Automation Engineer

Progressive; Beckingthorpe; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Progressive is seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to join a growing team delivering complex control and automation projects in highly regulated and safety‑critical environments.

You will lead lifecycle activities from concept through commissioning, focusing on DCS solutions with Yokogawa CENTUM VP, while ensuring quality, safety, and regulatory compliance across projects.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering automation projects from concept through commissioning.
• Strong background in Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
• Hands-on experience with Yokogawa CENTUM VP configuration and development.
• Experience in regulated environments (nuclear/defence/energy/chemical/pharma).
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, control narratives and engineering specs.

Responsibilities

• Deliver automation and control system projects through full engineering lifecycle.
• Interpret client requirements and translate to automation solutions.
• Produce and review FDS, SDS, testing docs, control philosophies and URS.
• Design, develop and configure DCS applications using Yokogawa CENTUM VP.
• Develop process control strategies, sequences, alarms and operator interfaces.
• Configure and test HMI graphics, control modules, historian integration and reporting.
• Perform FAT, SAT and site commissioning activities.
• Support integration with field instruments, electrical systems, PLCs, and third‑party equipment.
• Collaborate with Process, Electrical, Mechanical and C&I engineers.
• Participate in design reviews, hazard studies and technical workshops.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, cyber security and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical support during commissioning and start‑up.

Skills

DCS experience

Yokogawa CENTUM VP

Regulated environments

P&IDs interpretation

FAT/SAT experience

Documentation

Stakeholder communication

Team collaboration

Tools

HMI software

Job description

Automation Engineer

Location: Midlands (Hybrid / Site-Based as Required)

Contract Type: Outside IR35

Hours: 40 Hours per Week

Sector: Highly Regulated Industries

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to join a growing engineering team delivering complex control and automation projects within highly regulated and safety-critical environments. The role will involve the full project lifecycle, from initial concept and front-end design through detailed engineering, software development, testing, commissioning, and final handover.

The successful candidate will play a key role in developing and implementing Distributed Control System (DCS) solutions, supporting major projects across sectors where quality, compliance, safety, and operational reliability are paramount.

While experience across various automation platforms is welcomed, the primary DCS technology utilised within this role is Yokogawa CENTUM VP.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver automation and control system projects throughout the complete engineering lifecycle.
• Gather and interpret client requirements, translating them into robust automation solutions.
• Produce and review technical documentation including:
  • Functional Design Specifications (FDS)
  • Software Design Specifications (SDS)
  • Testing and Commissioning Documentation
  • Control Philosophies
  • User Requirement Specifications (URS)
• Design, develop and configure DCS applications using Yokogawa CENTUM VP.
• Develop process control strategies, logic sequences, alarm management systems and operator interfaces.
• Configure and test HMI graphics, control modules, historian integration and reporting solutions.
• Undertake software verification, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and commissioning activities.
• Support system integration activities with field instrumentation, electrical systems, PLCs and third-party equipment.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams including Process, Electrical, Mechanical and C&I engineers.
• Participate in design reviews, hazard studies and technical workshops.
• Ensure compliance with relevant quality, safety, cyber security and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical support during commissioning, start-up and operational phases.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience delivering automation projects from concept through to commissioning.
• Strong background in Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
• Hands-on experience with Yokogawa CENTUM VP configuration and development.
• Experience in one or more highly regulated environments, including:
  • Nuclear
  • Defence
  • Energy
  • Chemical Processing
  • Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
  • Critical Infrastructure
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, control narratives and engineering specifications.
• Experience conducting FAT, SAT and site commissioning activities.
• Strong understanding of process control principles and industrial automation systems.
• Excellent technical documentation and stakeholder communication skills.

Desirable Experience

• Nuclear or Defence project delivery experience.
• Functional Safety knowledge, including IEC 61508 and IEC 61511.
• Experience working within regulated quality management systems.
• Knowledge of industrial cyber security standards such as IEC 62443.
• Experience integrating PLC, SCADA and wider automation technologies.
• Security Clearance (SC) eligibility