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Controls and Automation Engineer

So, what will I be doing?

Why This Role Matters

Our Engineering team plays a vital role in ensuring that every yogurt, dessert and ice-cream produced at our dairies is made to the highest standards. This role helps us continue to nurture people and planet by keeping our operations reliable, efficient and future ready.

As consumer expectations evolve, sustainability targets increase and technology advances, we need engineering expertise that protects the performance of our existing assets while shaping the next generation of manufacturing capability. Your work will directly support food safety, product quality, energy performance and the long-term resilience of our sites.

We are also deeply committed to creating an environment where people can grow their talent and build a meaningful future with us. We believe in supporting curiosity, developing new skills and giving our people the opportunities they need to progress within our great business. When you join us, you join a team that invests in your potential and champions your growth at every stage.

What Will I Be Doing?

You will lead and drive a structured, sustainable controls and automation programme at our Cannington site, providing subject matter expertise across a wide range of technologies and applications.
Key responsibilities include:

Modernising PLC platforms and integrated control systems, with handson problemsolving and faultfinding capability.

Working with industrial communication protocols such as ProfiBus, ProfiNet and Ethernet IP, with the ability to diagnose and resolve issues.

Integrating new and existing technologies including process control, endofline automation, data acquisition, vision and validation systems.

Reading, updating and maintaining schematics and documentation.

Contributing to design, delivery and commissioning of manufacturing capability.

Managing automation and electrical obsolescence risks.

Implementing sustainable engineering practices to ensure asset capability, availability and performance.

Developing and delivering training programmes to upskill colleagues in automation and control systems.

Staying up to date with relevant automation technologies and industry developments.

Identifying opportunities to improve performance through automation and digitalisation.

Collaborating with project teams and OEMs to influence design improvements.

Shift Pattern: 4on/4off days

(Initially Mon – Fri for 6 months)

Sounds interesting, what do I need?

· Technical engineering experience, ideally supported by a recognized time-served apprenticeship in manufacturing.

· Strong electrical engineering background with a focus on PLC and controls systems.

· Hands-on experience in automation fault finding and diagnostics.

· HND/HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering or equivalent.

· Experience in process control and automation engineering within FMCG or a similar industry.

· Proven examples of delivering structured improvement through automation.

· Specialist knowledge of PLCs, robotics, HMI and SCADA systems.

· Ability to coach and support others in automation and systems fault finding.

· Experience with CI and Lean methodologies and the confidence to lead improvement activity.

· A proactive, positive mindset with strong problem-solving skills.

· An innovative, forward-thinking approach to engineering challenges.

Why should I join the family?

We’re independent, British and proud to be making the highest quality yogurts, desserts and ice cream under the Yeo Valley brand and for many of the UK’s major retailers. Operating from four dairies and two logistics centres in Somerset and Devon, we employ over 1700 staff and produce more than 25% of the UK’s packaged yogurt.

We’re sure you don’t need convincing, but there’s a whole host of benefits that we offer including:

22 days
non-contributory pension scheme
life cover
healthcare cash back plan
cycle to work scheme
subsidised Yeo Valley products and services
preferential rates with our partners
annual bonus (as part of the Employee Benefit Trust, based on company performance for the year)
learning and development opportunities; we’re committed to ensuring all of our employees have the chance to grow

Our closing dates are a guide for when the application window should close, although we may close the advert sooner if we can. So, we recommend you get your application in straight away – and don’t miss the opportunity to join us!

Unfortunately, we’re not able to provide employment sponsorship to candidates at this moment in time.

Please note that Yeo Valley do not accept speculative agency applications; we will only accept applications from preferred suppliers that have been submitted to us via our recruitment portal at the point of instruction.

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Job Description

Controls and Automation Engineer

So, what will I be doing?

Sounds interesting, what do I need?

Why should I join the family?

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