Dairy Automation Engineer Job Description

This Dairy Automation Engineer job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Controls Engineer, PLC Engineer, Process Control Engineer or SCADA Engineer. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.

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Job title	Dairy Automation Engineer
Also known as	Controls Engineer, PLC Engineer, Process Control Engineer, SCADA Engineer
Department	Dairy engineering and maintenance
Reports to	Engineering Manager
Direct reports	None

What does a Dairy Automation Engineer do?

Supports, maintains and improves the control systems that run a dairy processing site, keeping plant available, safe and compliant. Delivers minor automation improvements, supports projects with control system content and builds the fault-finding skills of maintenance and operations staff.

Dairy Automation Engineer duties and responsibilities

Control system support

Maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA and network hardware and software so the plant runs reliably
Diagnose and fix control system faults with maintenance and operations teams
Take part in the after-hours automation support rota
Hold suitable spares so control systems can be restored quickly after a failure
Plan control system maintenance in line with the site asset care strategy

Programming and improvement

Configure and modify PLC, HMI and network device programs under change control
Design and deliver minor plant improvements that raise efficiency, flexibility or reliability
Write and update functional descriptions and as-built documentation
Advise plant managers on control solutions to process and quality problems
Recommend cost-effective technology upgrades and plan for obsolete equipment

Security, backups and records

Apply the site cyber and physical security policies to all control systems
Back up PLC code, HMI applications, recipes, set points and device configurations on a regular schedule
Protect CCP compliance records and other control system data held for food safety
Keep software versions and licences current, documented and recoverable
Contribute to business continuity and risk plans for control systems

Projects

Work with project teams on every project that includes control system scope
Define control requirements, architecture, costs and resources at the start of each project
Test vendor software against the functional description before commissioning
Support commissioning, handover and user training at project completion

Food safety and health and safety

Follow the site food safety, quality and HACCP procedures in all control system work
Validate and gain approval for any change affecting a CCP before it goes live
Report hazards, incidents and food safety concerns promptly
Take an active part in safety improvement activities and permit-to-work systems

Training and knowledge sharing

Train maintenance and operations staff to use control system tools for fault-finding
Coach technicians and apprentices in automation skills
Keep up to date with control technology and developments in dairy processing
Support autonomous maintenance and operational excellence programmes

Dairy Automation Engineer qualifications and experience

Essential

Degree, diploma or trade qualification in electrical, electronic, control or automation engineering
At least five years' experience with automated control systems in a manufacturing plant
Hands-on PLC and HMI programming, including working on code written by others
Experience controlling liquid transfers, including pumps and temperature, flow and pressure loops
Experience building and supporting Windows servers and workstations for control systems, including domains and user access

Desirable

Experience in dairy, food or beverage processing
Knowledge of SCADA, historian and batch control systems
Understanding of industrial networks and operational technology cyber security
Experience designing control software from functional descriptions

Skills and attributes

Structured fault-finding and root cause analysis
Disciplined documentation and change control
Coaching and knowledge sharing
Clear communication with technical and non-technical staff
Risk awareness and safe working
Prioritising competing requests

How success is measured

Control system availability and downtime caused by automation faults
Backups completed and tested on schedule
Response and restoration times for control system breakdowns
Automation improvements delivered against plan
Compliance with change control and cyber security procedures

Working conditions and safety

Site-based role in a food production environment with PPE and hygiene requirements. Includes an after-hours support rota and occasional work during shutdowns and commissioning.

Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly

Dairy Automation Engineer interview questions

Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Automation Engineer role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.

Talk me through how you would fault-find a valve that SCADA shows as open but is physically closed.
What a good answer shows: Works logically from HMI to PLC to I/O to field device, using diagnostics and drawings rather than guesswork.
How do you manage a PLC code change from the first request through to going live?
What a good answer shows: Follows change control, backs up first, tests offline, documents the change and gets sign-off before deployment.
How do you organise backups of PLC code, HMI applications and recipes so plant can be restored quickly?
What a good answer shows: Uses a regular schedule, version control and secure copies, and tests that restores actually work.
How would you test vendor software against a functional description before commissioning?
What a good answer shows: Uses structured test scripts, simulation and witnessed tests, logs deviations and gets them fixed before handover.
You are called out at night because a CIP sequence has stopped mid-cycle. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Makes the plant safe, diagnoses methodically, keeps operators informed, restores cleaning properly and records the fix and cause.
A critical PLC is obsolete and spares are scarce. How would you plan its replacement?
What a good answer shows: Assesses the risk, secures interim spares, builds a costed migration plan and schedules cutover to limit downtime.
What extra steps do you take when a change affects a critical control point, such as pasteuriser divert logic?
What a good answer shows: Recognises the CCP risk, involves quality, validates and gains formal approval before going live, and protects compliance records.
How do you apply cyber security rules to plant control systems?
What a good answer shows: Controls remote access, user accounts and removable media, separates networks and keeps systems patched where it is safe to do so.
How would you help maintenance technicians become more confident fault-finding on control systems?
What a good answer shows: Shares knowledge practically, builds simple guides and coaches on real faults rather than fixing everything personally.
How do you work with operators when a control change alters how they run the plant?
What a good answer shows: Involves them early, explains the change clearly, trains them and listens to their feedback after go-live.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Dairy Automation Engineer do?

What qualifications does a Dairy Automation Engineer need?

Employers usually look for: degree, diploma or trade qualification in electrical, electronic, control or automation engineering; at least five years' experience with automated control systems in a manufacturing plant; hands-on PLC and HMI programming, including working on code written by others.

Who does a Dairy Automation Engineer report to?

A Dairy Automation Engineer usually reports to the Engineering Manager.

Can I use this Dairy Automation Engineer job description for my own vacancy?

Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.