Senior Automation Engineer

Senior Automation Engineer Location: Ireland (Hybrid with site & international travel) Sector: Industrial Automation / Digital Manufacturing A rapidly growing global automation and engineering consultancy is expanding its Irish operations and is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to play a key role in delivering high-impact automation and digitalisation projects. The business operates internationally across Europe and North America, supporting clients in highly regulated and performance-driven sectors including pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, energy,and advanced manufacturing. With a strong focus on innovation, digitisation and intelligent manufacturing, the company offers engineers the opportunity to work on technically complex projects with genuine global reach. The Opportunity This is a hands-on, senior-level role ideal for an automation professional who enjoys leading from the front and being involved at every stage of the project lifecycle — from concept and design through to commissioning and handover. As one of the senior automation professionals in Ireland, you will help shape local capability while collaborating closely with established international teams across the world. You will be customer-facing, technically influential, and instrumental in driving best practice across automation and digital delivery. Key Objectives Deliver scalable, future-ready automation and digital solutions that generate measurable client value Own automation projects from concept through commissioning, ensuring time, cost and quality targets are met Design, program and configure robust control systems across PLC, HMI/SCADA and IoT platforms Influence automation strategy, standards and ways of working within the Irish business Provide technical leadership, mentoring and quality assurance across project teams Contribute to international projects, collaborating with global engineering teams Key Responsibilities Project Delivery Lead automation projects from design through implementation, testing and commissioning Manage scope, schedule, cost, risk and quality throughout the project lifecycle Prepare and maintain detailed technical and project documentation Carry out risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies Act as the primary technical point of contact for clients and stakeholders Automation Design & Programming Design, program and troubleshoot PLC, HMI/SCADA and automation systems Develop control philosophies, electrical designs and system architectures Integrate digital and IoT technologies to improve operational performance Perform FAT/SAT, testing, validation and commissioning activities Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations and best practice Collaboration & Coordination Work closely with international engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including subcontractors and client resources Support knowledge sharing and standardisation across projects Ensure smooth integration of global project components Technical Leadership Mentor and support junior engineers and technicians Promote consistent, high-quality engineering standards Lead troubleshooting and resolution of complex automation issues Review and approve technical designs and documentation Foster a culture of learning, innovation and continuous improvement Innovation & Continuous Improvement Identify opportunities for automation innovation and optimisation Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies Contribute to the development of in-house digital and IoT platforms Capture lessons learned to improve delivery and scalability Technical Skills & Experience Essential PLC programming and troubleshooting (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, Omron or similar) HMI/SCADA development (Ignition, WinCC, FactoryTalk, Wonderware or similar) Motion control, drives, servos and VFDs Industrial networking (EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, OPC-UA) Electrical design and documentation (EPLAN / AutoCAD Electrical) Site installation management and commissioning leadership FAT/SAT, commissioning and full project lifecycle delivery GAMP and V-Model documentation exposure Desirable Industrial cybersecurity and IT/OT integration Vision systems and machine vision Robotics, AGVs or AMRs AI/ML applications, predictive maintenance or advanced analytics Qualifications Degree in Electrical, Electronic, Automation or Mechatronics Engineering (or equivalent) 5+ years’ experience in industrial automation project delivery Proven experience managing site works, commissioning and subcontractors Full driving licence Travel Regular travel to client sites within Ireland Occasional international travel to project sites and global offices (circa 10%)