Automation Engineer- Aylesbury (Aylesbury, GB)

This review offers a comprehensive look at the Automation Engineer opportunity at Arla Foods, focusing on what makes this role a compelling choice for career growth and impact.

Arla Foods, a global leader in dairy production, presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced Automation Engineer to join their flagship Aylesbury dairy. This role is central to ensuring the efficient production of beloved food brands enjoyed by millions worldwide. If you're seeking a position where your technical expertise directly contributes to tangible, everyday products and impacts a global market, this could be your next career step.

Advantages for Potential Candidates:

• Tangible Impact: As an Automation Engineer at Arla, you'll be directly involved in the production of well-known brands like Cravendale®, Anchor®, Lurpak®, and Castello®. Your work will have a visible and satisfying impact on the food people consume daily.
• Career Growth & Learning: The description emphasizes "Grow with Arla" and "Create the Future." This suggests a culture that supports professional development, learning new technologies, and contributing to innovative projects. The extensive list of required technical skills (TIA Portal, Profinet, Profibus, Wonderware, SAP PM, etc.) indicates a breadth of exposure and a chance to deepen your expertise.
• Leadership and Collaboration: The role requires providing leadership in HSE & Quality processes and contributing to cross-functional teams. This is an excellent chance to hone your leadership abilities and refine your collaboration skills with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribution to Sustainability: Arla's commitment to sustainability and making healthy dairy nutrition accessible is a significant draw. For engineers who value purpose-driven work, this role offers the chance to contribute to a responsible and forward-thinking business.
• Structured Problem-Solving Environment: The emphasis on structured troubleshooting, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) points to a methodical and analytical approach to engineering challenges, fostering a disciplined and effective work environment.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Technical Breadth: The role demands a wide range of technical skills, from PLC programming (S7 preferred) and SCADA to industrial networks, virtualisation, and SAP PM. Candidates should assess if their current skill set aligns and identify areas for development.
• Proactive and Reactive Maintenance: You'll be responsible for both planned maintenance and 24/7/365 troubleshooting of critical production IT systems. This requires a flexible mindset and the ability to manage both proactive planning and urgent, high-pressure situations.
• Communication Skills are Paramount: The role explicitly highlights the need for strong communication, both technical and non-technical. You'll be translating complex issues for various audiences, from site leadership to off-site support teams. If you excel at clear and concise communication, this is a significant advantage.
• Fit within a Collaborative Culture: Arla emphasizes a positive and collaborative culture. Candidates should consider their preferred work environment and whether they thrive in a team setting that values shared knowledge and mutual support.
• Experience in Regulated Environments: The mention of Food/Brewing/Pharmaceutical/Chemical industries suggests that familiarity with the stringent requirements of such environments, including HSE and Quality processes, is highly beneficial.

This Automation Engineer position at Arla Foods is more than just a job; it's an opportunity to shape the future of dairy production with a global leader. It's a role for an engineer who is not only technically proficient but also a strong communicator, a proactive problem-solver, and someone looking to make a meaningful contribution to a world-renowned brand.