At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and troubleshoot automation software in real-world environments across the UK and Europe.
- Company: Join Hyster-Yale's innovative Frimley Robotics Engineering Centre, a leader in automation technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hands-on experience, and opportunities for travel and professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a collaborative environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team transforming the future of industrial automation with real impact.
- Qualifications: Hands-on software engineering skills and experience in applications engineering or technical support.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About the Opportunity
Hyster-Yale's Frimley Robotics Engineering Centre is a hidden gem in the UK's autonomy landscape — a team of approximately 20 engineers building real automation technology for production-scale industrial trucks. The team targets approximately 500 automated units in 2026, against a backdrop of 100,000 vehicles manufactured annually. With a hands-on workshop and development lab on-site, this is a place where software, electrical, and mechanical engineers work together on tangible, deployed systems — not just simulations. The centre is based minutes from Junction 4 of the M3, close to Farnborough, Camberley, and Guildford, and within 25 minutes of three train stations. It is an on-site role (four days minimum), suited to engineers who want to work hands-on with real hardware in a collaborative, fast-moving team.
Role Summary
The Software Service / Automation Field Engineer is a hybrid software and field support role acting as the critical buffer between Hyster-Yale’s core engineering teams and customer sites across the UK and Europe. As the automation programme scales — with live deployments already operating in North America and expansion underway into Europe — this person protects the core engineering team from field disruption and ensures deployments run smoothly and reliably. This is emphatically not a desk-based role. The right candidate will be equally comfortable plugging in a laptop, connecting cables, and debugging a live automated truck on a customer site as they are triaging issues remotely with the US engineering team. A background in applications engineering, commissioning, or technical support alongside software skills is ideal.
Time Split & Scope
- Approximately 50% — learning and developing deep understanding of the full automation software stack
- Approximately 25% — remote support and triage in collaboration with UK and US engineering teams
- Approximately 25% — travel to customer and test sites (UK initially, broadening to wider Europe as the programme scales)
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the first point of contact for field software issues at customer and test sites across the UK and Europe
- Conduct structured triage of issues with remote US and UK engineering teams, escalating where necessary
- Travel to customer sites and test facilities to diagnose, support, and resolve deployment issues in live automated environments
- Build deep familiarity with the full automation software stack to enable effective diagnosis and support
- Communicate clearly with customer and operator teams on-site to manage expectations and resolve issues professionally
- Provide structured feedback to core engineering teams on recurring field issues to inform continuous improvement
Candidate Profile
Hands-on, site-confident software engineer. Comfortable working in industrial environments with physical hardware. Happy travelling within the UK and, in time, across Europe. Engaging with customers and operators directly with confidence and professionalism. A background combining applications engineering, commissioning, or technical support with software engineering skills is ideal. The emphasis here is on someone who can move between a screen and a physical system without hesitation — and who communicates well under pressure.
Technical Focus
- Strong software foundation with embedded or industrial systems exposure
- Hands-on diagnostics and debugging in live environments
- Familiarity with automation or robotics software stacks desirable
- Comfort with remote collaboration tools and cross-cultural engineering teams
About the Team & Working Environment
The role is based at Frimley with regular travel to customer and test sites. It works closely with the core software engineering team and with US-based colleagues. The team is scaling quickly and this person will be central to enabling that growth without disrupting core engineering capacity.
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling is an equal opportunities employer. The successful candidate will be subject to background checks.
Software Service/Automation Field Engineer employer: Hyster-Yale Group
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive environment for Higher Level Apprentices in Business at our Craigavon facility. With a commitment to employee growth through hands-on experience and academic development, we provide competitive pay, generous annual leave, and subsidised benefits, all while fostering a culture of innovation and teamwork that empowers our apprentices to thrive in the global materials handling industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Service/Automation Field Engineer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Hyster-Yale Group or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Hyster-Yale Group.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
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✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Hyster-Yale Group that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Service/Automation Field Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Hyster-Yale Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Hyster-Yale Group and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hyster-Yale Group
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Hyster-Yale Group uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
