Jobs and vacancies with Applied Automation

Our Current Vacancies:

Controls Design Engineer, Plymouth

Based at our Plymouth site we are seeking a Controls Design engineer to join our Engineering Solutions team.

Our Engineering Solutions division are involved in the design and manufacture of advanced automated equipment and at the heart of each of these pieces of equipment will be a PLC based control system.

Our controls engineers are responsible for the generation of the electrical and fluid power design packs, ensuring that we meet the project technical , lead-time and commercial requirements and providing the information in a way that can be readily translated by our build teams.

A prior familiarity with PLC based control systems and automated equipment would be an advantage but training can be provided for a suitable candidate.

About Applied Automation

Applied Automation (UK) Ltd is internationally renowned as a quality supplier of automation and control equipment. We operate in a number of industries including automotive, marine, medical device and semi conductor manufacture.

Engineering is at the heart of the company with the design and build of bespoke automated equipment and then to compliment this we are national distributors for a number of global brands of control and automation products and we have specialist divisions servicing the marine market place and providing a Build to Print service.

For more information on the role please submit a covering letter with your CV to

Application Sales Engineer, South West

X-STK is a division of Applied Automation, an integrator of global brands, including Omron, SMC and UR Cobots with technical support, application trials and training from its automation and control engineering experts.

Through our knowledge and experience over the last 35 years we have built our reputation on giving our customers straightforward, practical, technical advice and recommend products that work together to meet their needs, saving the customer time and money.

We are looking for a Sales Engineer for the Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester area who can further develop new and existing accounts throughout the area.

You will need to have a mechanical/ electrical engineering background, along with an aptitude for problem-solving and strong interpersonal skills.

Working as a key member of our technical engineering sales team you should have the knowledge and commercial skills needed to provide technical advice and support on engineering applications.

You should be proactive with an ability to work independently as well as part of a team. The company is looking for someone who enjoys a challenge, is creative, a problem-solver, with a willingness to attend site visits.

This position would be suitable for an experienced Sales Engineer or alternatively a time-served or degree-qualified engineer looking to further their careers technically and commercially, as full training and field back up will be provided by the existing Application Sales Engineer`s and internal technical staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Contact suppliers for information and competitive quotations.
Produce technical quotations.
Meet targets, objectives and timeframes.
Arrange customer visits and engage in technical discussions.
Carry out any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as required.

Essential Skills & Attributes:

Reliable, self-motivated and well organized.
Engineering background.
Professional telephone manner and good communication skills.
Computer literate.
Work as part of a team.
Have a full driving licence.

Please send us your CV and a covering letter to

Software Engineer, Plymouth

Based at our Plymouth site we are seeking a Software engineer to join our Engineering Solutions team.

Our Engineering Solutions division are involved in the design and manufacture of advanced automated equipment and at the heart of each of these pieces of equipment invariably will be a PLC based control system. The machine is also likely to be fitted with other intelligent devices: HMI’s, Robots, Servo Drives, Vision equipment etc.

Our software engineers are responsible for the generation of an SDS, creation of the code and commissioning\conditioning of the equipment.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on leading edge equipment.

About Applied Automation

Please send us your CV and a covering letter to

Field Technical Support Engineer, Cardiff

We are seeking a motivated, tech savvy Field Technical Support Engineer to support both our Customers and our Sales Team in our X-STK/Distribution Division.

About the company

Applied Automation (X-STK/Distribution Division) provides and supports multiple manufacturers, products and services into the End User and OEM marketplace, primarily across South West England and South Wales.

We are rapidly growing and offer an exciting work environment with constantly changing and growing challenges across a wide variety and number of industries. Products vary from Cobots, Vision Systems, Drives and PLC’s.

Roles and responsibilities:

Work directly with our customers and our sales team to develop product solutions for a wide variety of End User and OEM applications.
Professionally represent Applied Automation to customers and ask specific questions to gather relevant data - helping define an ideal solution.
Recognise and understand our customer’s needs, make suggestions for possible solutions, and make appropriate recommendations.
Travel to customer sites to discuss applications and product requirements.
Work with the Sales Team to specify products and assist in quotations and the provision of relevant technical information.
Keep up to date with the products and services of the manufacturers we represent.
Where appropriate, deliver training and guidance on products and services we represent.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Good commercial awareness.
Keeping the companies means of recording communication and information regarding customers and projects up to date.
Additional duties may be assigned, as required.

The ideal candidate:

Degree or HND/HNC in an engineering-related discipline (e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, etc.).
Minimum of five (5) years in automation, robotics, machine building or hi-tech manufacturing industry.
Ability to read and interpret Electrical and/or Mechanical drawings.
Strong interpersonal skills – successful candidates be highly effective communicators, able to influence external and internal stakeholders and put collaborate at the heart of how they operate.
Well organised, excellent problem solver, strong attention to detail and ability to prioritise and multi-task.
Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.
The X-STK/Distribution Division is based in Cardiff, so would need to live within a commutable distance to either our Plymouth or Cardiff facility.
Willing to travel as this role is field-based.

