APC Senior Engineer
This role can be based from any location (Hybrid)
Minimum 30% international travel requirement
At DS Smith, we’re redefining packaging for a changing world — and automation plays a key role in that transformation.
We’re now looking for an APC Senior Engineer to lead and deliver automation and process control initiatives across our manufacturing sites. This pivotal role will be instrumental in driving digitalisation, improving operational efficiency, and supporting our vision of a smarter, more sustainable future.
Working closely with engineering, production, and IT teams, you’ll develop and implement a comprehensive automation strategy, identifying opportunities to optimise our operations through innovative technologies. You’ll act as a key liaison between technical experts and business stakeholders, ensuring that every automation project is strategically aligned and successfully delivered.
This is a role for a forward-thinking engineer who can combine strong technical expertise with excellent leadership, communication, and change management skills.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and deliver automation strategy: Define and implement a roadmap that enhances productivity and efficiency across DS Smith sites.
- Lead automation projects: Oversee implementation from concept to completion, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner with engineering, operations, maintenance, IT, and digital teams to identify and execute automation opportunities.
- Drive digital transformation: Act as a champion for innovation and continuous improvement, using data-driven insights to guide decision-making.
- Change management: Lead and support stakeholders through the adoption of new systems, ensuring smooth transitions and engagement.
- Performance analysis: Assess and report on the impact of automation initiatives, identifying further opportunities for optimisation.
- Training and communication: Support local teams through training programmes and maintain strong communication channels with all stakeholders.
About you
- Degree in Engineering, Automation, or a related discipline.
- Proven experience delivering automation projects in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong leadership and project management skills.
- Excellent communication, influencing, and collaboration capabilities.
- Familiarity with automation technologies, digital tools, and systems integration.
- Experience with change management and stakeholder engagement.
- Analytical mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
- Ability to travel up to 30%.
What we can offer you:
- Competitive salary
- Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
- Pension scheme & Life insurance
- Share Save scheme
- Income Protection
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
- Cycle to Work and shopping discounts
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.”
Skills Required
- Degree in Engineering, Automation, or a related discipline.
- Proven experience delivering automation projects in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong leadership and project management skills.
- Excellent communication, influencing, and collaboration capabilities.
- Familiarity with automation technologies, digital tools, and systems integration.
- Experience with change management and stakeholder engagement.
- Analytical mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
- Ability to travel up to 30%.
DS Smith Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about DS Smith and has not been reviewed or approved by DS Smith.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered okay to good across many roles, with some plants indicating competitive or above‑market hourly rates for operators and similar positions. This supports a broadly fair perception of base pay even as experiences vary by site.
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Healthcare Strength — U.S. offerings include day‑one medical/vision and dental, employer HSA contributions, and 100% company‑paid life and short/long‑term disability, alongside an EAP. Some role descriptions also highlight mental‑health and fertility options.
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Retirement Support — Packages commonly reference a 401(k) with company match and, in some locations, pension eligibility or company‑funded retirement contributions. This positions retirement benefits as a meaningful component of total rewards.
DS Smith Insights
What We Do
DS Smith provides innovative packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services with a commitment to sustainability and a circular economy. Our core purpose is to Redefine Packaging for a Changing World, and our expert teams work closely with like-minded partners to incorporate renewable resources for products that minimize our environmental impact, reduce complexity and increase profitability through supply chain optimization
