Controls & Automation Engineer

BSE Australia Pty Ltd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BSE Australia Pty Ltd in Sydney, NSW is seeking an experienced Controls & Automation Engineer to lead industrial automation projects from concept through handover. The role combines PLC programming, SCADA development, electrical and control system design, estimating, and commissioning across diverse industrial environments.

You will work with management, clients and suppliers to deliver practical automation solutions, develop technical proposals and ensure project delivery.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' relevant experience in industrial automation, controls, systems integration or electrical project engineering.
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering or related discipline preferred (or equivalent demonstrated experience).
• Strong hands-on PLC programming experience using Siemens and Rockwell platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, program and commission industrial PLC, HMI and SCADA systems.
• Attend client meetings, develop technical proposals and tender submissions.
• Lead projects from initial concept through to handover, coordinating with electricians and technicians.

Skills

Siemens TIA Portal

Rockwell Studio 5000

Ignition

HMI/SCADA

PLC programming

SCADA development

Tools

FactoryTalk

WinCC

Job description

Design it. Program it. Commission it. See it in operation.

Location: Smeaton Grange, NSW
Employment Type: Permanent Full-Time

About BSE Australia

BSE Australia is an established industrial electrical engineering, automation and systems integration contractor delivering projects, maintenance and technical services across manufacturing, processing, infrastructure and hazardous-area environments.

Our capabilities include industrial electrical contracting, PLC and SCADA systems, instrumentation, machine safety, hazardous-area engineering, control system design, commissioning and complete project delivery.

We work across a diverse range of industrial applications, from upgrading existing plant equipment and resolving complex automation faults through to designing, programming and commissioning complete electrical and control systems.

As our business continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Controls & Automation Engineer to strengthen our engineering capabilities and take ownership of industrial automation projects from initial concept and estimating through to design, programming, installation, commissioning and handover.

About the Role

This is a broad, hands-on engineering position combining PLC programming, SCADA development, electrical and control system design, project estimating, technical proposals, commissioning and project delivery.

You will work directly with our management team, project managers, electricians, technicians, clients and suppliers to develop and deliver practical industrial automation solutions.

The successful applicant will be involved throughout the entire project lifecycle, including initial site investigations, scoping, estimating, system design, software development, equipment selection, technical coordination, commissioning and client handover.

The engineering and automation function will remain the primary focus, with estimating, project coordination and technical field support forming an important part of the role.

This position is suited to an engineer who enjoys technical variety, solving complex industrial problems, working directly with clients and taking ownership of projects rather than being limited to a narrowly defined engineering function.

Key Responsibilities

PLC, SCADA & Automation Engineering

Design, develop, program and commission industrial PLC, HMI and SCADA systems.

Develop and modify PLC applications using Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell Studio 5000 and other industrial automation platforms.

Develop HMI and SCADA applications using platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk, WinCC and similar systems.

Prepare control philosophies, functional design specifications, software architectures and I/O schedules.

Integrate PLC systems with field instrumentation, variable-speed drives, motor control systems, safety systems and third-party equipment.

Configure and troubleshoot industrial networks, managed switches, routers and communication interfaces.

Work with industrial protocols including Modbus TCP/RTU, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, OPC UA, BACnet and MQTT.

Develop alarms, trends, data logging, reporting and plant monitoring solutions.

Diagnose and resolve complex PLC, SCADA, instrumentation, networking and control system faults.

Perform software testing, FAT, SAT, commissioning and system performance verification.

Support upgrades, migrations and modernisation of existing and legacy control systems.

Electrical & Control System Design

Develop electrical, control, instrumentation and automation system designs.

Prepare and review electrical schematics, single-line diagrams, control drawings, panel layouts, I/O schedules, cable schedules and loop drawings.

Design industrial control panels, PLC panels and associated field control systems.

Select PLC hardware, instrumentation, drives, networking equipment, switchgear and control components.

Prepare equipment specifications, bills of materials and engineering documentation.

Review existing plant installations and recommend practical upgrade, modification and remediation solutions.

Ensure designs comply with applicable Australian Standards, client specifications and industry requirements.

Attend client meetings and conduct site inspections to assess project requirements.

Develop detailed scopes of work for industrial electrical, controls, instrumentation and automation projects.

Prepare estimates, quotations, fee proposals and tender submissions.

Develop labour estimates covering engineering design, PLC/SCADA programming, electrical installation, testing and commissioning.

Prepare material take-offs, bills of materials and equipment schedules.

Obtain and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations.

Assess technical requirements, project risks, assumptions, exclusions and commercial considerations.

Identify practical and cost-effective engineering solutions while maintaining technical compliance and quality.

Collaborate with management, project managers and the business development team to develop competitive and commercially viable proposals.

Assist with project budgeting, cost reviews, variations and forecasting.

Support the transition of successful quotations into project delivery.

Take ownership of assigned projects from initial enquiry through to commissioning and handover.

Develop project plans, technical deliverables, budgets and schedules.

Coordinate engineering, procurement, installation, subcontractors and commissioning activities.

