outlining your achievements and your personal requisites, i.e. salary, location, job roles. Please just Google “Sierra 57” & register with us