Automation Engineer in Birmingham

As an Automation & Applications Engineer, you're the person people come to when a machine isn't behaving as it should. You understand automated systems and are comfortable around PLC-controlled equipment. When a fault occurs, your instinct is to investigate properly rather than simply reset the machine and hope it doesn't happen again.

You'll be the bridge between the workshop and the customer. On one side, you'll be pulling machines apart, testing them under different conditions, creating samples, measuring results and understanding how automated systems behave in the real world. You won't just be analysing from behind a desk; you'll be hands-on with machinery, involved in build, test, fault finding and investigating how equipment performs under different operating conditions.

On the other side, you'll be explaining what it all means, writing reports, presenting findings, and helping customers understand how their machine can perform in real production environments. No two days will look the same. Some days you'll be fault finding automated machinery, investigating performance issues or supporting machine testing. Other days you'll be talking through technical challenges with customers, discussing machine performance and helping identify practical solutions. There may also be opportunities to support commissioning activities and troubleshoot equipment on customer sites.

You'll be working with complex industrial machinery used across a wide range of manufacturing environments where precision, reliability and performance matter. You'll take ownership of testing and proving performance, not simply following a process but understanding why something works, why it doesn't and what can be improved. You're the kind of person who enjoys variety, likes solving problems, and enjoys understanding how things work. You're just as comfortable getting hands-on with machinery as you are discussing technical findings with customers.

You already understand PLC-controlled systems, can follow a fault through a machine, and know that finding the root cause is often more important than finding the quickest fix. Because of the nature of the equipment, automation, PLC and electrical engineering experience is essential. You'll be involved in supporting investigations, understanding machine behaviour and helping ensure equipment operates safely, reliably and as intended.

Perhaps you've worked with robotics, automated production equipment or special purpose machinery. Maybe you've supported commissioning projects, machine development or system testing. You may even bring experience of metallurgy, coatings, materials analysis or laboratory testing. Those areas would be beneficial, but the strongest foundations for success as an Automation & Applications Engineer are automation, PLCs and electrical engineering. Everything else can be built upon from there.

What connects successful Automation & Applications Engineers here isn't a specific industry background; it's curiosity. You enjoy understanding how things work, like getting hands-on with machinery rather than simply reading about it. When something isn't performing as expected, your instinct is to investigate, test, analyse and find the answer.

You'll be given the freedom to do exactly that. The salary on offer is up to £50,000 depending on the experience you're bringing. There are plenty of benefits too, including 25.5 days holiday plus bank holidays, pension, health cover, death in service, training, recognition schemes, bonus potential and genuine progression opportunities.

This role is about exploring, testing and proving what these machines can really do, then turning that knowledge into practical solutions customers can rely on. If you're currently working with automated systems, PLC-controlled machinery or complex industrial equipment and you're looking for a role where you can combine hands-on engineering, problem solving, testing and customer interaction, this could be worth exploring.