We deploy automation and robotics in UK food factories
If you want responsibility, travel and engineering impact, you’ll love it here.
Automate the UK food manufacturing industry
Food factories across the UK face the same problems: labour shortages, rising costs and increasing compliance pressure. OAL builds the systems that address all three: machine vision, robotics and factory software deployed on live production lines.
Our engineers design and commission systems that run in real factories, for real manufacturers, every day. The work is varied, the problems are genuine, and the impact is visible. When a system you helped build prevents a product recall or removes a repetitive manual task from a factory line, you know about it.
We are a family-owned business based in Peterborough. We know everyone's name. We have stand-ups, shout-outs and labs where you can see what we build. We promote from within. Several of our senior engineers and project leads started in junior or graduate roles.
If you enjoy solving real problems in real factories and want early responsibility and fast development, you will fit at OAL.
What working at OAL actually looks like
Real deployments from day one
Your work runs on production lines used by major UK food manufacturers. Not prototypes. Not pilots. Live systems trusted by companies running 24/7.
Early responsibility and ownership
We give people ownership earlier than feels comfortable. Engineers make real decisions on real projects. There is no hand-holding queue to join.
Variety across sites and technologies
Machine vision, robotics, industrial software. Multiple customers, multiple sites. No two projects are identical and your skills build across all of them.
A team that knows your name
Around 50 people. Leadership is visible and accessible. Stand-ups, shout-outs, and a showroom where you can see what we build. Family owned.
Progression that is earned, not promised
Several of our senior engineers and project leads joined in junior roles. We invest in training and support professional qualifications.
Honest about travel and pressure
Most engineering roles are 60-80% on customer sites across the UK. Go-lives are demanding. We would rather you know that upfront than find out on week two.
Our process, clearly explained
No surprises. We want you to know exactly what to expect at each stage before you apply.
Introductory call
30 minutes. We assess motivation, communication and role fit. No trick questions at this stage.
Technical interview
A practical assessment confirming technical capability relevant to the specific role. Real problems, not abstract puzzles.
Values interview
A behavioural conversation focused on OAL values: ownership, communication and teamwork.
Leadership interview
A conversation with senior leadership on long-term potential, cultural fit and ownership mindset.
Reference checks
Professional references confirming past performance and behaviour before we make an offer.
Offer and onboarding
A 90-day plan, a dedicated desk and PPE on day one. You will shadow experienced engineers before going solo.
Recruitment agencies are requested not to submit speculative CVs or candidate profiles to any employee or associate of our company unless explicitly requested by our Recruitment Manager. If unsolicited CVs or candidate profiles are sent to us by any other means than through our Recruitment Manager, we reserve the right to contact candidates directly without paying agency fees.
Our policy supersedes any disclaimers included in agency correspondence.