Automation Engineer Coop

Automation Engineering Co-Op Placement 2027 Location: Vantive Manufacturing, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Department: Process Engineering and Packaging Operations Placement duration: 6 - 9 months Working arrangement: Full-time and onsite

About the Opportunity

Vantive is offering an exciting Co-Op placement for a student studying Automation Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronic Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.

Based at our Castlebar manufacturing site, you will gain practical experience in a highly automated manufacturing and packaging environment. You will support meaningful technical projects aimed at improving equipment performance, reducing manual interventions, increasing data visibility and strengthening operational efficiency.

This placement will provide the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to real manufacturing challenges while developing valuable experience in automation, operational excellence, digitalisation, equipment reliability and continuous improvement.

What You Will Work On

As an Automation Engineering Co-Op, you will support projects such as:

• Assessing packaging-line automation and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Analysing Overall Equipment Effectiveness, equipment downtime and performance losses.
• Developing targeted actions to improve equipment efficiency and reliability.
• Mapping manufacturing processes and identifying non-value-added activities.
• Supporting waste-reduction and productivity initiatives.
• Reviewing human-machine interfaces and operator workflows.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce manual interventions and improve ease of equipment operation.
• Supporting the implementation of approved automation improvements.
• Documenting and standardising automated processes.
• Helping deliver measurable improvements in cycle time, quality, efficiency and equipment reliability.

What You Will Learn

During your placement, you will have the opportunity to develop experience in:

• Automation systems and manufacturing technology.
• Automated production and packaging equipment.
• Data analysis and performance trending.
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness and downtime analysis.
• Continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Process mapping and root-cause analysis.
• Project management and technical problem-solving.
• Technical report writing and presentation skills.
• Working within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Collaborating with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance and Supply Chain teams.

Training and Support

You will receive a structured introduction to Vantive’s Castlebar site, including:

• Site induction and safety training.
• Quality and compliance training.
• An overview of Packaging Operations.
• Introduction to automation systems, control platforms and production equipment.
• Continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Exposure to Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance and Supply Chain.
• Participation in operational reviews and project meetings.

Why Join Vantive?

This placement provides an opportunity to:

• Gain paid, practical experience within a global healthcare manufacturing organisation.
• Work in a highly automated manufacturing and packaging environment.
• Contribute to clearly defined technical projects with measurable business impact.
• Learn from experienced Automation, Engineering, Maintenance and Operations professionals.
• Develop skills that are increasingly important for digital manufacturing and operational excellence.
• Build valuable experience for a future career in automation, manufacturing engineering, robotics or continuous improvement.

Reasonable Accommodation

Vantive is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.

Recruitment Fraud Notice

Vantive has discovered incidents of employment scams, where fraudulent parties pose as Vantive employees, recruiters, or other agents, and engage with online job seekers in an attempt to steal personal and/or financial information. To learn how you can protect yourself, review our Recruitment Fraud Notice.