Controls Systems & Project Engineer 

At Proper Snacks, we're passionate about creating innovative, healthy snacks with bold flavours and sustainable practices. Based in Nuneaton, our production site is home to a fast-paced, high-spec manufacturing environment where teamwork, innovation, and quality are at the heart of everything we do. 

The Person: 

An experienced and forward-thinking Controls Systems & Project Engineer who thrives in a fast paced manufacturing environment. 

You will be a subject matter expert in automation and control systems, with the ability to diagnose complex issues, drive continuous improvement, and lead technical projects. You’re comfortable working across both hands-on engineering support and strategic project delivery, influencing stakeholders and driving standards across site. 

The Role: 

 As a Controls Systems & Project Engineer, you will play a critical role in maintaining, improving, and future-proofing our automation and control systems across site. 

You will lead on control system reliability, optimisation, and development, while also managing and delivering engineering projects that improve performance, safety, and efficiency. This role bridges operational support and capital delivery, ensuring our systems are robust, compliant, and scalable for future growth. 

Responsibilities:  

Act as the site subject matter expert for control systems and automation 

Provide advanced fault finding and technical support to minimise downtime and improve reliability 

Maintain, modify, and optimise PLC/HMI/SCADA systems (Siemens, Omron, Allen-Bradley) 

Develop and implement preventative and predictive maintenance strategies for automation systems 

Lead control system upgrades, obsolescence management, and standardisation across site 

Own and maintain software backups, version control, and documentation 

Support and improve data capture, system diagnostics, and performance monitoring 

Ensure all systems comply with relevant safety standards and functional safety requirements 

Lead and deliver engineering projects from concept through to completion (scope, cost, timeline) – General Engineering improvement related projects also.  

Manage contractors and system integrators, ensuring safe and compliant delivery 

Collaborate with operations and engineering teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives 

Support development of site automation strategy and digitalisation roadmap 

Drive high standards of health & safety, compliance, and engineering governance 

Requirements: 

Essential 

Strong experience in industrial automation within a manufacturing environment 

Proven expertise in PLC programming and fault finding (Siemens, Omron, Allen-Bradley) 

Experience with SCADA systems and HMI development 

Proven experience delivering engineering projects from concept to completion  

Ability to manage project scope, budget, timelines, and risks effectively 

Knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Profinet, Ethernet/IP, Modbus) 

Experience delivering engineering or automation projects 

Strong problem-solving, analytical, and structured approach 

Ability to influence, communicate, and work cross-functionally 

Electrically competent with understanding of BS7671 / industrial electrical systems 

Desirable 

Experience with functional safety standards (ISO 13849, IEC 61508, IEC 62061) 

Knowledge of robotics, motion control, or advanced automation 

Experience in food manufacturing or FMCG environment 

Familiarity with data systems, IIoT, or digital manufacturing tools 

IOSH / NEBOSH or equivalent Health & Safety qualification 

About PS: 

 PROPER SNACKS is the home of PROPER and Eat Real. The UK’s fastest-growing major snacks company.  

We’re a diverse team of builders, thinkers, creators and makers - based in London and Nuneaton and serving snackers across Europe. Our brilliant team are united by an insatiable curiosity and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. At PROPER SNACKS, we don’t sit still. We scale fast, dream big and back our people to make stuff happen. Our values keep us grounded: Be builder. Dream bigger. Seriously fun.  

Whether you're joining us in London – where the brands are built, and big ideas take flight. Or in Nuneaton where magic happens in our factory and every bag gets made – you’ll be part of a team shaking up the snacking world. Get a flavour of what life is like at PROPER SNACKS here. 

LDN – Drummond Street – London –  NW1 3HP 
NUN – Townsend Dr – Nuneaton – CV11 6TJ 

Our Approach:  

PROPER and Eat Real is an equal opportunities employer and we do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, or age. 

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to accommodate you to participate fully in the recruitment or interview process.