Projects Director
Location: Peterborough | Up to £Competitive (Subject to Experience) | Full-Time, Permanent
OAL is looking for a Projects Director to take overall responsibility for the safe, efficient and profitable delivery of all projects across the business. This is a senior leadership role that ensures projects meet agreed gross profit margins and that the business has the people, systems and processes needed to support sustained growth of 50% year on year.
Acting as the operational lead for the organisation, you will translate strategy into clear delivery plans, drive performance across all operational teams, and ensure project execution is consistent with The OAL Way. You will lead through structure, accountability and a strong focus on quality, safety and commercial performance.
What you’ll be doing
Leadership and Alignment
· Lead the project delivery function, ensuring clear ownership across all stages of the OAL Project Delivery Framework.
· Act as operational lead, enabling the Managing Director to focus on strategy and transformation.
· Embed The OAL Way through standard processes, KPIs, scorecards and priorities.
· Represent Operations at Board and Senior Leadership level, providing insight, recommendations and constructive challenge.
Project Delivery and Performance
· Take full ownership of delivery performance across all operational teams.
· Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required standards of quality and safety.
· Lead weekly performance reviews and ensure accountability for KPIs and scorecard metrics.
· Improve gross margin through standardisation, repeatability and right-first-time delivery.
· Oversee risk management, issue escalation and customer communication.
· Work closely with Finance and Commercial to ensure accurate forecasting and cost control.
People and Capability
· Build and develop the capacity and capability of project delivery teams to support year-on-year growth.
· Ensure workforce planning, recruitment and development align with business needs.
· Coach managers, engineers and coordinators, ensuring clarity of goals and ownership.
· Foster a culture of accountability, continual improvement and problem solving.
· Ensure safety is prioritised and embedded across all functions.
· Line manage Project Managers, Coordinators and discipline leads.
Processes and Systems
· Own and evolve the OAL Project Delivery Process and ensure consistent application.
· Maintain clear documentation, planning tools and handover processes.
· Lead delivery scorecard reporting across turnover, margin, schedule, safety and customer satisfaction.
· Oversee capacity planning, resource allocation and forecasting.
Cross-functional Collaboration
· Work closely with the Technology Director to ensure products are ready for multi-line or multi-site deployment.
· Partner with the Commercial Director and Solutions team to confirm scopes, timelines and commitments are deliverable.
· Ensure customer communication is clear and consistent throughout delivery.
What we’re looking for
· Experience leading and scaling project delivery teams in a fast-paced growth environment.
· Strong project and programme management experience across multiple concurrent projects.
· Demonstrated ability to improve or formalise delivery governance at scale.
· Experience leading business transformation and developing scalable processes.
· Strong understanding of technology integration within operational delivery.
· Commercially aware, with the ability to balance profitability, risk and client expectations.
· Data-driven and confident using KPIs and reporting tools.
· Experience building high-performing teams during periods of growth or change.
· Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
Why Join OAL?
At OAL, we’re driven by innovation and teamwork. You’ll be part of a supportive environment where your ideas are valued, and your work makes a real impact. We encourage professional growth and continuous improvement - both in our systems and in our people.
About OAL
OAL helps food manufacturers automate. An innovative family business, based in Peterborough, the company provides automation and system integration services to food manufacturers. It’s a market leader for digital transformation, label and date code verification and robotic powder weighing.
We're a growing SME offering fantastic opportunities in a fast-paced organisation. If you're ready to contribute to groundbreaking work in a supportive environment, we'd love to meet you.
OAL are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
Please fill in the form below to apply
Trainee Support Engineer
Location: Peterborough | Full-time, Permanent | £25k - £27k, depending on experience
OAL are looking for a proactive Support Engineer to join our team in Peterborough.
Reporting to the Support Manager, you’ll play a key role in supporting customers and helping them get the very best from our automation and digital systems.
At OAL, we’re transforming UK food manufacturing through innovative technology. You’ll be part of a growing, collaborative team where problem-solving, customer care, and continuous improvement are at the heart of what we do.
What You’ll Be Doing
Providing remote fault-finding support for OAL systems, including PLC hardware and software, Autocoding hardware including PCs, scanners, printers and Factory Systems software.
Logging and tracking all support calls through our internal ticketing system.
Supporting field engineers with live troubleshooting during site visits.
Escalating complex issues to second-line support when required.
Reviewing and maintaining support documentation and SOPs.
Identifying opportunities to improve service and following up with clear actions.
