Engineer, Controls

At Saputo, our best comes from our people. We're a talented and caring team with a longstanding history of excellence. Since our first days delivering cheese on a bicycle, we've grown into a leading global dairy processor by staying true to the culture that defines us. Each of our employees is committed to uphold our tradition of care, quality, and passion through food, and together, we foster an environment where we can all make contributions that matter-from our manufacturing plants to our office locations and everywhere in-between.

We are looking to hire a controls engineer for our packaging center of excellence within a period of exciting change, following from a period of significant financial investment to increase the level of production on this site with a large level of automation.

This is a key role within our structure as we look to drive for continuous improvement and systems efficiency across existing, established packaging lines, plus new lines being moved to the site. This will include reviewing our current controls and automation setup and refining these, whilst also identifying obsolescence.

As someone who will be managing change, you will partner with various teams to introduce new systems and ways of working, including being a key member in the transition from Profibus to Profinet to enhance site reliability and data utilisation and interpretation.

Working with another controls engineer, you will be supporting a range of equipment including conveyors, automated pallet packers, scanners, baggers, and a robot.

SDUK's brands include the Nation's favourite cheese brand Cathedral City plus other well-known butter & spreads (Clover, Country Life, Vitalite, Utterly Butterly), functional ingredients and dairy free products.

YOU'LL MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MATTER BY

Developing and maintaining cheese packaging operations to agreed health and safety, quality, engineering, and technical standards.
Optimising line performance to meet and exceed reliability and efficiency KPIs.
Carrying out planned maintenance activities.
Partnering with other engineering and OT teams, along with forging a close working relationship with the operations team to deliver CI agenda and the reduction of unplanned downtime.
Write and implement software changes to drive operational performance.
Contributing to programming and fault-finding activities.
Analyse line performance data and taking appropriate improvement actions.
Leading continuous improvement activities.
Deploying advanced fault-finding techniques for PLC controllers and SCADA systems and delivering mentorship across the engineering team to ensure the fault-finding and interrogation skills.

YOU'RE BEST SUITED FOR THE ROLE IF YOU ARE

Able to demonstrate experience within a similar manufacturing/production environment (FMCG/food industry is ideal, but not a prerequisite).
Knowledgeable on electrical equipment, drives and PLC systems, with strong fundamental knowledge of mechanical systems.
Demonstratable track record of working as part of a team and on own initiative.
Experienced with delivering world class manufacturing techniques ugh the application of continuous improvement methodologies and techniques (LEAN, 6-sigma, TPM).
A qualified automation and controls engineer with experience programming in:
Siemens Step 7, TIA Portal, WinCC, Profibus/Profinet, AB Rockwell, Panelview
SCADA, Wonderware, SQL
Robotic programming with KUKA, Motorman, ABB (preferred, but demonstratable understanding of robotics)

WE SUPPORT AND CARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BY PROVIDING YOU WITH

Private Health Care
Bonus scheme paid quarterly
Autonomous and inclusive working environment
Opportunities for progression within the UK and overseas
Enhanced employer pension contributions with Scottish Widows
Health cash plan - claim money back towards essential healthcare such as dental, eye care etc.
Access to Thrive 24-hours a day - a leading and NHS clinically approved app which focuses on general wellbeing
Long service recognised every 5 years
Life assurance up to 4 x contractual pay
Discounted branded products
Free, onsite parking
Individual allocated lockers
Subsidised staff restaurant
25 holidays + 8 bank holidays
My Staff Shop - access to exclusive benefits, free advice and savings - providing great discounts from thousands of the UKs largest retailers & service providers.

For additional information on our benefits please go to

We support employment equity. Saputo strives to embed diversity and inclusion in its operations and invites candidates from all horizons to join our team.

To enable you to bring your best we will ensure you are provided with any physical or non-physical adjustments to support your participation in the job application and interview process.

Agencies - Thank you for your interest in working with Saputo Dairy UK. We have a PSL who will be supporting us if needed. We do not pay fees or acknowledge any CV's supplied to Saputo Dairy UK unless you have been briefed on the role by a member of the Talent Acquisition Team.

Priority will be given to those currently at risk of redundancy or within a consultation process who exhibit the required skills for role.

Please ensure your manager is informed before applying for this position.

Our business was founded in 1933. Having sold our dairies business in 2015, we now produce and sell some of the best-loved food brands in the UK, including Cathedral City cheese, Clover spread, Country Life butter and Frylight spray oil. We have a fast-growing dairy alternatives portfolio including the Vitalite and Sheese brands and also manufacture specialised ingredients used in infant formula.

Our commitment is to produce high quality, nutritious food in a sustainable way. We do that from our head office, operating sites and innovation centre which are spread across the UK. Since 2019 we are part of Saputo Inc., one of the top 10 dairy processors in the world.