Automation Engineer

Senior Automation Engineer

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier, and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced automation systems across manufacturing and operations. The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in automation technology, programming, and system integration to improve efficiency, safety, and reliability. This role offers the opportunity to support innovative projects in a fast-paced environment while contributing to the company's growth and technical advancement.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the design and deployment of automation solutions, including PLC, SCADA, HMI, and robotics systems.

Partner with cross-functional teams to assess process needs and develop automation strategies that improve productivity and quality.

Program, test, and troubleshoot automation equipment to ensure reliable operation and integration with existing systems.

Create clear documentation for automation processes, control logic, and system configurations.

Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and technicians being able to work on the production floor hand in hand with the Maintenance team.

Perform system validation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance of automation infrastructure.

Monitor emerging automation technologies and recommend solutions that strengthen operational capabilities.

Ensure compliance with safety standards and industry regulations throughout system design and implementation.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related field or equivalent work experience.

• Typically, 5+ years of industrial automation engineering experience in manufacturing or a similar environment.

• Proficiency with PLC programming, including Allen-Bradley and Siemens, as well as SCADA systems (Siemens WinCC, Ignition, HMI development.

• Strong knowledge of control systems, instrumentation, industrial network protocols such as Ethernet/IP and Modbus, and cybersecurity principles for industrial systems.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to resolve complex technical issues quickly and effectively.

• Proven leadership skills, including experience mentoring team members and managing projects from concept through completion.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.