Vacancies

Main tasks:

• Be responsible for the creation and development of machine software solutions for special purpose automated machinery projects.
• Deliver control and safety systems which comply with the appropriate national and international standards
• Programming and commissioning of various robots
• Test and debug software applications and produce detailed test plans
• Produce software documentation
• Communicate effectively with customers, suppliers and team members
• Be responsible for testing within the factory test and on customer sites
• Be part of a team dedicated to delivering projects to plan and budget

Requirements:

• HNC/Degree in Electrical, Electronic or Software Engineering.
• Demonstrate a proven track record of successfully delivering machine control system projects to required timescale and budget
• Experienced in automation and production machinery design, ideally with a hands-on approach.
• Experience working with PLC and software applications.
• Experience of working with vision systems
• Ideally knowledge and experience of some of the following:
  • Robotic systems
  • HMI development
  • Ethernet devices
  • PC based systems
  • Communications protocols (e.g. TCP/IP)
  • Configuration of networks
  • Motion control equipment
• Ideally the ability to code in visual basic and or C++
• A highly commercial approach with the ability to work directly with customers
• Willing and able to travel to customer sites both nationally and internationally
• Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail and data accuracy
• Effective interpersonal relationship skills to create a positive and productive team-oriented environment with all departments
• A proactive and flexible approach to work and be comfortable with a dynamic environment with constantly changing priorities
• The ability to work on your own initiative

Main Tasks:

• Work as part of a project team with specific duties of mechanical assembly on special purpose industrial automation and robotic systems
• Work efficiently and effectively in build team
• Assist with installation of machinery on customer’s premises (UK and overseas)
• Train apprentices and less experienced staff in appropriate techniques
• Communicate with Project Engineers / Managers regarding any related requirements or changes which require action
• Ensure procedures and working practices to ISO9001:2015 are adhered to and suggest where improvements can be made
• Promote and ensure good housekeeping practices in and around the facility
• Carry out a safe working practice at all times
• Protect and support the Company’s reputation in public with customers, suppliers and other interested parties

Requirements 

• Time served or apprenticeship served mechanical / fitting / assembly technician
• Qualified to HNC level in a relevant discipline
• Ability to work to technical drawings and parts lists
• Ideally with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a relevant environment
• Ideally with basic machining skills to modify parts
• Clear communication skills
• Willing and able to travel to customer sites both nationally and internationally
• Effective interpersonal relationship skills to create a positive and productive team-oriented environment with all departments
• A proactive and flexible approach to work and be comfortable with a dynamic environment with constantly changing priorities
• Have a flexible work attitude and be safety conscious

It is anticipated that the first six months in this role will be spent in a training capacity to fully understand our quoting (applications) and sales process. On completion of the training period your focus will be to develop existing customer relationships and identify new business opportunities.

In this position you will have the opportunity to work with global customers within the Convergix group of companies. Your primary focus will be within AGR Automation and Aylesbury Automation with the remaining time supporting other operating companies within the Convergix group (see below for further information).

You will be a strong communicator and comfortable working in a customer facing role but with a technical acumen preferably in capital machinery or automation.

You will be UK-based, ideally within commuting distance of Arbroath, Angus or Ballymena, Co. Antrim or Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Purpose

Reporting to the General Manager of AGR Automation with direction from Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at the parent company, Convergix Automation Solutions, the main purpose of this role is to develop new sales opportunities within the UK and European markets.

Main tasks:

• Understand our customers’ needs to develop bespoke solutions that are fit for purpose.
• Respond to commercial and technical enquiries and discuss product capabilities with customers.
• Work directly with customers to support the concept development process.
• Develop and maintain a sales funnel with visibility into future quotes.
• Manage the quotation process for projects, spares and service, including the provision of detailed costing for complex systems.
• Be responsible for technical oversight of applications engineering from concept and costing through to FAT.
• Work with the General Manager and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer to identify market opportunities and sales strategies to extend market share.
• Identify and develop profitable sales leads, prospects and orders for appropriate automation projects.
• Manage the sales order activity to achieve targets for sales order intake.
• Develop Sales and Pricing strategies to increase the probability of winning.
• Ensure effective communications within the sales team and across the business.
• Propose innovative ideas to enhance the sales function and improve the general running of the business.
• Ensure procedures and working practices to ISO9001:2015 are adhered to and suggest where improvements can be made.

Requirements:

• A strong technical background with knowledge and an understanding of capital equipment engineering systems / automation.
• Experience in manufacturing or automation preferred, ideally from the medical devices industry.
• Ideally having successfully completed a degree or HND in a relevant engineering discipline or an engineering apprenticeship.
• Project management aptitude.
• Ability to develop sales skills or with existing experience of:
• Negotiating profitable business
• Costing, pricing and margins
• Managing a sales pipeline and delivering on targets to senior management.
• Able to communicate to people at all levels, sell and explain ideas and concepts and gain commitment.
• Organised and able to multi-task in remote environment.
• A hunger for success, personal drive and motivation – a proactive can-do attitude.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and maintain relevant information to support the business.
• Sound analytical skills, good problem solver.
• Excellent customer service and relationship building skills.
• Creative ability to develop new ideas and implement improvements.
• Accustomed to operating effectively under pressure.
• Full driving licence and ability to travel internationally.

About Convergix Automation Solutions

Convergix Automation Solutions is a Global Systems Integrator specialising in custom automated manufacturing systems including, robotics, controls, material handling, information and software systems, process automation in a variety of manufacturing industries. With over 500 employees, 25+ Locations worldwide and $200M in Sales, Convergix is growing organically as well through acquisition to become a leading $1B Automation Integration global partner.

