Automation Engineering Manager

Tesco is on a journey to transform through innovative automation and intelligent design. We are looking for someone to be at the heart of our Automation Engineering Design team, taking responsibility for the end-to-end delivery of technical solutions across our network. Your role is to take a project from an initial idea or data set and turn it into a physical, safe, and operational reality. You will need to balance technical engineering standards with the practical needs of our customer base, ensuring that every piece of kit we install makes the operation better, faster, or safer.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with teams across Operations, Finance, Fulfilment, Technology, Customer and Commercial to make sure our automation solutions actually solve real problems.
• Apply industrial engineering principles to design automation solutions based on throughput, flow, cycle times and real operational data.
• Consider PUWER and safety requirements early in the design stage to make sure what we build is safe and compliant.
• Take full ownership of automation engineering - from consulting on problem statements, gathering user requirements and researching the right technology, all the way through design, build, SAT, and handover into operation.
• Keep everyone updated with clear reports on progress, risks and issues across the programme.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders at every level and know when and how to influence decisions.
• Move fast when priorities shift - adjusting plans without losing sight of what matters.
• Bring a growth mindset: always looking for smarter, safer, faster ways to work - and be brave enough to try new ideas.
• Help make the team a great place to work by supporting team days, meetings and shared learning.
• Set clear personal goals with your manager and take ownership of your own development.

Qualifications:

• Automation & AMR expertise at an operational management level, ideally within a fast‑paced or high‑tech environment.
• Strong senior leadership experience, confident working with senior stakeholders (DCMs, GMs, Directors).
• Proven ability to lead large, multi‑skilled engineering teams, including automation specialists across complex areas like RSU and chilled chambers.
• Excellent people leadership skills, able to inspire, coach and develop high‑performing teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder and relationship management, influencing effectively across the business.
• Solid financial and commercial acumen, with experience managing multi‑million‑pound budgets.
• Engineering degree (or equivalent) with significant experience in highly automated distribution or operational environments.
• Strategic mindset, contributing to long‑term planning and working closely with senior engineering leaders.
• Adaptive, dynamic working style, able to lead both on‑site and remotely.
• Strong understanding of safety, compliance and legal requirements within a distribution centre environment.

You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues. At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you are just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we are here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support. We are proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome. That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need support with your application, click here for more information. And if you are interested in joining our team but don’t tick every box, don’t let that hold you back from applying.