Electrical and Automation Engineer

Main Purpose of the job:

The Electrical and Automation Engineer is responsible for ensuring reliable, efficient, and safe operation of all electrical and control systems across the factory facility. This role leads automation initiatives, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement projects to optimize production performance, product quality, and energy efficiency.

Role and Activity

Electrical Systems & Maintenance

• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on electrical systems, motors, drives, and control panels.
• Diagnose and repair electrical faults, power distribution, PLCs, and instrumentation systems.
• Maintain and update electrical drawings, schematics, and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with electrical codes, safety standards, and food manufacturing regulations.

Automation & Controls

• Program, modify, and troubleshoot PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar), HMIs, and SCADA systems.
• Support automation of production lines such as mix plant, freezer, filler, and packaging systems.
• Develop and implement control logic to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure consistent product quality.
• Collaborate with process engineers and operators to resolve automation issues and implement process improvements.

Project Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support electrical and automation projects, including upgrades, new line installations, and equipment integration.
• Work with vendors and contractors to specify, design, and commission automation solutions.
• Participate in continuous improvement and reliability programs (TPM, Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma).
• Optimize energy usage and sustainability performance through automation and system upgrades.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure adherence to food safety (HACCP, GMP) and occupational safety regulations (OSHA, NFPA).
• Conduct risk assessments, lockout/tagout (LOTO) audits, and equipment safety validations.

Maintenance Tasks

• Ensure the maintenance plan has purpose, that it evolves to allow the maximum time available for production, no strip and rebuild for the sake of it! Only replace worn/ broken parts – condition based rather than planned based maintenance
• Drive the tasks through required work from observations and data, not just theoretical plans
• Full evaluation of, cost, availability and requirement to decide if run to failure or replace
• Maintenance always follows production, not the other way around.
• Ensure that maintenance tasks adhere to company’s food safety polices at all times.
• Ensure all working practices comply with company rules and procedures in order that you and any other persons using the area of work can do so safely.
• Always keep full and up to date records of all equipment to ensure traceability

Measurable Outcomes

• Down time
• Balance between planned & reactive
• Zero rejections for product food safety and quality issues due machinery
• Waste driven by poor equipment performance
• Daily, weekly, monthly production targets are fully met
• Costs are maintained at/below budgeted levels
• Direct Team to receive a performance review
• Training and development plans in place for all team, producing measurable business benefits
• Quality and improvement initiatives being implemented
• Reduction in accidents and incidents on a YOY basis
• An improving trend on the submitted weekly KPI’s
• Projects delivered on time within budget
• Drive actions from quality benchmarking

Levels of Responsibility

• All site process and equipment.
• Break down interventions, maintenance and improvements
• Production Targets
• Maintenance budget
• Health & Safety
• Team management
• Training and development of the team
• Impeccable hygiene standards always