Automation Engineer

About Lactalis-Mainland Dairy

Mainland Dairy, the business formerly known as Fonterra’s global Consumer and associated businesses, is now part of the Lactalis Group and known as Lactalis-Mainland Dairy.

Lactalis is a French family-owned business founded in Laval in 1933. Today, it is the world’s leading dairy group, present in 50 countries employing around 85,500 people. It is home to some of the world’s best known global and international dairy brands, including Président, Galbani and Parmalat, and local brands including  Pauls, OAK, and Cracker Barrel in Australia.

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy is a team of more than 4,300 employees, operating 16 manufacturing sites across Oceania, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East.

Our passionate and talented team is committed to nurturing the future, unlocking new opportunities, and fostering innovation in nutrition and food.

About us

Gippsland Victoria is home to our Darnum site. Our farmers milk is made into a range of nutritional powders and whole, skim and fat-filled milk powders for domestic and international export markets.

About the opportunity

We're looking for an Automation Engineer to join our Site Engineering team at Darnum.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a highly automated manufacturing environment, supporting and improving the systems that keep our site operating safely, efficiently and reliably. Working closely with Operations, Maintenance and Engineering teams, you'll play a key role in troubleshooting plant issues, optimising control systems, and delivering automation improvements that enhance site performance.

We're open to candidates with a range of experience levels and backgrounds. For the right person, we can tailor the role accordingly, whether you're an experienced Automation Engineer, a graduate looking to build a career in industrial automation, or a qualified Industrial Electrician with exposure to PLCs, SCADA systems and automated equipment who is ready to take the next step. Key responsibilities include:

• Identify process limitations and implement automation and control system improvements
• Maintain, optimise, and troubleshoot PLC and SCADA systems to improve plant reliability and performance
• Design, develop, and deliver automation upgrades and capital projects
• Configure and modify control systems (PLC, SCADA, HMI, industrial networks)
• Provide technical support and guidance to maintenance and operations teams to enhance fault finding and system understanding
• Work with contractors and vendors to scope and deliver automation solutions in line with site standards

About you

We're open-minded about background and experience and recognise there are several pathways into automation.

You might be an experienced Automation Engineer looking for your next challenge. Equally, you could be a recent graduate in Electrical, Mechatronics, Automation or Controls Engineering who is eager to develop your career in a large-scale manufacturing environment.

We'd also love to hear from qualified Industrial Electricians, Electrical & Instrumentation Technicians or Electrical Tradespeople who have worked around automated production equipment and control systems and are looking to transition into a more specialised automation-focused role.

For the right person, we're willing to invest in development and can tailor the role to suit your current level of experience. What matters most is your technical foundation, willingness to learn, problem-solving ability, and genuine interest in automation and continuous improvement. You may bring:

• Experience working with, maintaining, or troubleshooting automated production equipment
• Exposure to PLCs, SCADA systems, HMIs, instrumentation, or industrial networks
• Electrical, automation or engineering experience gained in manufacturing, food processing, utilities, mining, or other industrial environments
• Strong fault-finding and diagnostic skills
• A desire to learn and develop deeper expertise in industrial automation and control systems
• The ability to work collaboratively with operations, maintenance and engineering teams

Whether you're an experienced automation professional, a graduate looking for the right first opportunity, or a qualified electrician ready to build a career in automation, we'll provide the support, exposure and development opportunities to help you succeed.

Our Commitment

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, or ability.

Apply Now