Application Engineer – Vision Systems

Application Engineer – Vision Systems
Location: Peterborough, PE2 6YN (Primary location - customers sites).
Salary: Competitive, DOE.
Contract: Full-Time, permanent.
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.
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.
What We Need From You:
• 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).
If you feel you have the skills and experience to be successful in this role then apply today!
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