Manufacturing Engineer Automation

Automation Engineer – Robotic Welding & Fabrication

North West UK | £55,000–£65,000 | Permanent

A well-established engineering manufacturer is looking for a hands-on Automation Engineer to support, maintain and improve robotic welding and fabrication systems across a busy production environment.

This role is firmly shop-floor focused — keeping automated equipment running reliably, optimising processes in real time and driving continuous improvement where it matters most. You'll also act as a subject matter expert for new equipment being introduced by the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME) team, providing technical guidance and on-site support through commissioning and early operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Concept & Supplier Liaison — Supporting early concept development and acting as a technical interface with automation suppliers

• Equipment Specification — Assisting in specifying and implementing new robotic and automated systems

• Commissioning & Testing — Supporting hands-on commissioning, installation, FAT and SAT activities for automation equipment

• Preventative Maintenance — Working with maintenance teams to develop robust PM routines for robotic welding and fabrication cells

• Rapid Fault Finding — Providing specialist support to maintenance, diagnosing faults quickly and applying software fixes to maximise uptime

• Integrator Collaboration — Working closely with integrators and internal teams to resolve equipment and process issues

• PLC & Controls — Programming, modifying and developing PLCs and associated control systems

• Automation Improvements — Identifying opportunities to enhance welding and fabrication automation across steel and aluminium

• Robot Programming — Developing and refining robot welding programmes in collaboration with Weld Engineering

• Offline Programming — Using offline programming tools to support new part introduction and optimisation

• On-Site Optimisation — Optimising robot paths and processes on the shop floor, including CI updates and new part integration

• Production Issue Analysis — Investigating automation-related production issues and implementing practical engineering improvements

• Lean & CI — Applying lean principles directly on the shop floor to improve flow, reduce downtime and stabilise processes

• Operator Support — Training and supporting operators in basic robot operation, fault recovery and safety awareness

• Documentation — Maintaining and updating cell documentation, operating procedures and automation standards

• Compliance — Ensuring all equipment modifications comply with EHS, CE/UKCA and PUWER requirements

• Quality & Process Control — Supporting manufacturing and quality standards through consistent process control and adherence to procedures

What We're Looking For

• Hands-on and comfortable working directly with robotic equipment

• Proactive, with the ability to solve problems under pressure

• Technically strong, with solid experience in automation, robotics or controls

• Shop-floor focused and motivated to drive improvements at the point of manufacture

This is a permanent role offering £55,000–£65,000 for an engineer who wants to make a tangible difference to how automated systems perform — with the scope, access and support to get it done.

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