Managing “Spares & Repairs” projects from start to finish.
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone with a practical, problem-solving mindset and a genuine interest in technology and automation.
Essential:
Basic understanding of IT systems, hardware and software.
Familiarity with Windows operating systems.
Logical and analytical approach to troubleshooting.
Strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.
·Ability to document incidents, resolutions and processes clearly.
Comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
Desirable:
Knowledge of network fundamentals (IP, VPNs, Firewalls, NAT).
Ability to navigate and understand SQL databases.
Full UK driving licence.
Why Join OAL?
At OAL, we’re driven by innovation and teamwork. You’ll be part of a supportive environment where your ideas are valued, and your work makes a real impact. We encourage professional growth and continuous improvement - both in our systems and in our people.
About OAL
OAL helps food manufacturers automate. Based in Peterborough, we’re an innovative family business providing automation and system integration services to the food industry. We are recognised as a market leader in digital transformation, label and date code verification, and robotic powder weighing.
As a growing SME, we offer great opportunities within a fast-paced and supportive environment. If you are a hands-on problem solver with a passion for technology and great customer service, we’d love to hear from you.
Please fill in the form below to apply
Marketing Coordinator
Location: Peterborough | Full-time, Permanent | £35k - £40k, depending on experience
OAL are looking for a passionate and talented Marketing Coordinator to join our team based in Peterborough.
Reporting to the Commercial Director, you will play a key role in delivering marketing activity that supports the growth of our automation and robotics solutions across the UK food industry. This is a hands-on role where you will turn strategy into action – running campaigns, managing content, creating engaging videos, coordinating suppliers, and tracking performance to help us communicate clearly with clients and prospects while living our values every day.
What you’ll be doing
· Deliver marketing campaigns with direction from the Managing Director and Commercial Director.
· Coordinate content creation with freelancers and suppliers.
· Plan, film, and edit video content for use across promotional campaigns, events, and social media.
· Write short scripts, storyboards, and scenarios to support campaign messaging.
· Confidently direct colleagues and participants during filming to capture authentic and engaging footage.
· Draft and schedule posts across LinkedIn and email newsletters.
· Maintain HubSpot CRM lists and build campaign sends.
· Repurpose content across multiple formats including case studies, blogs, videos, social media, email, and website.
· Track and report on key metrics such as engagement, leads, website traffic, and signups.
· Support events, PR, awards, and customer communications.
· Travel to events and company sites as needed (a full UK driving licence is required)
What We’re Looking For
Experience is important, but mindset and drive matter most. If you are proactive, organised and willing to learn, you will fit right in.
The following experience will help you hit the ground running:
· Proven experience in a B2B marketing role.
· Confident writing, proofreading, and creating content across multiple formats.
· Experience producing and editing short-form video content using tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or similar.
· Comfortable directing people on camera and developing simple narratives or storyboards.
· Familiar with HubSpot, LinkedIn, Canva, Microsoft Office, and web CMS tools.
· Comfortable using data and KPIs to inform marketing decisions.
· Positive – brings energy and focuses on solutions, not problems.
· Customer-focused – takes ownership and pride in helping clients succeed.
· A team player – works collaboratively and supports others.
Development Support: We are happy to support and fund your professional development, including qualifications such as CIM or HubSpot Academy courses, to help you progress your career and grow with us.
Why join us?
At OAL, we are driven by innovation and teamwork. You’ll be part of a supportive environment where your ideas are valued, and your work makes a real impact. We encourage professional growth and continuous improvement - both in our systems and in our people.
OAL are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
Please fill in the form below to apply
Install & Workshop Engineer
Install & Workshop Engineer at OAL
📍 Location: Peterborough, PE2 6YN | Up to £36k (Subject to Experience) | Full-Time, Permanent
About the role
OAL is looking for a hands-on and motivated individual to join our engineering team as an Installation & Workshop Engineer. This is an ideal opportunity for someone fresh out of college with a Level 2 Electrical Installation qualification, who is keen to build a career in automation, control systems and food manufacturing technology.
You’ll work alongside experienced engineers, building, wiring, and testing machinery in our workshop, and supporting on-site installations at food factories across the UK.
We’ll provide full support through mentoring, training, and real project experience.
🛠️ What You’ll Be Doing
Build, wiring and testing of electrical panels and machinery
Supporting on-site installations of automation and control systems
Working from engineering drawings, wiring diagrams and checklists
Learning how to troubleshoot and fault-find basic issues on electrical and mechanical systems
Following safe working practices (LOTO, permits, PPE, etc.)
