Automation Engineer Co-op

Vantive is a vital organ therapy company on a mission to extend lives and expand possibilities for patients and care teams everywhere. For 70 years, our team has driven meaningful innovations in kidney care. As we build on our legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced services, while looking beyond kidney care and investing in transforming vital organ therapies. Greater flexibility and efficiency in therapy administration for care teams, and longer, fuller lives for patients— that is what Vantive aspires to deliver.

We believe Vantive will not only build our leadership in the kidney care space, it will also offer meaningful work to those who join us. At Vantive, you will become part of a community of people who are focused, courageous and don’t settle for the mediocre. Each of us is driven to help improve patients’ lives worldwide. Join us in advancing our mission to extend lives and expand possibilities.

Automation Engineering Co-Op Placement 2027

Location: Vantive Manufacturing, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Department: Process Engineering and Packaging Operations
Placement duration: 6 - 9 months
Working arrangement: Full-time and onsite

About the Opportunity

Vantive is offering an exciting Co-Op placement for a student studying Automation Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronic Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.

Based at our Castlebar manufacturing site, you will gain practical experience in a highly automated manufacturing and packaging environment. You will support meaningful technical projects aimed at improving equipment performance, reducing manual interventions, increasing data visibility and strengthening operational efficiency.

This placement will provide the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to real manufacturing challenges while developing valuable experience in automation, operational excellence, digitalisation, equipment reliability and continuous improvement.

What You Will Work On

As an Automation Engineering Co-Op, you will support projects such as:

• Assessing packaging-line automation and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Analysing Overall Equipment Effectiveness, equipment downtime and performance losses.
• Developing targeted actions to improve equipment efficiency and reliability.
• Mapping manufacturing processes and identifying non-value-added activities.
• Supporting waste-reduction and productivity initiatives.
• Reviewing human-machine interfaces and operator workflows.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce manual interventions and improve ease of equipment operation.
• Supporting the implementation of approved automation improvements.
• Documenting and standardising automated processes.
• Helping deliver measurable improvements in cycle time, quality, efficiency and equipment reliability.

What You Will Learn

During your placement, you will have the opportunity to develop experience in:

• Automation systems and manufacturing technology.
• Automated production and packaging equipment.
• Data analysis and performance trending.
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness and downtime analysis.
• Continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Process mapping and root-cause analysis.
• Project management and technical problem-solving.
• Technical report writing and presentation skills.
• Working within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Collaborating with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance and Supply Chain teams.

Training and Support

You will receive a structured introduction to Vantive’s Castlebar site, including:

• Site induction and safety training.
• Quality and compliance training.
• An overview of Packaging Operations.
• Introduction to automation systems, control platforms and production equipment.
• Continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Exposure to Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance and Supply Chain.
• Participation in operational reviews and project meetings.

Why Join Vantive?

This placement provides an opportunity to:

• Gain paid, practical experience within a global healthcare manufacturing organisation.
• Work in a highly automated manufacturing and packaging environment.
• Contribute to clearly defined technical projects with measurable business impact.
• Learn from experienced Automation, Engineering, Maintenance and Operations professionals.
• Develop skills that are increasingly important for digital manufacturing and operational excellence.
• Build valuable experience for a future career in automation, manufacturing engineering, robotics or continuous improvement.

Reasonable Accommodation

Vantive is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information. Form Link

Recruitment Fraud Notice

Vantive has discovered incidents of employment scams, where fraudulent parties pose as Vantive employees, recruiters, or other agents, and engage with online job seekers in an attempt to steal personal and/or financial information. To learn how you can protect yourself, review our Recruitment Fraud Notice.