At a Glance
- Tasks: Take ownership of automation systems, driving innovation and reliability in a fast-paced bakery environment.
- Company: Join Memory Lane Cakes, a leading specialty bakery manufacturer with a focus on quality and efficiency.
- Benefits: Enjoy enhanced maternity/paternity leave, pension schemes, retail discounts, and extensive learning opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a growing organisation that values employee development and teamwork.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping automation systems and improving operational efficiency.
- Qualifications: Electrical/Electronic apprenticeship, degree in Control & Automation Engineering, and strong PLC experience.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: MLC – Memory Lane Cakes, Cardiff
Shift: Weekdays (with call-out support as required)
We have a new opportunity for an Automation Engineer within our Engineering team at Memory Lane Cakes, part of the Finsbury Food Group. As our Automation Engineer, you will act as the site’s sole automation specialist, taking full ownership of PLCs, robotics, vision systems, and control architecture. This is a highly autonomous role where you will drive automation standards, system reliability, and digital integration across the site. You will play a key role in reducing downtime, improving OEE, and ensuring robust, future-proof automation systems.
To be successful, you will take a structured and analytical approach to automation, with strong technical expertise and the confidence to challenge and improve existing systems. You’ll work closely with engineering, operations, and IT to ensure automation systems are reliable, compliant, and aligned with site and group standards. This is a new opportunity where you can truly make your mark, building and shaping automation systems with full ownership and accountability.
This is what you’ll actually do!
- Take ownership of all site PLC platforms, primarily Allen Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix, while also supporting Siemens, Omron, and Mitsubishi systems where required.
- Maintain and optimise robotic systems including ABB, Fanuc, and Mitsubishi, alongside supporting vision systems such as Keyence and Thingtrax.
- Lead structured root cause analysis for automation-related failures, implementing long-term corrective actions to reduce repeat issues and improve reliability.
- Develop, implement, and enforce PLC programming standards, ensuring consistency across naming conventions, documentation, alarm handling, and governance.
- Own all backup and version control processes, ensuring secure storage, change tracking, and full compliance with governance standards.
- Integrate PLC systems into SCADA/MES platforms, ensuring data integrity, accurate downtime capture, and reliable OEE reporting.
- Support capital projects from specification through to commissioning and validation, ensuring robust technical handovers.
- Collaborate with IT on network infrastructure, support machine safety systems, and provide coaching and guidance to engineers to build automation capability across the site.
Ideally this is you!
- Electrical/Electronic indentured apprenticeship trained.
- Degree/HND and equivalent experience in Control & Automation Engineering.
- Strong experience with Allen Bradley / Rockwell (Studio 5000).
- Experience working with Siemens, Omron, or Mitsubishi PLCs.
- Knowledge of robotics systems such as ABB, Fanuc, or Mitsubishi.
- Experience with industrial communication protocols (e.g. Ethernet/IP, Profibus, RS232/485).
- Experience integrating PLC systems with SCADA/MES platforms.
- Strong fault-finding and root cause analysis capability.
- Strong experience of machine safety principles and safety PLC systems.
- Experience with vision systems (Keyence, Thingtrax) (desirable).
- Detail-driven with strong documentation discipline and analytical mindset.
- Experience within fast-paced food manufacturing (desirable).
- Familiarity with Health & Safety and Food Safety regulations.
- Excellent Microsoft Office skills.
- Able to work independently while collaborating and communicating cross-functionally.
What’s In It For You:
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
- Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees.
- Death in Service Benefit.
- Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families).
- Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
- Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent).
- Employee Recognition Awards.
- Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in-house development course!).
- An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation.
Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK, and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!
Automation Engineer in Manchester employer: Finsbury Food Group
Finsbury Food Group is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Cardiff where you can take full ownership of automation systems as an Automation Engineer. With a strong focus on employee development, enhanced benefits like maternity and paternity leave, and a commitment to fostering a collaborative culture, you'll have the opportunity to grow your skills while contributing to a leading specialty bakery manufacturer. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a supportive and innovative team dedicated to quality and efficiency.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation Engineer in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Memory Lane Cakes on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your PLC knowledge and automation systems. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in past roles – they love a good success story!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for automation! During interviews, share your ideas on improving existing systems or how you’d tackle downtime issues. They want someone who’s not just skilled but also enthusiastic about making a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Memory Lane Cakes!
We think you need these skills to ace Automation Engineer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your technical expertise and experience with PLCs, robotics, and vision systems. We want to see how you can bring your skills to the table and drive automation standards at Memory Lane Cakes!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to match the job description. Mention specific experiences that align with the responsibilities of the Automation Engineer role – it’ll show us you’re genuinely interested.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points for your achievements and experiences to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to submit all the necessary documents in one go. Plus, it helps us keep track of your application!
How to prepare for a job interview at Finsbury Food Group
✨Know Your PLCs Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Allen Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix systems, as well as Siemens, Omron, and Mitsubishi PLCs. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've implemented or optimised these systems, showcasing your technical expertise.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled automation-related failures in the past. Highlight your experience with root cause analysis and the long-term corrective actions you've implemented to improve system reliability. This will demonstrate your structured and analytical approach.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with how automation integrates with SCADA/MES platforms. Be ready to discuss how you've ensured data integrity and accurate downtime capture in previous roles. This shows that you can think beyond just the technical aspects and understand the operational impact.
✨Communicate Cross-Functionally
Since you'll be working closely with engineering, operations, and IT, practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely. Prepare to discuss how you've collaborated with different teams in the past to achieve common goals, emphasising your ability to work independently while still being a team player.