👀 What the job actually looks like
Here’s what you can expect when you join:
Panel Building Wiring and assembling control panels in our dedicated workshop
Site Installations Travelling to food factories to install scanners, sensors, and automation systems
Mechanical Assembly Mounting brackets, trays, or cabling as part of project builds
Real Environments Working on live production sites – safety, teamwork, and hygiene are key
📚 What We’re Looking For
A completed Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installation (or equivalent)
Practical, hands-on mindset – enjoys building, wiring, fixing, or assembling things
Willing to travel to customer sites and stay away when required (with team)
Reliable, well-organised and a team player
Keen to learn new skills in automation, PLCs and electrical systems
🛑 What this role is not
This isn’t an office-based design or purely theoretical role
It’s not for someone looking to jump straight into software/PLC programming
It’s not right if you prefer paperwork or computers to tools
🚀 What You’ll Gain
Mentoring from experienced engineers and technical leads
Real-world experience working on cutting-edge automation systems
Opportunity to grow into roles in controls, project engineering, or site installations
A structured development path via sponsored apprenticeship to NVQ Level 3 or ECS Gold Card (if applicable)
About OAL:
OAL helps food manufacturers automate. An innovative family business, based in Peterborough, the company provides automation and system integration services to food manufacturers. It’s a market leader for digital transformation, label and date code verification and robotic powder weighing.
We're a growing SME offering fantastic opportunities in a fast-paced organisation. If you're ready to contribute to groundbreaking work in a supportive environment, we'd love to meet you.
Please fill in the form below to apply
Applications Engineer – Vision Systems
Application Engineer at OAL
📍 Location: Peterborough, PE2 6YN (Primary location - customers sites) | Up to £Competive (Subject to Experience) | Full-Time, Permanent
About the role
We’re looking for a practical, technically strong Application Engineer to help deploy the next generation of AI vision systems into UK food factories. You’ll work on high-speed production lines, implementing real-time image analysis solutions that detect, count, and verify products, replacing manual quality checks with powerful machine learning.
This is a hands-on role focused on applying AI to solve real production problems. You’ll help OAL deploy cutting-edge vision, contributing to some of the most innovative projects in the UK food industry.
Why You’ll Love Working With Us
Vision-Driven Innovation: Help deploy leading-edge vision solutions that improve food safety, quality, and traceability.
Autonomy with Support: Take ownership of your projects while collaborating with expert engineering teams.
Real Impact: This is not a lab job. Your systems will directly improve efficiency, reduce waste and solve complex food manufacturing challenges.
Your Role Will Involve
Designing and implementing machine vision inspection systems.
Running trials and developing proof-of-concepts to validate AI models for real-world conditions.
Programming and configuring PLCs and SCADA systems.
Installing, commissioning, and supporting automated solutions on customer sites across the UK.
Creating and maintaining clear documentation, including functional design specs and support manuals.
Acting as the technical liaison with customers during deployment and troubleshooting.
Supporting the wider automation team in delivering complete project solutions.
Conducting trials and feasibility studies for customer-specific vision requirements.
Benefits You’ll Enjoy
UK-wide travel.
Flexible Working: Find the balance with our flexible work arrangements.
Generous Holiday Package: Enjoy 25 days of holiday plus public holidays, with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days.
Company vehicle.
Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our company pension scheme.
Peace of Mind: Feel secure with our death in service benefit.
Continuous Learning: We’ll cover your professional fees, supporting your career development.
Smart Health: Access a 24/7 online GP, mental health support, and wellbeing services anytime.
What We’re Looking For
Experience deploying machine vision or image analysis systems in an industrial or research setting.
Comfortable working with AI/ML platforms or deep learning vision tools
Hands-on engineering experience with automation or robotics systems.
Able to work on site, troubleshoot systems hands-on, and communicate clearly with operators and engineers.
Has over 5 years of experience in a similar role.
Full UK driving licence and happy to travel UK-wide (50%+ field-based).
About OAL
OAL helps food manufacturers automate. An innovative family business, based in Peterborough, the company provides automation and system integration services to food manufacturers. It’s a market leader for digital transformation, label and date code verification and robotic powder weighing. We're a growing SME offering fantastic opportunities in a fast-paced organisation. If you're ready to contribute to groundbreaking work in a supportive environment, we'd love to meet you.
Please fill in the form below to apply.
