Senior Controls Engineer
Senior Controls Engineer
We're working with an established automation and systems integration business seeking a Senior Controls Engineer to take a lead role in the design, development, and delivery of industrial control systems. This position combines hands-on engineering with project leadership, customer engagement, and mentoring of junior engineers.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and implementation of PLC, HMI/SCADA, motion control, and machine safety systems.
- Develop system architectures and ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices.
- Troubleshoot complex automation issues, perform root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions.
- Support multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring quality, budget, and schedule targets are met.
- Work alongside mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing teams to deliver integrated automation solutions.
- Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and design reviews for less experienced engineers.
- Collaborate with customers and internal stakeholders throughout project lifecycles.
- Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, efficiency, and standardisation.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- 5+ years of controls engineering experience within industrial automation, manufacturing, systems integration, or related environments.
- Strong PLC programming experience (Structured Text and Ladder Logic preferred).
- Experience developing HMI and SCADA applications.
- Knowledge of motion control systems, servo technology, and VFDs.
- Understanding of industrial safety systems, including safety PLCs, interlocks, light curtains, and emergency stops.
- Familiarity with industrial communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, Profinet, OPC UA, and MQTT.
- Ability to interpret electrical schematics and develop I/O lists.
- Strong communication, organisation, and project management skills.
Preferred Experience
- Warehouse automation, material handling, conveyor systems, or large-scale industrial projects.
- Robotics or cobot integration (Fanuc, ABB, KUKA, Universal Robots, or similar).
- Machine vision and barcode scanning systems.
- AutoCAD Electrical experience.
- Knowledge of UL, NFPA, NEC, IEC, or similar industrial standards.
- Experience creating standardised code libraries, templates, and engineering best practices.
Additional Information
- Opportunity to lead technically challenging automation projects from concept through commissioning.
- Collaborative environment with strong cross-functional exposure.
- Limited travel requirements, typically up to 10%.
- Hands-on role requiring occasional work around industrial equipment and production environments.
FAQs
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