Senior Automation Engineer

Senior Automation Engineer

Christchurch, Dorset

Senior Automation Engineer salary: £60,500 – £65,250 + up to 5% bonus

Please note: only applicants with the full-time, permanent right to work in the UK will be considered.

Senior Automation Engineer Overview:

✅ Own the installation and qualification of a new multi-million-pound high-speed automation line

✅ Lead automated assembly projects from concept through commissioning and production release

✅ Work across robotics, vision systems, PLCs, traceability and precision medical-device assembly

✅ Become the site SME for both new and existing automation equipment

✅ Combine hands-on fault finding with technical leadership, validation and supplier management

This Senior Automation Engineer role is with a specialist manufacturer in Christchurch operating within a highly regulated medical-device environment. The immediate priority is taking technical ownership of a new high-speed automated assembly line, supporting installation, commissioning, validation and the transition into stable production.

The Senior Automation Engineer will also become the site subject matter expert for automation, working across existing equipment, future capital projects and continuous improvement. This is not purely a project-management role or an advisory position. Initially there will be significant hands-on involvement, with the role developing over time into broader technical leadership and automation strategy.

The Senior Automation Engineer role

As Senior Automation Engineer, you’ll lead the technical automation content of major projects while working closely with Project Management, Operations, Quality, Validation, R&D and external machine builders.

A key part of the role will be high-speed assembly of multi-component plastic products within a regulated manufacturing environment, including process validation, equipment qualification and production readiness.

Day-to-day responsibilities of a Senior Automation Engineer

Lead installation, commissioning and qualification of high-speed automated assembly equipment

Manage automation projects from concept and URS through to production release

Act as technical lead with machine builders, systems integrators and automation suppliers

Lead design reviews, FAT, SAT and equipment acceptance activity

Develop and review URS, FDS, DQ, IQ, OQ and PQ documentation

Support process validation and ensure automated equipment is suitable for regulated manufacture

Work across robotics, servo systems, machine vision, inspection, traceability and automated testing

Provide hands-on fault finding and technical support on existing automation equipment

Support NPI, DFM, DFA, PFMEA and manufacturing risk-reduction activity

Analyse equipment performance and drive improvements in OEE, quality and reliability

Lead root cause investigations and implement sustainable corrective actions

Provide expert automation input to wider engineering and capital projects

Mentor engineers and manufacturing teams on automation best practiceWhat they’re looking for - Senior Automation Engineer

Strong experience with high-speed automated assembly of multi-component plastic products

Proven automation experience within medical-device, drug-delivery or similarly regulated manufacturing

Experience validating automated equipment and processes for regulated production

Able to lead automation projects from concept through installation, qualification and production release

Strong hands-on capability with automated machinery, fault finding and commissioning

Experience managing machine builders, automation suppliers or systems integrators

Good understanding of robotics, servo motion, machine vision and precision assembly

PLC automation experience with Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff or similar platforms

Strong understanding of FAT, SAT, risk assessment and machine safety

Degree or equivalent background in Automation, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics or a related disciplineDesirable - Senior Automation Engineer

Experience with automated assembly platforms from Mikron, Hahn, Hekuma or similar suppliers

Background with autoinjectors, injection pens, inhalers, wearable devices or combination products

ISO13485, GMP, GAMP or FDA-regulated manufacturing experience

Cognex or Keyence vision systems

Fanuc, KUKA, Yushin or similar robotics experience

MES, traceability or serialisation integration

Statistical tools such as Minitab, DOE or process capability analysis

What’s on offer - Senior Automation Engineer

Senior Automation Engineer salary: £60,500 – £65,250 + up to 5% bonus

A senior technical role with immediate ownership of a major automation installation and the opportunity to shape future automation capability.

25 days holiday plus bank holidays, 6% employer pension contribution, life insurance at 4x salary, health cash plan and income protection.

Monday to Thursday 8:30am–5:15pm and Friday 8:30am–3:00pm, with earlier Friday finishes typically possible once work is completed.

Relocation assistance is available where required.

How to apply for the Senior Automation Engineer position

If you’re interested in this Senior Automation Engineer role, get in touch to talk through the automation line, validation scope and longer-term technical opportunity.

Call or message Hayden at Holt Engineering on (phone number removed)