I Want to Work at OAL
📍 Peterborough | Full-time or Part-time | £Competitive
About the role
We’re always looking for brilliant people to join our team, even if the right role isn’t listed right now.
If you’re excited about the future of food manufacturing and think you can bring something special to OAL, we want to hear from you.
Whether your background is in automation, robotics, systems engineering, software development, operations, or something else entirely, we’re open to conversations with people who share our values and ambition.
About OAL
OAL helps food manufacturers automate.
We’re an innovative, family-run business based in Peterborough, delivering automation and system integration projects to the UK’s leading food and beverage manufacturers. As a market leader in digital transformation, packaging verification, vision and robotics, we’re helping the industry tackle critical problems with smart, practical solutions.
If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and be part of a fast-paced, supportive environment, we’d love to meet you.
What We Value
We're proud of our culture and look for people who live our values:
Positive – You bring energy and optimism to every interaction
Honest, Open & Respectful – You build trust by being transparent, respectful and supportive
Committed to Customers – You take ownership and go the extra mile to help our customers succeed
Team Player – You collaborate closely and lift others around you
Communication – You communicate clearly, directly and early to avoid surprises
Professional – You hold yourself to high standards and take pride in your work
If this sounds like you, you’ll fit right in.
What You Can Expect
We offer:
A welcoming and flexible work environment
Competitive salary and benefits
Opportunities for personal growth and career progression
A chance to work on cutting-edge automation and digital projects with real-world impact
Generous Holiday Package: Enjoy 25 days of holiday plus public holidays, with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days.
Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our company pension scheme.
Peace of Mind: Feel secure with our death in service benefit.
Continuous Learning: We’ll cover your professional fees, supporting your career development.
Smart Health: Access a 24/7 online GP, mental health support, and wellbeing services anytime.
Upload your CV with a short note about why you’d like to work at OAL and where you think you’d add value. We’ll review every application and be in touch if there’s a potential fit – now or in the future.
Project Engineer
Project Engineer at OAL
📍 Location: Peterborough, PE2 6YN (Primary location - customers sites) | Up to £60k (Subject to Experience) | Full-Time, Permanent
About the role
We are looking for a proactive and hands-on Project Engineer to join our team at OAL. In this role, you will play a critical part in delivering cutting-edge automation and robotic systems to our customers. You’ll be responsible for the successful installation, commissioning, and testing of deployed systems, while ensuring customer satisfaction and adherence to high safety and quality standards.
Why You’ll Love Working With Us
Innovative Projects: Work on groundbreaking projects like our Carbon Trust net-zero initiative using robots to make food.
Collaborative Culture: Thrive in a workplace that’s all about teamwork, fun, and making an impact.
Professional Growth: Stay ahead of technology trends with on-the-job training and professional development opportunities.
Your Role Will Involve
Carry out engineering works to install, commission, and test deployed automation and robotic systems.
Manage your own activities in a safe and efficient manner, ensuring colleagues adhere to safe working practices and company standards.
Act as the primary on-site liaison with the customer during installation, commissioning, and testing phases, ensuring the system meets expectations.
Providing training to customers on applications and systems.
Production and maintenance of documentation, for use by the customer and OAL.
Responsible for fault reporting and implementation and testing of design modifications.
Providing support to the customer, the team, and other teams within OAL.
To work within agreed budgets/costs.
Benefits You’ll Enjoy
UK-wide travel.
Flexible Working: Find the balance with our flexible work arrangements.
Generous Holiday Package: Enjoy 25 days of holiday plus public holidays, with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days.
Company vehicle.
Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our company pension scheme.
Peace of Mind: Feel secure with our death in service benefit.
Continuous Learning: We’ll cover your professional fees, supporting your career development.
Smart Health: Access a 24/7 online GP, mental health support, and wellbeing services anytime.
What We’re Looking For
Hands-on engineering experience with automation or robotics systems.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective on-site customer interaction.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
A commitment to safe working practices and continuous improvement.
Has over 5 years in a similar role.
A full UK driving licence.
Happy to travel and spend time at food manufacturing sites across the UK, more than 50%.
About OAL
OAL helps food manufacturers automate. An innovative family business, based in Peterborough, the company provides automation and system integration services to food manufacturers. It’s a market leader for digital transformation, label and date code verification and robotic powder weighing. We're a growing SME offering fantastic opportunities in a fast-paced organisation. If you're ready to contribute to groundbreaking work in a supportive environment, we'd love to meet you.