Lead Automation Engineer

Lead Controls and Automation Engineer

Location: Manchester/Wigan/Warrington Area.

Shift Pattern: Days Based Working.

Salary: £45,000 to £50,000 + Pension, Bonus and Package

New Chapter are currently searching for a Lead Automation engineer who will be working with a global company based in the Manchester/Warrington area.

As a Senior Controls Engineer you will be expected to take a leading role within the projects to which you are assigned, working closely with project management to deliver high quality control solutions. 

Key activities will include:

·         Provide 2nd line support to the engineering shift teams in the diagnosis and resolution of complex control and instrumentation faults in a timely manner. Facilitate 3rd line support with OEMs where unable to resolve within own skillset.

·         Improving the skills of Frontline engineers through regular coaching sessions and development activities.

·         To support the sites continuous improvement and Capital projects agenda providing specialist technical input in and project engineer support.

·         Implement and maintain a software version control and archive system in a secure manner.

·         To maintain a site obsolescence register and develop plans to mitigate risks.

·         To represent the site at the Control Systems Engineer Forum and take personal ownership of the development of technical and technical safety standards as agreed at the forum.

·         To regularly observe and discuss equipment performance and make recommendations for activities to improve this

Key deliverables for the role are as follows:

·     Implement a site fault escalation procedure to ensure that technical issues are raised with key stakeholders in a timely manner and appropriate resource applied to major breakdowns.

·     Design, trial and implementation of minor equipment modifications in support of increased performance

·     Support the safety agenda through the development of plans for the implementation of Group technical safety standards at the local site.

·     Manage and maintain software licenses and 3rd line support contracts and produce incorporate all contacts into a support document for the escalation procedure

·     Design, develop and implement a local site SCADA / MES system in support of downtime analysis, real time performance display and energy consumption by Line / asset

·     Lead the development of a site register of all controllers installed on site with links to both obsolescence register and the software archive

·     Lead the development of a site register for all parameters for locally configurable devices on the installed asset base.

·     Support the implementation of the change control procedure at the local site ensuring that all changes resulting in control / software amendments are reflected in the software archive with parent / grandparent version available.

·     Support to the implementation of permit to work system for control of contractor / internal activities within defined work area

·     Contribute to the planning and implementation of allocated annual equipment overhauls.

·     Work collaboratively with all adjacent teams (PCs, Shift Managers Quality and Technical Ops) to resolve issues rapidly and drive improvement

·     Take personal accountability for personal development ensuring that the individuals own skills are developed to keep them current and competent with new equipment, software and devices.

Knowledge Requirements:

·         Exceptional control skills with the ability to interrogate, configure and develop basic software for Siemens, Allen Bradley and Omron control systems (both current and previous generations)

·         Thorough knowledge of network architecture and configuration of all main standards (Ethernet, Profibus (DP / PA), Profinet, ControlNet, DeviceNet, Serial interfaces (RS 232/422/485) etc

·         Ability to use industry standard softeware packages (WinnCC, WinCC Flex, Step5, Step 7, Portal, RS Logix, Panel Builder etc)

·         Exceptional Fault Finding Skills including knowledge of structured Fault Finding Techniques (6 Point, 1/2 Split, Substitution, I/P to O/P, Emergence Seq)

·         Good knowledge of engineering principles and their practical application through industry standard generic components.

·         Data analysis and identification of trends.

·         Understanding of CI Methodologies and the associated tools (1 from Lean, 6 Sigma, TPM etc)

·         Ability to read technical drawings

·         Extensive knowledge and experience of the principles of operation of production equipment used within the PET Carbonated Bottling industry

Training/Qualifications

·         Appropriate Technical Qualification (C&G Minimum, BTEC ONC / TEC 3 or higher preferred)

·         IEE 17th Edition

·         Completion of a recognized Apprenticeship

·         IT literate – Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Good analytical and numeric ability

·         IOSH qualification (Preferred)

·         Intermediate Food Hygiene

·         SAP user / Superuser

·         COSHH