Please send us your CV and a covering letter to

Project Manager, Plymouth

Main Purpose of Role

Applied Automation’s Engineering Solutions division is looking for a highly organized Project Manager to help ensure the assembly and successful delivery of equipment and services. You will need to be a dependable, self-starter and a good team player who is customer focused and deadline orientated. A sound technical knowledge of all aspects of SPM building and machine automation plus experience with MS Project is required.

Role and responsibilities:

(This list is to outline the common but not exhausted elements)

Attend Sales Over Meeting, meet with clients to take detailed ordering briefs and clarify specific requirements of each project.
Develop comprehensive project plans to be shared with clients as well as other staff members.
Generate Project Quad Charts and monitor project progress in terms of Time, Cost and Quality. Communicate on Project Progress.
Manage the Project team and delegate project tasks based, track project performance, specifically to analyse the successful completion of short- and long-term goals.
Meet budgetary objectives and make adjustments to project constraints based on financial analysis and forward forecasting.
Use and continually develop leadership skills.
Managing a mixture of small, medium and large projects of varying complexity.
Agree and document project objectives.
Managing project risks and issues and escalating accordingly.
Hosting customers on site to conduct system testing and trials.
Managing projects within workflow and communicating progress to customers.
Invoicing projects at key stages.
Helping to maintain existing customers and develop new customers.
Organizing and attending meetings with other functions as required to perform duties and aid business development.
Attending training and develop relevant knowledge and skills.
Actively supporting the leadership team in developing and growing the company.
Undertake AD Hoc Projects as required by the business.
Support and maintain HSE Policies and Procedure
Actively pursuing cost reduction opportunities

The ideal candidate:

(Essential Experience, Competencies and Qualifications)

A level (or equivalent) at A-C level in English, Maths and IT subjects.
Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff, both written and orally.
Competent in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Adobe Acrobat.
Competent in the use of Microsoft Project.
Excellent attention to detail.
Ability to plan and organise workload to ensure all deadlines are met.
Able to demonstrate a flexible, “can do” approach to their work.
An Understanding of Prince 2 and/or APM project management disciplines.

(Preferred Skills)

Prince 2 and/or APM Qualified.
Understanding of Document Control principles.
Technical background.
Knowledge of Quality Management Systems.
Administration experience gained within an Engineering Environment.

Please send us your CV and a covering letter to

Production Manager, Plymouth

Work with the Manufacturing Manager to achieve business commitments by delivering an effective and efficient manufacturing environment whilst taking responsibility for the production team by effectively directing their activities and ensuring a safe working environment.

Ensure that quality requirements are met.
Ensure that profitability is maintained and improved by minimising wastes and losses in all forms.
Ensure that suitable methods are in place for staff training, development and retention.
Ensure that capacity is maintained and improved to meet commercial output requirements.
Drive communication and control activities through effective daily, weekly and medium-term meeting structures
To drive a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and implementing improvement activities.
To solve problems and remove roadblocks.

Role and responsibilities:

(This list is to outline the common but not exhausted elements)

Work with relevant safety representatives to develop risk assessments (RA’s) for all working practices and the working environment. Review, update and file all RA’s as required by the H&S Lead for the site. Ensure that safe working practices are in place and are adhered to.
Ensure that relevant quality standards are being met during the build and test phases of manufacturing. Engage in the quality EFN, permit and QC procedures, as defined by the quality group, and drive problem solving to prevent fault recurrence.
Ensure systems are in place to clearly communicate manufacturing schedules to the manufacturing teams. Drive daily board meetings in all areas such that a clear and unambiguous, highly visible and easily understood display of manufacturing requirements is in place for all to see. Hold daily meetings to understand progress vs target, identify slippage and assign/drive actions to rectify the schedule. Ensure that all relevant stakeholders attend.
Work with Lead Hands and manufacturing teams to understand and quantify manufacturing efficiency vs planned efficiency. Display efficiency at daily meeting boards as a measurable KPI. Set-up and drive teams to improve efficiency such that the business remains competitive and/or increasingly profitable.
Ensure systems are in place to clearly communicate manufacturing status to the wider stakeholder group. Hold weekly meetings for each area to review performance, plan future workload, understand any issues and set actions for all stakeholders in order to maintain Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost metrics. Specifically, OTD as a key metric.
Understand and mitigate, where possible, for stakeholder issues. For example, work with purchasing if parts are not available, work with PM’s where schedules change etc.
Ensure that visual Management is in place for selected KPI’s.
Work with the Manufacturing Manager to implement a medium-term management system that assigns, tracks and delivers longer term objectives. The longer-term objectives will themselves align with the high-level business strategy.
To manage the manufacturing team Lead Hands and their reports ensuring that adequate feedback and appraisals are in place and that HR policies are adhered to.
Provide development and upskilling/multiskilling opportunities for employees to improve staff retention, engagement and motivation and also de-risk the manufacturing environment.
Contribute to the development and refining of manufacturing capacity planning models.
Implement safe systems of work, ensure adherence to safe systems of work and report on any near misses or injuries.
Manage the allocation of work to the build teams using the Lead Hands to implement.
Ensure allocated work is being completed on time for production (Build & Test).
Ensure Project and Production information is being updated correctly and report as required.
Ensure that shopfloors timesheets are update accurately.
Work with the Manufacturing Manager to develop and update capacity planning models.
Answering shop floor queries and manage problems as escalated from Lead Hands.
Approve holiday requests and control/approve overtime.
Perform return to work interviews and monitor/control sickness levels using defined rules
Interview potential new employees.
Ensure that inductions are provided and that they are sufficient in content.
Appraise staff under your management.
Control and manage consumable stores levels such that they do not impact manufacturing.
Ensure that tool specifications are suitable for use.
Work with the Manufacturing Manager to improve the Process Flow for B2P.
Liaise with customers for updates and feedback, e.g., in team meetings.
Updated the team with permit changes.
Manage deviation control as required.
Proof read build packs, Schematics, BOM’s etc.
Organise on the job training for new tools/builds.
Manage Team discipline: Safety, time keeping, pace of work, mobile phone usage, keeping the build area tidy etc.

