Automation and controls engineer recruitment for FMCG
As FMCG sites invest in automation, robotics and data, controls engineers have become some of the hardest people to hire. We specialise in finding them.
Roles we recruit
- Automation Engineer
- Controls Engineer
- PLC Engineer
- SCADA / MES Engineer
- Robotics Engineer
- Automation Manager
What the work looks like
What employers look for
Why it matters
Every new line, robot and data project needs a controls engineer. Demand is outstripping supply in the UK and US, so speed and reach matter.
What an automation engineer does in an FMCG factory
Every modern FMCG line is a chain of machines under PLC control: process plant, fillers, wrappers, case packers, palletisers and the conveyors between them. The automation engineer keeps that chain talking. They fault-find when a line stops, change code safely when the product or pack changes, and make the line faster and more reliable over time.
On many sites the role is half support and half project. One week is breakdowns, alarms and operator HMI changes; the next is a new line installation, a robot cell or connecting the plant to MES and data platforms. That mix is why good controls engineers are so sought after: they need deep software skills and the confidence to work on a live, hygienic production floor.
- Program, fault-find and modify PLC, HMI and SCADA systems
- Support new line installations, upgrades and OEM handovers
- Commission robot cells, palletisers and vision inspection systems
- Manage code versions, back-ups and change control
- Connect plant systems to MES, historians and OEE dashboards
- Improve machine safety systems and support functional safety reviews
Roles we recruit and how titles differ in the UK and US
We recruit automation engineers, controls engineers, PLC engineers, SCADA and MES engineers, robotics engineers, electrical and controls technicians, and automation managers, for site, multi-site and project roles.
Vocabulary is the first thing to get right. In the UK, automation engineer is the common site title, with PLC engineer or control systems engineer used too; many UK automation engineers came up through an electrical maintenance apprenticeship. In the US, plants usually say controls engineer, and an electrician or controls technician who can program is a distinct, often hourly role. A UK automation manager maps to a US controls manager or automation manager. We search in both vocabularies, which is why this page matters to US plants as much as UK sites; see our US hub for how we cover North America.
Skills employers are hiring for in 2026
Platform experience is the first filter on almost every brief, followed closely by evidence of working on fast, hygienic production lines.
Beyond the list below, employers value engineers who document their changes, communicate clearly with operators and shift teams, and stay calm when a line is down at 3am. Those behaviours rarely appear on a CV, so we test for them in every conversation with candidates and references.
- Siemens S7 PLCs with TIA Portal (S7-1200/1500), and legacy S7-300/400 and Step 7 on older lines
- Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix with Studio 5000
- HMI and SCADA: WinCC, FactoryTalk View, Ignition, AVEVA (Wonderware) and similar
- Industrial networks: PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and OPC UA
- Servo drives, motion control and inverter set-up
- Robotics (palletising and pick-and-place) and vision inspection systems
- MES, historians and OEE data integration
- Machine safety and functional safety principles
- UK: electrical background with 18th Edition (BS 7671) awareness; US: electrical licensing for hands-on roles in some states
How we run an automation engineering search
We begin by mapping the site's control estate: which PLC platforms, how old the code is, which OEMs supplied the lines and what projects are planned. That tells us whether you need a Siemens or Rockwell specialist, a strong all-rounder or a project-led engineer, and it stops us sending CVs that look right on keywords but would struggle on your kit.
Assessment is practical. We talk candidates through real faults and projects, ask how they manage change control on a live line, and encourage clients to add a short technical exercise, such as reading a ladder logic or function block extract, or a fault-finding scenario at the HMI. We are also clear about shift cover, on-call rotas and travel between sites at the start, because those details decide most automation offers. To start a search, send us a brief.
Why automation hires take longer and how to fix it
Automation is one of the hardest engineering skill sets to hire in both the UK and the US. Every new line, robot and data project needs a controls engineer, and the same people are in demand from food, pharma, automotive, logistics and system integrators. Strong engineers rarely apply to adverts and often receive counter-offers.
Speed and clarity make the biggest difference. Decide early whether the role is support-led or project-led. Be realistic about platform requirements: a strong Rockwell engineer can learn Siemens, and the reverse. Benchmark the salary against current published data on our salary guides rather than an old internal band, and be explicit about on-call pay. Keep interviews to two stages and make decisions within days. Where the gap is urgent, a contract automation engineer can cover a project while the permanent search runs.
Permanent, contract and project automation hires
Automation demand in FMCG comes in two shapes. The first is steady-state: a site needs engineers who know its lines, can be on call and will improve reliability year after year. That is a permanent hire, and the best candidates value stability, a sensible on-call rota and investment in training. The second is project demand: a new line, a palletising cell, a SCADA upgrade or an MES roll-out, often with fixed deadlines tied to installation and commissioning.
For project demand, a contract automation engineer can be the faster and lower-risk route, particularly for platform migrations or commissioning windows. In the UK, contractors often work outside IR35 on clearly scoped project work; in the US, contract controls engineers are frequently engaged through system integrators or on direct contracts. We help clients decide which route suits the work, and often run both in parallel: a contractor to land the project and a permanent search for the engineer who will own the system afterwards.