Provide technical direction and support to electricians, technicians and apprentices.

Monitor project progress, technical issues, variations, risks and outstanding actions.

Liaise with clients, suppliers and subcontractors to resolve technical and delivery issues.

Coordinate testing, FAT, SAT and site commissioning activities.

Prepare commissioning records, test documentation, as-built drawings, operating manuals and handover packages.

Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and in accordance with agreed technical and commercial requirements.

Technical Operations & Field Support

Provide specialist technical support to BSE electricians and service technicians.

Assist with troubleshooting industrial electrical, automation, PLC, SCADA and instrumentation faults.

Attend client sites to investigate equipment failures, control issues and production problems.

Review field information and develop practical repair, modification or upgrade solutions.

Assist with planning labour, materials, access requirements and shutdown activities.

Provide engineering support during equipment installation, maintenance and commissioning.

Support the operational team with technical coordination where required.

Business Development & Client Engagement

Support the business development team with technical advice, site assessments and proposal development.

Attend client meetings to identify plant issues, automation opportunities and upgrade requirements.

Build strong, long-term relationships with industrial clients.

Identify opportunities to improve plant reliability, productivity, efficiency and safety.

Recommend automation upgrades, process improvements and ongoing technical support solutions.

Represent BSE professionally across client sites and industry environments.

Contribute to the continued development and growth of BSE's engineering and automation capabilities.

About You

We are looking for a practical, commercially aware and technically capable engineer who is comfortable working across the office, workshop and industrial client sites.

You will have the ability to move between detailed engineering design, PLC programming, SCADA development, project estimating, site troubleshooting, commissioning and client engagement.

Minimum 5 years' relevant experience in industrial automation, controls, systems integration or electrical project engineering.

A degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, Software Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated industry expertise.

Strong hands-on PLC programming experience using Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell or similar platforms.

Proven experience developing, modifying and commissioning PLC, HMI and SCADA systems.

Sound knowledge of industrial instrumentation, VSDs, motor control and electrical control systems.

Experience with industrial communication networks and protocols.

Ability to read, develop and review electrical and control system drawings.

Experience with system testing, commissioning, troubleshooting and fault finding.

Ability to conduct site inspections, develop scopes of work and prepare technical proposals.

Experience estimating engineering, programming, installation and commissioning activities.

Strong written communication and technical documentation skills.

Confidence communicating directly with clients, suppliers and project stakeholders.

Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.

A practical, accountable and solutions-focused approach.

Australian citizenship, permanent residency or unrestricted Australian working rights.

Willingness to travel to client sites and occasionally work outside standard hours during shutdowns or commissioning activities.

Highly Desirable

Experience in any of the following would be advantageous:

Ignition SCADA development, including Perspective, Vision and database integration.

Siemens S7-1200, S7-1500, WinCC and TIA Portal.

Rockwell ControlLogix, CompactLogix, FactoryTalk and Studio 5000.

SQL databases, Python, scripting or higher-level programming.

Industrial networking, managed switches, VLANs and remote connectivity.

Safety PLCs, machine safety systems and functional safety.

Hazardous-area electrical and automation systems.

Process control, PID tuning, batch sequencing and recipe management.

Experience in manufacturing, food and beverage, chemical processing, materials handling, mining or heavy industry.

NSW electrical licence or electrical trade background.

Experience within an industrial electrical contracting or systems integration business.

Experience coordinating electricians, technicians and subcontractors.

Experience preparing detailed estimates, tenders, project budgets and commercial proposals.

Knowledge of AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 61439, AS/NZS 4024 and the AS/NZS 60079 series.

Industrial data analytics, predictive maintenance, machine vision or AI-enabled automation applications.

Experience integrating industrial automation systems with databases, cloud platforms, MES or ERP systems.

What We Offer

Competitive remuneration: and performance incentives.

Technical variety: Work across a wide range of industries, PLC platforms, technologies and engineering applications.

Complete project ownership: Be involved from initial scoping and estimating through design, programming, installation and commissioning.

Hands-on engineering: A genuine balance of software development, control system design, technical problem-solving and field commissioning.

Professional development: Opportunities to expand your expertise in automation, industrial networking, machine safety, hazardous areas and emerging technologies.

Career progression: Opportunity to take on greater technical responsibility and contribute to the continued growth of the business

Established business: Join a growing Australian engineering contractor with long-term industrial clients and a diverse project pipeline.

Technical influence: Contribute to engineering standards, technology selection, project methodologies and the future direction of our automation capabilities.

Location & Travel

The role is based at our office in Smeaton Grange, NSW, with travel to sites throughout Sydney and surrounding regions.

Occasional interstate travel, shutdown work and after-hours commissioning may be required.

Interested in Joining BSE Australia?

If you're an experienced Controls & Automation Engineer who enjoys designing systems, programming PLCs, developing SCADA applications, estimating projects and solving challenging industrial problems, we'd like to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of technically interesting projects, work directly with clients and see your engineering solutions operating in real industrial environments.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents. Applications from candidates holding temporary visas or requiring employer sponsorship will not be considered.