We are a single source automation solutions provider that leverages the geography, technology, industry expertise and capacity of the entire Convergix portfolio across the entire value chain for our customers in a diverse set of industries.

Working for an organisation with a high number of ongoing projects, this is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious IT professional to further their career within a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate will have experience in a broad range of technologies and will be comfortable operating in a stand-alone role.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Internal Processes

• Ensure that AGR’s IT systems, networks, infrastructure, computer and software systems are properly maintained, supported and available to all users with minimal down time.
• Managing vendor relationships and negotiating specific contracts and services
• Evaluating hardware and software services and alternatives against changing business requirements.
• Planning, designing, installing, maintenance and management of the network, including local area networks and communications with all remote branches.
• Development of the annual IT Budget as part of the overall company budgeting process, for review and approval by the Executive Team.

Corporate Business Plan

• Aid in the creation of annual fiscal business and goal plans
• Work effectively with all business units to understand their needs and communicate expectations.
• Develop short and long term plans and strategies to best leverage present and future technology to meet those needs including:
• Creation, execution and follow-up of annual business plan
• Providing recommendations for solutions/improvements to systems/operations

Team Leadership and Management

• Lead and manage the regional IT team by providing clear objectives, responsibilities and tasks
• Provide regular performance feedback
• Identify and suggest continuous development, training and mentoring opportunities that team members require for their own personal career development.
• Follow HR processes for evaluations and employee career planning

Our current environment:

• BT Leased Lines / Cloud Voice IP
• Palo Alto firewalls (managed by Convergix)
• Windows environment
• Microsoft 365 – Exchange / Teams / OneDrive / Sharepoint
• Encompix Manufacturing ERP
• Accountancy Packages – SAGE / Opera
• ESXi /VMWare
• Ubiquiti switches (managed by Convergix)
• Veeam Backup
• CAD Version Control & Applications inc. SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Meridian Vault, Bentley
• Secure door access and time attendance (RFID)

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE ROLE:

• Thorough understanding of the IT industry, including best practices, recommended applications and systems, and overall extensive general IT knowledge.
• Proven track record of delivering high quality results
• Passionate about the development of the people around them
• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Experience in a variety of industries and environments
• Enterprise Resource Planning/Customer Relationship Management experience
• Knowledgeable with Microsoft technologies (Microsoft certifications appreciated)
• Educated to degree level in a related discipline or appropriate experience.

MAIN TASKS

• Build and maintain partnership with AGR’s President, the executive team, and the accounting team – become their trusted advisor to help manage their businesses and make effective financial and commercial decisions, including: Lead on financial and commercial matters; Influence decision making; Educate and improve the understanding of Financial Reporting and Business Unit performance; Deliver insight on business opportunities; Drive value through decisions to improve increasing revenue and bottom-line performance through efficiencies and business decisions; Provide options and scenarios to support business and commercial decisions in the Business Unit to ensure key operational, commercial, and financial targets are achieved
• Lead business planning and strategy: Bottom-up financial planning including leading the annual budgeting process; Sales opportunity evaluation and support to ensure consistency with business strategy and financial targets
• Lead financial and operational forecasting: Revenue and profit; Labor demand and capacity; Sales funnel
• Lead financial analysis: Monthly income statement analysis including financial bridges from budget to actual; Metric reporting; Labor cost analyses; Working capital analyses
• Lead project analysis: Partner to Project Managers to help them understand financial profile and status of projects; Financial risk anticipation and mitigation; Tracking and management of Project Financials including total estimated costs of each project
• Drive a cadence of meetings with Business Unit leaders: Weekly discussions around performance to KPI metrics, suggestions for improvement, seek to understand gaps to plan; Regular involvement with sales and applications engineering in proposal development relating to pricing and commercial matters, as well as advising on terms & conditions with customers; Attendance at team huddles to support the managers in discussions with their teams and address financial questions; Monthly financial review in detail; Quarterly board financial support
• Support the President on weekly and monthly operational and financial metrics, board presentation support, and other ad hoc items

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of a Degree in Finance, Economics or related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in finance
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and practices
• Proficiency in MS Office
• Knowledge of project management and experience with project costing, accounting and analysis
• Knowledge of Project Estimate At Completion methods and analysis (Preferred)
• Experience in an Engineered to Order or Engineering Services business (Preferred)
• Commercially aware, understanding and anticipating the needs of both operations and management
• Strong core business skills including influencing, stakeholder management and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal skills working with individuals and building collaborative relationships
• Strong problem-solving skills, ability to interpret data and to present the findings to the relevant stakeholders in a clear and concise way
• Strong presentation skills
• Have the ability to form and stand behind opinions
• Have well-developed sense of ethics and integrity
• Comfortable with risk and working with ambiguity
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong negotiation skills

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU:

• A proactive can-do attitude
• A positive and determined work ethic
• A professional approach
• A commitment to excellence in all that you do
• A team player, willing to continuously and proactively collaborate, share, and seek information and guidance
• Self-driven to make a significant contribution to maximise AGR customer service

ABOUT CONVERGIX AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS

Convergix Automation Solutions is a Global Systems Integrator specialising in custom automated manufacturing systems including, robotics, controls, material handling, information and software systems, process automation in a variety of manufacturing industries. With over 500 employees, 25+ Locations worldwide and $200M in Sales, Convergix is growing organically as well through acquisition to become a leading $1B Automation Integration global partner. We are a single source automation solutions provider that leverages the geography, technology, industry expertise and capacity of the entire Convergix portfolio across the entire value chain for our customers in a diverse set of industries.