Industry 4.0 projects add a further layer. Sites connecting lines to historians, OEE dashboards and cloud data platforms increasingly hire engineers who understand both the PLC layer and the data layer. These hybrid profiles are rare, so it pays to be precise about which half of the skill set is essential and which can be learned on the job.
Career paths for automation and controls engineers
Many automation engineers start as electrical apprentices or maintenance technicians, move into PLC and HMI work, then become site automation engineers. From there, paths split. Specialists become senior or lead controls engineers, group automation engineers across several plants, or MES and industrial data specialists. Leaders move into automation manager, engineering manager and head of engineering roles. Others move to OEMs or system integrators, or into contract work.
If you are an automation or controls engineer thinking about your next move, register with us. Many of our FMCG automation roles are filled through our network before they are advertised.
Automation & controls salaries
Indicative base salary ranges compiled from published 2025–26 data; shift allowances, overtime and on-call pay are often extra. Indeed figures reflect advertised salaries across all sectors, not only FMCG, and BLS figures are national figures for the closest federal occupation. Check platform, seniority, location and on-call expectations before setting an offer.
| Role | Typical range (base) | Average | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automation Engineer | £34,025 – £68,231 | £48,182 | Indeed UK, Oct 2026 |
| Controls Engineer | £34,757 – £67,254 | £48,349 | Indeed UK, Oct 2026 |
| PLC Programmer | £36,803 – £63,789 | £48,452 | Indeed UK, Sep 2026 |
| Automation / Controls Systems Engineer | Junior £30,000 – £36,000; mid £42,000 – £48,000; senior £48,000 – £68,000 | – | Chroma Recruitment 2026 guide (2025 data) |
| Contract Controls / Automation Engineer (PLC/SCADA) | £400 – £600 per day (outside IR35) | – | Chroma Recruitment 2026 guide (2025 data) |
| Role | Typical range (base) | Average / median | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controls Engineer | $59,091 – $149,687 | $94,048 average | Indeed US, Oct 2026 |
| Automation Engineer | $72,728 – $161,391 | $108,340 average | Indeed US, Oct 2026 |
| Electrical Engineer (all industries) | Under $76,550 – over $184,300 (10th–90th percentile) | $120,630 median | US BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
Source: Indeed UK salary pages, automation engineer (https://uk.indeed.com/career/automation-engineer/salaries), controls engineer (https://uk.indeed.com/career/controls-engineer/salaries) and PLC programmer (https://uk.indeed.com/career/plc-programmer/salaries); Chroma Recruitment, Market Insights & Salary Guide 2026 (https://cdn.sourceflow.co.uk/wnk02wov63mqirw2nxgob382cduo); Indeed US, controls engineer (https://www.indeed.com/career/controls-engineer/salaries) and automation engineer (https://www.indeed.com/career/automation-engineer/salaries); US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Electrical and Electronics Engineers (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm).. Ranges are indicative and vary by location, company size, category and package.
UK vs US
Skills in demand
- Siemens TIA Portal / S7
- Rockwell Studio 5000
- Allen-Bradley ControlLogix
- HMI development
- SCADA (WinCC, FactoryTalk, Ignition)
- MES and OEE data
- PROFINET / EtherNet/IP
- OPC UA
- Robotics and palletising
- Vision inspection
- Servo and motion control
- Machine safety
- Line commissioning
Live automation & controls roles
Hiring questions
All FAQs →An FMCG automation engineer keeps the control systems on production lines running and improving. That includes fault-finding PLC and HMI issues during breakdowns, changing code safely for new products and packs, supporting new line installations and robot cells, managing back-ups and change control, and connecting machines to MES and OEE data. In US plants the same role is usually called a controls engineer.
Siemens and Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) dominate. Siemens S7 with TIA Portal is very common on UK and European sites and on European-built machinery, while Rockwell ControlLogix and CompactLogix with Studio 5000 are widely used in North American plants. Many factories run both, plus older Step 7 or legacy systems on established lines, so engineers comfortable across platforms are especially valuable.
Published data gives a guide. Indeed UK reports an average controls engineer salary of £48,349, typically £34,757 to £67,254 (October 2026). Indeed US reports an average of $94,048, typically $59,091 to $149,687 (October 2026). These cover all sectors. Platform skills, project experience, shift and on-call arrangements and location all move the number, so we benchmark each role.
Yes, in practice employers in both the UK and the US find automation and controls engineers among the hardest engineering roles to fill. Demand comes from food and drink, pharma, automotive, warehousing and system integrators at the same time, and experienced engineers rarely apply to adverts. Clear briefs, current salary benchmarks and a fast interview process make the biggest difference.
Mostly vocabulary. UK sites tend to say automation engineer and US plants tend to say controls engineer for the same job: programming and supporting PLC, HMI and SCADA systems on production lines. Some employers use automation for project and robotics work and controls for day-to-day line support, so we always check the actual mix of support, projects and on-call in the brief.
Not always, but it helps. In the UK many site automation engineers come from an electrical apprenticeship and hold qualifications aligned to the 18th Edition wiring regulations (BS 7671), which matters if they will work on panels. In the US, hands-on electrical work may require state licensing, so plants often split programming and wiring between controls engineers and licensed electricians or technicians.