About Good4U
Good4U is a leading health food company based in Sligo, dedicated to creating nutritious, innovative, and sustainable food solutions. Our mission is to inspire healthier lifestyles through delicious, functional products that make a positive impact on both people and the planet.
Role Purpose
This strategic role will lead manufacturing transformation, automation, process optimisation and operational capability development to support Good4U's expansion plans, ERP implementation and future growth requirements.
As a key technical appointment, this position is responsible for driving the large-scale technical transformation, line reconfiguration, and advanced automation of our food manufacturing facility to support rapid business scaling. This role focuses heavily on architecting next-generation manufacturing systems, deploying advanced automated technologies, and embedding Lean manufacturing methodologies to eliminate waste and optimise workflows.
While providing strategic oversight to ensure plant infrastructure supports stringent food safety and hygiene standards, the core mandate of this role is to drive productivity, operational excellence, and the massive capacity increases necessary for international market expansion.
Key Responsibilities & Focus Areas
- Strategic Manufacturing Transformation: Lead the design and execution of major technical transformation projects, evaluating existing plant layouts and engineering workflows to deliver high-efficiency, scaled production environments.
- Advanced Automation & Systems Integration: Champion the selection, installation, and optimisation of advanced automated systems. Lead the integration of manufacturing floor technologies with the upcoming ERP system to achieve seamless data flow and operational visibility.
- Process Improvement & Lean Leadership: Function as the technical authority on Lean manufacturing methodologies. Identify and eliminate process bottlenecks, optimise cycle times, and drive aggressive productivity and efficiency gains across all production lines.
- Strategic Capability Development: Upskill and develop operational team capabilities to ensure the seamless adoption of new automation, technology platforms, and modern manufacturing workflows.
- Engineering Oversight: Provide high-level strategic oversight to the asset management and proactive maintenance strategy, ensuring plant reliability is optimised to sustain continuous, high-volume export growth without getting bogged down in daily reactive maintenance.
3. Qualifications & Experience
Education:
- Minimum Requirement: A recognized qualification in Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline (e.g., Degree, HNC/HND, City & Guilds, FETAC Level 6/7 equivalent).
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) is highly desirable for this role.
Experience:
- Proven Track Record: Typically 5+ years of experience as an engineer/technician in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, preferably within the food, beverage, or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.
- Lean & Automation Experience: Direct experience participating in automated equipment rollouts, line installations, or factory/line reconfiguration projects.
- Strong diagnostic and programming skills for automation control circuits, PLCs, and standard industrial mechanical/electrical systems.
4. Skills & Attributes
Technical Proficiency:
- Deep understanding of automation software, PLC logic, VSDs, robotics, and industrial electrical instrumentation.
- Proficient in interpreting and creating engineering drawings, automation schematics, and layout diagrams (e.g., AutoCAD or SolidWorks).
- Practical knowledge of Lean tools and continuous improvement frameworks.
Problem-Solving & Innovation:
- Exceptional analytical skills with a data-driven approach to tracking operational efficiency (OEE) and eliminating waste.
- Ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously under tight scaling deadlines.
Communication & Interpersonal:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain new automated processes to factory operators and progress reports to management.
- Strong team player capable of collaborating with production, quality, and external technical vendors.
Work Ethic:
- Proactive, self-motivated, and results-oriented with a sharp attention to technical detail.
Pay: €58,000.00-€65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bike to work scheme
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
