Automation & Controls Engineer

Introducing Suntory Oceania

Craft your future with Suntory Oceania, a new $3b multi-beverage partnership between Suntory Global Spirits and Suntory Beverage and Food. Underpinned by quality, craftmanship and a strong sense of purpose.

Our market-leading portfolio will have over 40 brands including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, Hibiki® Japanese Whisky, Canadian Club® Whisky, -196, V Energy, Maximus and Suntory BOSS Coffee. 

Inspired by our Yatte Minahare spirit, which encourages us to dream big, Suntory Oceania has recently built a $400 million new state of the art manufacturing & distribution facility in Swanbank, Queensland, that is highly automated and has sustainability and a carbon neutral ambition, aligning with our Growing for Good philosophy.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Automation & Controls Lead, the Automation & Controls Engineer plays a key role in stewarding the site’s Automation and OT infrastructure—including PLCs, SCADA, instrumentation, servers, and other platforms—in collaboration with the wider engineering, IT, and operations teams. This role involves maintaining, optimising, and troubleshooting automation systems while working closely with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure reliable and efficient plant operations.

Key deliverables include:

• Project Handover & Completion – Support the transition from commissioning to operations, ensuring all documentation, training, and ensure system readiness to meet operational requirements for final handover.
• Maintain & Optimise Automation Systems – Support and enhance PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA systems to ensure smooth production operations.
• Collaboration with IT – ensure automation infrastructure follows best practice, including automation software management, access security and developing system needs.
• Stakeholder & Vendor Engagement – Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, IT, and external vendors to identify operational priorities and ensure alignment with site needs, while managing change management processes.
• Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement – Diagnose automation and IT-related issues, implement solutions, and drive efficiency across the site.
• Documentation & Compliance – Manage control system documentation, knowledgebase, ensure compliance with Australian Standards, maintain version control, and participate in risk assessments to identify hazards and mitigate potential risks.
• In this role you will interact with, advise and support various internal and external stakeholders, with outcomes including the establishment of the CMMS, identification of critical spares for maintenance purposes, commitment to a planned preventative maintenance program. Alongside a contribution to the continuous improvements of plant related processes and productivity.

Key competencies & experience required to succeed:

• Proficient in Allen-Bradley PLC systems, including ControlLogix, AB PanelView and associated I/O and Networks.
• Proficient in Siemens PLC systems, including S7, TIA Portal, WinCC and associated I/O and Networks.
• Experience with Windows Servers, Active Directory, and SQL environments to manage and support automation applications.
• Prior experience with maintaining and integrating SCADA systems (Ignition SCADA experience is desirable).
• Demonstrated practical and technical knowledge in the installation and maintenance of electrical equipment. 
• Proven ability to deliver work safely and to a high-standard meeting Australian Standards.
• Excellent practical problem solving, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Relevant Tertiary qualification (B.Eng. Electrical), Electrical Trade or equivalent.

Unleash your Spirit with Suntory Oceania

Working at Suntory Oceania isn't a job, it's a career. As part of the Suntory Group, our learning and development opportunities are hard to beat, and our career pathways have global reach. We are incredibly proud of our vibrant culture and our people, which makes Suntory Oceania a great place to work.

In addition to being part of a highly engaged team, our benefits include; a competitive base salary, the opportunity to earn an incentive, a generous parental leave policy, a day off on your birthday & volunteer day, and on the job training opportunities as well as an in-house Learning & Development team.

How do I apply?

If you’re passionate about your career and seek a high growth environment, a strong team culture, career advancement and the opportunity to make a real difference to the company’s on-going success, then this is the role for you! Click apply to submit your resume.

If you require any specific support or adjustments throughout the recruitment process to enable you to put your best foot forward, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

At Suntory Oceania, we recognise that all life experiences equate to innovation. We welcome people of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, ages, life stages, all sexualities and all genders to apply to join the Suntory Oceania family. We are 100% proud of our people; we empower each other to go for it and make a difference together.