Yolk Recruitment Ltd
Automation Engineer
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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.
What You'll Do:
- 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
What You'll Bring:
- 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
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Why 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.
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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!
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