At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and support automation systems in UK food factories, ensuring quality and reliability.
- Company: Join OAL, a leader in automating UK food manufacturing with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and exposure to cutting-edge automation technologies.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and learning in a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by ensuring production lines run smoothly and efficiently.
- Qualifications: Experience in PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems; strong troubleshooting skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 € per year.
If a food factory's production line is running reliably six months after handover because the integration was done correctly and the documentation was complete, that is your standard.
You develop, support and own the technical quality of automation systems that run in UK food factories. You follow controlled processes, maintain accurate configuration records, and take ownership of issues through to full resolution.
The work spans PLC controls, SCADA, HMI systems, MES integration, industrial networking and OT/IT architecture. You will act as a Level 3 escalation resource for complex automation support tickets. You will need to diagnose problems methodically under pressure and communicate clearly with both engineering teams and customer operations staff.
If you have proven experience developing and supporting industrial automation systems and you want a role where getting it right matters, where process, precision and accountability are valued, this role is built for that. The work moves between development, support escalation and project delivery. Some periods are desk-based: programming, documenting, reviewing architectures and maintaining configuration control. Others require you to be on site at a customer facility, working through a commissioning phase or resolving a live production incident.
On development and project work, you configure and support PLC, SCADA, MES and integration solutions across customer environments. You maintain version management across automation platforms and contribute to the standardisation of engineering practices across OAL's project and support contracts.
On escalation and support, you act as the Level 3 resource for complex automation and OT/IT incidents. You take ownership of high-impact issues through to full resolution, provide structured root cause analysis and corrective action reports, and maintain clear escalation pathways. A typical week depends on where your projects and support contracts sit in the cycle. During deployment or go-live phases you will be at customer sites leading commissioning or resolving issues. Between projects you will be involved in architecture reviews, knowledge base development and SOP improvement.
This role suits engineers who have built, supported and improved industrial automation systems in structured environments.
- PLC and industrial controls: Rockwell, Siemens TIA Portal, Mitsubishi or equivalent programming, commissioning, fault-finding
- Systems integration: getting multiple technologies to work together reliably on a production line
- Industrial communication protocols: Windows Server, SQL Server, industrial networking, VMware or VEEAM
- Edge technologies: Engineers who do well in this role at OAL have typically come from systems integrators, automation suppliers, managed service or support environments, or manufacturing engineering roles where they owned the technical quality of what they delivered.
You do not need food manufacturing experience. The engineering is transferable. You will learn the specifics of food production environments through project delivery and customer support work.
We will be direct about this, because it helps both sides. Whether you are writing a SCADA configuration, responding to an escalation or supporting a go-live, the quality and correctness of your work is your responsibility. You will follow documented procedures, maintain version control, produce structured reports and communicate to a defined standard. When a production line is down and the customer is waiting, you need to diagnose, decide and act clearly. OAL delivers automation systems that run 24/7. The work you do, the configurations you maintain, the documentation you produce, the decisions you make under pressure directly affects whether a customer's line stays running.
Travel is part of the role. Deployment and commissioning phases require time on site. We ask for flexibility around this and we are realistic about planning it.
Exposure to a wide range of automation technologies: PLC, SCADA, MES, networking, OT/IT integration.
Variety across different customers, sites and technologies.
A team of engineers who take quality seriously.
Proven experience developing and supporting PLC, SCADA and HMI systems.
Strong knowledge of at least one major automation platform (Rockwell, Siemens TIA Portal, Mitsubishi).
Experience working within structured support or managed service environments.
Experience acting as a senior escalation point for complex automation or OT/IT incidents.
Solid understanding of industrial communication protocols and integration principles.
Ability to interpret P&IDs and electrical drawings.
Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis and technical documentation skills.
Full UK driving licence.
Willing to travel and stay away from home when projects require it.
Experience in food manufacturing is not required. If you have the automation engineering and support skills, we will help you apply them in this sector.
OAL automates UK food manufacturing. Food factories face labour shortages, tightening compliance requirements and pressure on costs. You will work on packaging verification systems that prevent product recalls, robotic cells that replace repetitive manual work, and vision systems that catch errors human inspection cannot sustain. These systems run on live production lines across the UK. You will build them, commission them, support them and make sure they keep running long after the project closes.
Graduate Automation Engineer in Cambridge employer: OAL Group
OAL is an exceptional employer for Graduate Automation Engineers, offering a dynamic work environment in Peterborough where precision and accountability are paramount. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge automation technologies while being part of a dedicated team that values quality and innovation. The company promotes a culture of continuous learning and provides exposure to diverse projects across the UK food manufacturing sector, ensuring that your contributions directly impact the efficiency and reliability of production lines.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Automation Engineer in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you to their company.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to automation engineering. Think about your past experiences and how they relate to the role. We want you to showcase your problem-solving skills and technical knowledge!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply through job boards; head over to our website and submit your application directly! It shows initiative and gives you a better chance of standing out in the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. Remind them why you’re the perfect fit for the Graduate Automation Engineer role.
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Automation Engineer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your experience with PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems, as well as any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about automation engineering and how your background aligns with our needs. Be sure to mention your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure, as these are key for us.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don't shy away from detailing your technical expertise. Mention specific technologies you've worked with, like Rockwell or Siemens TIA Portal, and any experience with industrial networking. We love seeing candidates who know their stuff!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at OAL Group
✨Know Your Automation Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems. Be ready to discuss your experience with specific platforms like Rockwell or Siemens TIA Portal. They’ll want to see that you can talk the talk when it comes to automation technologies.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share examples of how you've diagnosed and resolved complex issues in past roles. Think about specific incidents where you had to act under pressure and how you communicated with teams to get things sorted. This will show them you can handle the heat!
✨Get Familiar with Their Processes
Since this role values process and precision, take some time to understand the importance of documentation and version control in automation projects. Be ready to discuss how you’ve maintained configuration records and followed controlled processes in your previous work.
✨Be Ready for On-Site Scenarios
Since travel is part of the job, think about your flexibility and willingness to be on-site during deployment phases. Prepare to discuss any relevant experiences where you’ve worked directly with clients or on-site teams to resolve issues or commission systems.
