Instrument & Controls Engineer - Operations

NES Fircroft; Balranald; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel provided

Accommodation provided

Food provided

Job summary

NES Fircroft invites an experienced Instrumentation & Controls Engineer to join the site-based team in regional NSW on a permanent basis. You’ll drive ramp-up and optimisation of new equipment and processes, ensuring integration with site operations, focusing on efficiency, reliability and performance.

You'll work with Schneider M580 PLCs and SCADA systems, providing technical guidance to operations and leading electrical work with regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or similar.
• Unrestricted electrical worker’s licence.
• Experience in 24/7 mining/heavy industrial environment.
• Experience with Schneider Electric control systems and SCADA.

Responsibilities

• Maintain effective process control services while mitigating risks to people, equipment and environment.
• Deliver process control improvements to optimize operations and reduce costs.
• Provide technical advice on plant efficiencies, operating rates, conditions and procedures.
• Support the optimisation, reliability and operability of plant control systems.
• Supervise electrical work and installations ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Assist commissioning, ramp-up and integration of new equipment and control systems.
• Troubleshoot PLC, DCS, SCADA and OEM interface issues.

Skills

PLC programming

DCS programming

Process control methods

Safety & reliability focus

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Unrestricted electrical worker’s licence

Tools

Schneider Electric control systems

Plant SCADA (Citect)

PLC/DCS tooling

Job description

Instrumentation & Controls Engineer Operations

• Site Based – Regional NSW
• 8 days on, 6 days off – Permanent Position -Travel, Accomodation and Food provided through time on worked.
• Client-side opportunity with an established ASX-listed resources company
• Innovative underground mining operation
• Inclusive culture supporting professional and career development

About the Company

Our client is an established ASX-listed resources company operating within Australia’s mining and critical minerals sector. The business is investing significantly in the development of an innovative mining operation in regional New South Wales, incorporating advanced underground mining technology, automation and process control systems.

The operation represents a unique development within the Australian resources sector, utilising innovative mining methods designed to access mineral deposits while reducing environmental disturbance and carbon intensity compared with conventional extraction methods.

The site is located in regional NSW, approximately two hours by road from a major regional centre. A range of residential, drive-in drive-out and travel arrangements are available depending on individual circumstances.

About the Role

Our client has an opportunity for an experienced and motivated Instrumentation & Controls Engineer Operations to join the site-based team on a permanent basis. This is an excellent opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation within the mining industry. You will play a critical role in the ramp-up and optimisation of new equipment and processes, ensuring they are integrated effectively into site operations. Your contribution will directly impact operational efficiency, reliability and production performance, working with Schneider M580 PLCs and SCADA systems.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Maintenance Manager, your key responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring effective process control services are maintained while mitigating risks to people, equipment and the environment.
• Delivering process control improvements that support operational excellence, reduce unit production costs and improve production capability.
• Providing technical advice to operational teams regarding plant efficiencies, operating rates, conditions and procedures.
• Supporting the optimisation, reliability and operability of plant control systems.
• Supervising electrical work and installations, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Supporting the commissioning, ramp-up and integration of new equipment and process control systems.
• Troubleshooting and resolving PLC, DCS, SCADA and OEM equipment interface issues.

About You

To be successful in this position, you will ideally have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, or an unrestricted electrical worker’s licence.
• Experience within a 24/7 mining, mineral processing or heavy industrial environment.
• Experience with Schneider Electric control systems and Plant SCADA (Citect).
• Demonstrated experience in PLC and DCS programming.
• Experience integrating and fault-finding interfaces across different OEM equipment.
• Strong knowledge of automated process control techniques and systems.
• Experience maintaining electrical and process control systems within mining or mineral processing plants.
• A strong commitment to safety, reliability and continuous improvement.

The Opportunity

This position provides the opportunity to join a technically innovative mining operation during an important phase of its development and ramp-up. Working directly for the asset owner, you will have the opportunity to influence process control strategy, equipment performance and operational reliability while developing your career within an established Australian resources business.

NES Fircroft

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining andManufacturingsectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.