Controls & Automation Engineer

Job Description

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Controls & Automation Engineer

Job Title Controls & Automation Engineer

Location Office Based — between Sheffield and Leeds (M1 corridor)

Employment Type Permanent, Full-Time

Onsite Requirement Primarily office based; occasional factory and customer site visits (2 to

5 days/month average)

Department Software / Engineering / Automation

ROLE OVERVIEW

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Controls & Automation Engineer to join our

growing engineering team. The successful candidate will play an active role in the development of

new automated machines, working alongside our mechanical and electrical design teams from

concept through to production-ready systems. They will be responsible for designing, developing,

and commissioning PLC-based control systems and HMI interfaces, and will provide ongoing field

support including calibration visits, fault diagnosis, and troubleshooting at customer sites. This is

a technically demanding role requiring broad expertise across motion control, variable frequency

drives, and software development, combined with a practical hands-on approach to factory

acceptance testing and customer commissioning.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Design, develop, and commission PLC programs for the control of industrial automation

machinery.

Collaborate with the mechanical and electrical engineering teams in the development of new

automated machines, from concept through to production-ready control systems.

Create and implement graphical HMI programs to complement and support PLC-based

control systems.

Select, configure, program and commission servo motor and drive systems for precision

motion control applications.

Select, configure, program and commission stepper motor and drive systems as appropriate

to application requirements.

Program and configure Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) for the control of AC induction

motors.

Participate in factory acceptance testing (FAT) at our facility, working alongside the

production and engineering teams.

Travel to customer sites to carry out equipment start-up, commissioning, and

operator/maintenance training.

Produce clear and accurate technical documentation, including control narratives, wiring

schedules, operator manuals and commissioning records.

Provide on-site fault diagnosis and technical troubleshooting support at customer sites when

required.

Carry out calibration checks on customer premises to ensure continued accurate and reliable

operation of installed systems.

Work collaboratively with the wider engineering teams throughout the full project lifecycle.

Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives in engineering processes and documentation

standards.

Participate in occasional overseas commissioning trips as project requirements demand.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Experience & Qualifications

Minimum 5 years of hands-on, industry-based experience writing PLC programs for the

automation and control of industrial machinery. Allen-Bradley and/or Siemens.

Demonstrable experience developing HMI graphical interface programs in an industrial

environment.

Strong knowledge of motion control systems — including the selection, programming, and

commissioning of servo motors and drives.

Proven ability to programme and configure Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) for induction

motor applications.

Experience of carrying out or supporting factory acceptance testing of automated machinery.

Demonstrable experience of equipment commissioning and/or customer training on site.

Proven ability to contribute to the development of new automated machines, working

collaboratively across engineering disciplines from initial specification through to production

sign-off.

Experience of visiting customer sites to carry out start-up, performance verification, and/or

fault diagnosis.

Personal Attributes

Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to producing work of the highest accuracy.

Willingness and flexibility to visit customer sites for commissioning and training — estimated 2

to 5 days per month on average.

A professional, customer-facing manner suitable for on-site training and support activities.

Self-motivated and able to manage tasks independently while working effectively within a

team.

Willingness to travel occasionally overseas in support of international customer projects.

DESIRABLE SKILLS (NOT ESSENTIAL)

Experience working across multiple PLC platforms and/or HMI manufacturers.

Practical experience with stepper motors and stepper drive systems.

Knowledge of industrial communications protocols (e.g. Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP,

Modbus).

Ability to design electrical schematics and control panel layouts using dedicated electrical

CAD software.

Familiarity with one or more of the following electrical design packages: EPLAN, AutoCAD

Electrical, or Schneider Electric SEE Electrical.

Familiarity with machine safety standards and functional safety (e.g. EN ISO 13849, IEC

62061).

TRAVEL & SITE WORK

This role is primarily office based. However, the successful candidate must be willing and able to

travel as part of their duties. Site work is expected to average between two and five days per

month, and will primarily involve:

Factory acceptance testing at our own facility.

Equipment start-up, commissioning and customer operator/maintenance training —

predominantly at customer sites local to our premises, typically not requiring overnight stays.

Scheduled calibration visits and performance verification checks at customer sites.

Reactive troubleshooting and fault diagnosis at customer sites when required. xwzovoh

Occasional domestic and international travel for commissioning activities at customer sites

further afield.