Project Engineer
Location: Peterborough | Type: Full-time, Permanent | Salary: Up to £60k DOE
You own the project. From first build at OAL to a system running reliably in a customer's factory.
This is a senior, hands-on engineering role where you take full ownership of delivering automation and robotics projects end to end.
You lead the technical delivery, coordinate the engineering team, act as the main customer contact on site, and are accountable for the final outcome in live production.
If you want responsibility for the entire lifecycle, this role is built for you.
What you will do
Every project follows the same cycle: Design, Pre-build and test, Site installation, Commissioning, Go-live and Handover. As Project Engineer, you own that cycle from start to finish.
You will also:
* Lead the technical delivery of automation and robotics projects
* Oversee pre-build, assembly and testing at OAL's Peterborough facility
* Lead installation, commissioning and go-live at customer sites across the UK
* Act as the primary engineering contact for customers during delivery
* Coordinate commissioning, installation and software engineers
* Manage project budgets, timelines and priorities
* Diagnose and resolve technical issues during build and deployment
* Produce documentation and deliver customer training
* Feed lessons learned back into future designs and processes
Your time is split between Peterborough (pre-build and testing) and customer sites (deployment and go-live), depending on the project stage.
What fits this role
This role suits engineers with real-world experience delivering automation or systems integration projects end to end.
Relevant experience includes:
* PLCs and industrial controls (programming, commissioning, fault-finding)
* Robotics and safety systems
* Machine vision and inspection systems
* SCADA / HMI platforms (Ignition or similar)
* Systems integration and industrial networking
Many successful candidates come from systems integrators, machine builders, robotics companies, or manufacturing engineering roles with ownership of capital projects.
Food manufacturing experience is not required.
What to expect
* You own the delivery and are accountable for technical outcomes
* The work is hands-on, in workshops and live production environments
* UK travel is part of the role, including overnight stays during deployments
* Go-live periods are demanding and require calm, decisive leadership
* Standards are high systems must run reliably long after handover
In return, you get full project ownership, exposure to the complete automation stack, varied projects and customers, and progression based on what you deliver—not tenure.
What we are looking for
* Degree or equivalent in engineering, IT or related discipline
* Previous experience delivering automation or systems integration projects
* Proven ability to lead on-site delivery and manage customer relationships
* Strong fault-finding across controls, networking and software
* Comfortable managing budgets and timelines
* Clear, confident communicator
* Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel
Why this matters
OAL automates UK food manufacturing. The systems you deliver (vision, robotics and verification) help factories deal with labour shortages, compliance pressure and rising costs.
You will build them, deploy them, and see them running on live production lines long after handover.
Click on “APPLY” today!
No agencies please