Full-time Permanent Associate
Posted 25 Sep ****
Description
Automation & Mechanical Engineer
Advanced Food Processing & Automation
Murray Downs | Full Time
We are seeking an experienced and practically minded
Automation & Mechanical Engineer
to join our highly automated almond processing, sorting and packing operation at Murray Downs.
This is a broad, hands-on engineering role for someone who is equally comfortable investigating a mechanical failure on the plant floor, diagnosing an automation or control problem, working with an equipment manufacturer, or developing an engineering solution to improve the performance of the operation.
The facility incorporates sophisticated processing, sorting, packing, conveying, automated material handling, warehousing and Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems, integrated through modern industrial automation and production technologies.
For the right engineer, this represents an opportunity to work across an unusually diverse combination of mechanical engineering, automation, controls, material handling and operational technology within one facility.
The Technology:
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) used for movement of almonds, bins, packaging and materials throughout the facility
High-speed almond processing, sorting and packing equipment
Automated conveyors, elevators, hoppers, chutes and material-handling systems
PLC-controlled machinery
HMI and SCADA systems
Sensors, instrumentation and variable speed drives
Industrial networks and communications
MES and WMS systems integrated with production, automation and warehousing
Automated storage and material-flow systems
Mechanical drives and processing machinery
Safety systems including guarding, emergency stops, interlocks and isolation systems.
Experience with complex automated machinery is particularly important, the business is looking for someone who can understand not just an individual machine, but also how mechanical equipment, PLC controls, sensors, software, AGVs, production systems and material flow interact with one another.
The Role:
Automation & Control Systems
Provide hands-on engineering support across the plant's PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, sensors, instrumentation, variable speed drives and industrial control systems.
Key responsibilities include:
Diagnosing automation faults and recurring failures
Improving availability, throughput, reliability and OEE
Supporting PLC/HMI programming, modifications and upgrades
Identifying opportunities for further automation




Supporting integration between PLC/SCADA, MES, WMS, AGVs and processing equipment
Maintaining system documentation, software backups and change controls.
Mechanical Engineering & Reliability
Bring strong mechanical engineering capability to the facility's processing, sorting, packing, conveying and material-handling equipment, with a focus on eliminating recurring problems and improving reliability.
This includes:
Diagnosing mechanical failures and conducting root-cause analysis
Designing and improving conveyors, elevators, hoppers, chutes, drives, guarding and associated machinery
Improving equipment reliability and maintainability
Supporting preventative and predictive maintenance
Designing, risk assessing and commissioning mechanical modifications.
AGVs & Automated Material Handling
Experience with AGVs, automated warehousing or sophisticated material-handling systems will be particularly highly regarded.
You will help optimise the plant's Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems, including:
AGV traffic, routing, prioritisation and congestion management
Troubleshooting faults and communication issues
Improving utilisation, travel efficiency and availability
Integration with PLC/SCADA, MES and WMS systems
Supporting specialist suppliers with software, firmware and system upgrades
Ensuring safe operation around personnel and other automated equipment
The Person:
This role will suit a technically strong, practical engineer who looks beyond the immediate fault to understand why equipment failed, how the wider system contributed, and what engineering solution will prevent it recurring.
You'll bring:
Strong mechanical engineering, fault-finding and root-cause analysis capability
Sound knowledge of industrial automation, PLCs, HMIs, sensors and instrumentation
Practical experience troubleshooting complex automated machinery
Experience with conveyors and automated material-handling systems
Understanding of equipment reliability and preventative maintenance
Ability to interpret mechanical, electrical and engineering drawings
Strong understanding of machinery safety and engineering risk management




Good communication skills and the ability to work across Operations, Maintenance, Quality, IT, OEMs and specialist suppliers.
Importantly, you'll be a hands-on systems thinker who understands how mechanics, automation, controls, sensors and material flow interact.
You'll be comfortable on the plant floor, working with operators and maintenance teams to find root causes, develop permanent solutions and continually improve reliability, throughput, safety and automation performance.
Qualifications & Experience:
You will hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification in:
Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
You will also need demonstrated experience in industrial engineering, automation, mechanical engineering or a highly automated manufacturing environment, together with experience troubleshooting automated machinery and industrial control systems.
Candidates with practical experience in any of the following will be of particular interest:
AGVs,
Automated Material Handling,
SCADA,
MES & WMS,
Robotics,
Automated Warehousing,
High-Speed Sorting,
Automated Packing,
CAD,
Previous experience in food manufacturing or processing would also be advantageous, particularly familiarity with HACCP, GMP or BRCGS requirements.
You will also contribute to the future development and automation of the plant, working on engineering projects from concept through installation and commissioning.
This can include equipment selection, technical specifications, procurement support, working with manufacturers and OEMs, installation, commissioning, testing and validation.
You'll also contribute to future plant expansion through layout design, improved material flow and automation strategy.
Safety, Quality & Engineering Standards
As this is a food-processing operation, engineering solutions need to achieve more than simply making a machine work.
Equipment modifications and new installations must consider:
Machinery and personnel safety
Guarding, emergency stops and interlocks
Lockout/tagout and equipment isolation
Food safety and contamination risks
Australian Standards and relevant WHS requirements
Engineering documentation and change control.
The successful engineer will therefore need a solid appreciation of safe engineering design, risk management and disciplined engineering practices.
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📌 Automation Mechanical Engineer (New South Wales)
🏢 Rgit Australia
📍 New South Wales