OAL is looking for an experienced Commissioning Engineer to commission, deploy, and support advanced automation and robotics systems for food manufacturing customers across the UK.
Travel and overnight stays are a regular part of the role and flexibility is important, particularly during deployment and go-live phases.
This is a hands-on engineering role with responsibility for proving automation systems before they leave OAL's Peterborough facility, then installing, commissioning, and supporting them in live production environments.
You will work across machine vision, PLC controls, industrial robotics, SCADA systems, and industrial networking, ensuring every system performs reliably from factory acceptance testing through to customer handover.
If you enjoy solving technical problems, working with a wide range of automation technologies, and seeing systems you have commissioned running successfully in live factories, this role offers the opportunity to work across the complete commissioning lifecycle.
What you will be doing
Pre-build and factory testing
Commission, test, and validate automation systems at OAL's Peterborough facility before they are deployed to customer sites, identifying and resolving issues in a controlled environment.
Installation and commissioning
Install, recommission, and optimise automation systems at customer sites across the UK, ensuring they operate safely and reliably within live production environments.
Automation system testing
Test and prove machine vision systems, robotic cells, labelling equipment, packaging verification systems, PLC controls, and integrated automation solutions.
Technical fault finding
Diagnose and resolve electrical, controls, software, networking, and systems integration issues during both pre-build testing and live commissioning.
Customer support and training
Work closely with customer engineering and operations teams during installation, commissioning, and go-live, providing system training and technical guidance.
Documentation and handover
Produce and maintain commissioning documentation, test records, and customer handover information to ensure systems are fully documented and supportable.
Project collaboration
Work alongside project engineers, software engineers, controls engineers, and other technical specialists to ensure successful project delivery.
Continuous improvement
Provide feedback from commissioning activities to improve future system designs, commissioning processes, and product development.
What we are looking for
- Hands-on commissioning experience within automation, controls, robotics, or systems integration.
- Experience working with industrial automation technologies
- Comfortable working with Windows-based industrial systems, networking, and SQL databases.
- Strong fault-finding and troubleshooting skills with the ability to work methodically under pressure.
- Able to work independently on customer sites while collaborating effectively with project teams.
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, IT, or a related discipline.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to work confidently with engineers, operators, and customer production teams.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Willingness to travel throughout the UK and stay away from home when projects require it.
Experience within food manufacturing is not essential. If you have strong automation or commissioning experience from sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, packaging, machine building, or industrial systems integration, we will help you apply your skills within the food industry.
What you should expect from us – and what we expect from you
This is a practical, hands-on engineering role.
Some weeks will be spent at OAL's Peterborough facility pre-building, testing, and commissioning systems before deployment. Other weeks will involve travelling to customer sites to install, commission, troubleshoot, and support systems during go-live.
Travel and overnight stays are a regular part of the role and flexibility is important, particularly during deployment and commissioning phases.
Go-live periods can be demanding, requiring calm decision-making and effective technical problem-solving when production schedules are tight.
You will be trusted to take ownership of commissioning activities, work directly with customers, and ensure every system is delivered to the highest technical standard.
In return, you will gain exposure to a wide range of automation technologies, work alongside highly capable engineers, and see the systems you have built and commissioned running successfully on customer production lines.
Salary and benefits
- Competitive salary (dependant on experience)
- Company van
- Pension scheme
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Clear career progression opportunities within a growing business
About OAL
OAL helps food manufacturers automate. Based in Peterborough, we are an innovative family business providing automation and system integration services to the food industry.
We are recognised as a market leader in digital transformation, label and date code verification, and robotic powder weighing solutions.
As a growing SME, we offer genuine opportunities within a fast-paced and supportive environment. If you are an experienced engineer looking to take ownership of complex automation projects and see the direct impact of your work, we would love to hear from you.
