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- Tasks: Lead the integration of tech systems to optimise manufacturing processes and ensure data integrity.
- Company: Join Huhtamaki, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work environment with opportunities for growth and impact.
- Why this job: Make a difference by helping protect food, people, and the planet through innovative technology.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering or related field; experience in automation and IT/OT integration required.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on digitalisation and sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Enjoy a career, packaged with care, whilst helping protect food, people and the planet. We are a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions. We’re on a mission to make all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Every day, we ensure the hygiene and safety of food and drink for people around the world. We are Huhtamaki. You could be part of our vision. Because it’s our talented people that make it happen. Our people on the shop floor producing innovative, sustainable products. Our people in our offices delivering excellence for our customers every day. It’s every one of us working together. We offer a place where you can feel safe, be supported, and make an impact so we can all focus on the future together.
Your opportunity: Huhtamaki are currently looking for a Manufacturing Operational Technology (OT) Specialist to join our Foodservice segment in Europe. As an OT Specialist, you would serve as the technical lead bridging Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) across our manufacturing plants. This role focuses on the design, integration, and optimization of MES, SCADA, PLC, and related automation systems. The primary responsibility is to ensure that equipment, sensors, and software systems work seamlessly together to enable real-time visibility, data integrity, and efficient manufacturing operations.
Where you’ll be: You will be located at one of our Foodservice sites in Europe, ideally at our Nules site in Spain, or one of our UK and Ireland sites in Gosport, Belfast or Blackburn.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Systems Architecture & Integration: Lead the design, integration, and continuous improvement of MES, SCADA, and PLC systems across the manufacturing environment. Ensure the reliable flow of real-time data between equipment, controls, MES, SCADA, historians, and ERP. Serve as the plant’s subject matter expert for IT/OT convergence, industrial networking, and data model alignment (ISA-95 or similar).
- Digitalization & Automation Leadership: Drive plant digitalization initiatives, including automation upgrades, MES enhancements, sensor deployments, and data visibility tools. Provide technical leadership for capital projects involving controls, MES upgrades, or new production technologies. Evaluate new technologies and recommend adoption pathways for the plant’s automation roadmap.
- MES / SCADA Engineering: Develop, configure, and implement new MES functionalities, workflows, dashboards, and integrations. Guide SCADA and MES improvements aligned with corporate standards and operational needs. Collaborate with system integrators and corporate engineering to implement new software platforms or system enhancements.
- Controls & OT Systems Engineering: Provide engineering-level support for PLC logic review, HMI design updates, and control system design decisions. Support the development and review of control strategies for new equipment and processes. Oversee modifications to control systems, ensuring safety, compliance, and engineering rigor.
- Cybersecurity & Compliance: Ensure all OT systems follow cybersecurity policies, patching strategies, user access controls, and network segmentation. Partner with IT security to safeguard plant control systems, including PLCs, SCADA servers, and MES infrastructure. Maintain compliance with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the technical liaison between maintenance, IT, corporate engineering, system integrators, and plant operations. Provide engineering guidance—not routine troubleshooting—to ensure long-term stability of OT systems. Translate operational goals into system requirements and implement solutions collaboratively.
- Documentation & Governance: Oversee the creation and maintenance of technical documentation, system architecture diagrams, and change management records. Establish best practices, standards, and governance models for OT systems and integrations. Provide targeted training to maintenance/operations teams when new technologies or processes are introduced.
What You’ll Bring To The Role:
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Automation, Industrial Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
- 3–7 years of experience in manufacturing automation, OT systems, MES/SCADA engineering, or IT/OT integration.
- Strong understanding of PLCs, HMIs, industrial networks, and communication protocols (OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus, Ethernet/IP).
- Experience with at least one MES platform (Siemens Opcenter, Ignition MES, Rockwell FTPC, AVEVA MES, etc.).
- Familiarity with control system design, industrial data models, and system architecture.
- Fluency in English.
- Strong communication skills.
- Willingness to travel approx. 25%.
- Values similar to ours: Care, Dare and Deliver.
Go ahead, apply today! If this sounds like a good fit, then we’d love to hear from you - please apply before the deadline of Friday 30th January. Once we review applications, one of our talent acquisition team will be in touch with an update. Join us. Help protect food, people and the planet.
Operations Technology Specialist in Blackburn employer: Huhtamaki
Contact Detail:
Huhtamaki Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Technology Specialist in Blackburn
✨Tip Number 1
Networking is key! Reach out to current employees at Huhtamaki on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Operations Technology Specialist role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Make sure you can discuss MES, SCADA, and PLC systems confidently. We want to see how you can bridge IT and OT effectively!
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for sustainability! Huhtamaki is all about protecting food, people, and the planet. Be ready to share how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their mission.
✨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 Huhtamaki.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Technology Specialist in Blackburn
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Technology Specialist role. Highlight your experience with MES, SCADA, and PLC systems, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects that showcase your skills in automation and digitalisation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about sustainable packaging and how your background makes you a perfect fit for Huhtamaki. Keep it concise but impactful!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Be specific about your technical expertise in your application. Mention the technologies you’ve worked with, like OPC UA or Modbus, and any experience you have with cybersecurity in OT systems. We want to see your knowledge in action!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our mission to protect food, people, and the planet!
How to prepare for a job interview at Huhtamaki
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As an Operations Technology Specialist, you'll need to demonstrate a solid understanding of MES, SCADA, and PLC systems. Brush up on your knowledge of these technologies and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past roles. Prepare specific examples that showcase your experience with system integration and optimisation.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect questions that assess your ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues in real-time manufacturing environments. Think of scenarios where you successfully identified problems and implemented solutions. Highlight your analytical skills and how you approach challenges, especially in relation to IT/OT convergence.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This role requires cross-functional collaboration, so be prepared to talk about your experience working with different teams. Share examples of how you've liaised with maintenance, IT, and corporate engineering to achieve common goals. Show that you can translate operational needs into technical requirements effectively.
✨Align with Company Values
Huhtamaki values care, dare, and deliver. Research these values and think about how they resonate with your own work ethic. Be ready to discuss how you embody these principles in your professional life, particularly in terms of sustainability and innovation in packaging solutions.
