Robotics & Automation Engineer
Lancashire £35,000 - £40,000
Job sector
Manufacturing / Engineering
Job function
Robotics and Automation Engineering
Job duration
36 months
Application closing date
25/01/2026
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Job description
This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Robotics & Automation Engineer graduate to fast-track their career development as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate. The successful candidate will undertake a 36-month collaborative project between the Heyside Plastics and The University of Salford.
The position will be based at the company premises in Oldham, (OL2), however the successful candidate should be able to travel to the University of Salford as required for meetings on a regular basis. In addition, they will gain experience in engaging with colleagues and stakeholders from across the entire organisation and beyond. This experience will uniquely position the candidate to have wide-ranging knowledge and experience.
Project description
This KTP aims to transform Heyside Plastics’ post-moulding operations by applying advanced control systems and computer vision to transform manual operations into automated painting, cooling, stemming, and sorting processes, significantly improving efficiency, safety, and scalability.
The project will apply advanced control systems and computer vision to transform manual operations into a scalable, sustainable, and high-performance manufacturing workflow.
The innovation lies in adapting advanced control theory and robotics, typically applied in lightweight manufacturing, to the heavy-duty, recycled PVC sector. This includes bespoke automation tailored to variable material properties and environmental conditions.
This post is a dynamic role that will address downstream automation to unlock further growth.
About the business
Founded in 2011, Heyside Plastics is a family-run manufacturing business, specialising in recycled PVC products through injection and compression moulding. Its core revenue-generating activities include the manufacture and B2B sale of traffic management items that are made using recycled PVC sourced from electrical and flooring waste, with the company processing hundreds of tonnes per week of landfill-bound material. The business currently recycles a significant portion of the UK’s plasticised PVC market.
Heyside’s strategic aim is to scale operations, diversify its product range, and increase market share in the UK recycled PVC sector, expanding into HDPE products, and entering new European markets. Achieving this requires unlocking latent capacity in existing machinery and improving operational efficiency. Bespoke solutions will be developed to handle variable material properties and harsh operating conditions, supported by academic expertise from the University of Salford’s NERIC.