Automation Engineer

Airswift; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 83,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift is seeking an experienced C&I Automation Engineer for a major control system migration and upgrade study at an operational tank farm facility near Manchester. Hybrid with regular site visits to Humber Refinery, the role involves close collaboration with operations, control systems specialists and project stakeholders.

You will assess ageing automation and tank gauging systems, develop migration strategies, and provide technical recommendations to support FEED and execution phases,

Qualifications

• Degree in Automation, Control Systems or related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Extensive automation engineering experience in refining, petrochemical or oil & gas sectors.
• Proven record delivering control system migration, upgrade or modernization studies.
• Strong knowledge of DCS, PLC, SCADA and industrial control systems.
• Experience in owner/operator environments and brownfield execution.

Responsibilities

• Capture stakeholder requirements with operations and control systems teams.
• Review I/O requirements and assess loop-by-loop functionality against legacy systems.
• Develop migration and upgrade strategies for ageing automation assets.
• Evaluate architecture options including migration and re-architecture approaches.
• Support cutover planning to minimize operational disruption.
• Review site infrastructure, control room capacity, and equipment houses.
• Assess constructability and operability of brownfield projects.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for funding gates.

Skills

Automation engineering

DCS/PLC/SCADA

Brownfield experience

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Education

Automation/Control Systems/Electrical Eng degree

Tools

DCS/PLC/SCADA systems

Job description

C&I AUTOMATION ENGINEER

Location: Manchester, UK (Hybrid with regular site visits to Humber Refinery)

Contract Duration: November 2026 – October 2027

Contract Status: Outside IR35

Start Date: November 2026

Account Manager: Anthony Hughes

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support a major control system migration and upgrade study for an operational tank farm facility. Working closely with operations, control systems specialists, and project stakeholders, you will assess ageing automation and tank gauging systems, develop migration strategies, and provide technical recommendations to support future FEED and execution phases. This role requires strong automation, brownfield, and owner/operator experience, with regular engagement across site personnel and operational teams.

Responsibilities

• Interface with Operations teams and Control Systems specialists to capture stakeholder requirements
• Review existing and future I/O requirements across the facility
• Conduct loop-by-loop assessments with Operations teams to validate functionality, challenge legacy requirements, and identify optimisation opportunities
• Develop migration and control system upgrade strategies for ageing automation systems
• Assess control system architecture options, including migration and re-architecture approaches
• Support development of cutover and transition strategies, minimising operational disruption wherever possible
• Review site infrastructure requirements, including control room and equipment house capacity
• Evaluate brownfield constructability, operability, and project execution challenges
• Ensure alignment of proposed solutions with planned refinery and terminal shutdown schedules
• Perform risk assessments and support economic benefit evaluations
• Document engineering studies, technical decisions, risks, and recommendations
• Prepare final reports and presentations suitable for future project funding and approval stages
• Provide regular progress updates to project management and client stakeholders

Requirements

• Degree-qualified in Automation, Control Systems, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience
• Extensive experience in Automation Engineering within refining, petrochemical, oil & gas, terminal, or process industries
• Proven experience delivering control system migration, upgrade, or modernisation studies
• Strong understanding of DCS, PLC, SCADA, and industrial control systems
• Experience working within both engineering project environments and owner/operator organisations
• Knowledge of brownfield project execution, system cutovers, and operational continuity planning
• Experience performing technical studies, option selection, risk assessments, and engineering evaluations
• Strong stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation skills
• Experience preparing technical reports, business cases, and funding gate documentation
• Previous OEM automation systems experience is advantageous
• Ability to work independently and manage technical workstreams with minimal supervision

The Next Step

This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in a major control system modernisation project, helping define the strategy for future execution phases. If you have extensive automation and control systems experience within operational process industries and enjoy leading complex technical studies.