The ideal candidate:

Ideally hold a recognised manufacturing qualification or have demonstrated experience in this area.
Must be computer literate in all Microsoft Office products especially in Excel.
Must be able to think in a logical manner and plan production effectively across multiple areas.
Must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with, and leading, staff.
Must have demonstrable problem-solving skills and be able to own a problem through to resolution.
Able to articulate and drive the business towards future state goals.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and still remain focussed.
Must have demonstrable problem-solving skills and be able to own a problem through to resolution.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and remain focussed on the set goals.

Please send us your CV and a covering letter to

Accounts Office Manager, PTG Precision Engineers Ltd, Plymouth

Main Purpose of Role - as the Accounts Office Manager you will be responsible for managing the routine finance functions of the business; ensuring legal and statutory compliance, monitoring the company’s accounting records, payroll processing as well as supporting the management team with the day-to-day company operations.

Role and responsibilities:

(This list is to outline the common but not exhausted elements)

To manage, support and provide assistance with:

To comply with all legal requirements in respect of GDPR, Health & Safety and HR policies and procedures.
Preparation and overall management of monthly and weekly payroll; paternity leave, staff benefits, holiday pay, company pension scheme auto enrolment and contributions payable and production of P45’s for leavers, P60’s and year end etc.
Ensure that all agreed procedures and controls are adhered to and in line with Delegation of Authority.
To support the Managing Director in making appropriate and commercially viable proposals.
Management of Inter-company transfers.
Produce accurate and timely financial reports e.g., P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Debtors, Creditors, KPI’s including Monthly Sales per Customer/ overtime costings etc / analysis for Directors and Managers as required
Preparation of accurate and timely monthly Financial Reports, management accounts and associated reports, P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow etc.
Monthly reconciliation of all Company bank accounts, and credit cards.
To review the business Break-even point on a monthly basis.
To forecast company cash flow and provide timely analysis of any variance to forecast.
Processing transactions on all ledgers including; purchase ledger, sales ledger and nominal ledger - monthly shut down of sales/purchases and nominals.
Manage Supplier payment agreements.
Financial reporting to the Management Team Meetings.
Manage Petty cash.
Maintain the fixed asset register.
Develop and document the financial business processes and accounting policies
Document and maintain Operating Procedures.
Responsible for generating and sending sales invoices.
Liaise with external auditors and other external parties where necessary.
Manage the Invoice financing process and negotiating suitable customer limits with HSBC.
To fully investigate credit-note requests and raise them for authorisation where appropriate.
Routinely seek credit accounts to reduce proforma payments to a minimum.
To examine all financial reports and data closely to check for discrepancies.
Collate and invoice Workholding shipping costs on a monthly basis.
Manage the preparation, and facilitate all internal and external audits.
Manage and chase outstanding debtors on a monthly basis, with follow up and escalation if required.
Complete and submit all HMRC returns including VAT, PAYE, P11D and other statutory returns in a timely manner.
Ensure that all financial transactions are properly recorded, filed, and reported.
Responsibility to provide background details and propose recommendations where authorisations are required.
Maintain sickness records and up to date Bradford Factor records, ensuring timely completion of Return to Works forms.
Management and execution of monthly journals – Prepayments / Accruals / Depreciation / WIP and Stock Adjustments.
Monitoring of the purchase ledger, create payments lists and process payments through the bank.
Monthly reconciliation of HSBC Finance Account – sent to HSBC.
Management of holiday adjustments to staff holiday allowance and maintain updated holiday requests.
General front of office duties; first point of contact for customer enquiries and visitors (arrange refreshments as required), distribution of incoming and outgoing mail

The ideal candidate: Essential

Be AAT or QBE qualified.
Proven experience (minimum of 3 years) in similar accounts/office management role.
Proficient in the use of MS Office and financial management software.
Must be able to think in a logical manner and prioritise own workload to meet demand.
Must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with internal and external customers.
Ideally, possess problem-solving skills and be able to own a problem through to resolution.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and still remain focussed.
Trustworthy and able to comply with confidentiality requirements.

The ideal candidate: Desirable

Experience in a similar position within an SME Manufacturing Environment.

Please send us your CV and a covering letter to