Automation Engineer

First Recruitment Group; Stockport; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

First Recruitment Group is recruiting an Automation Engineer for a 12-month contract, hybrid working. The role will spend significant time at Humber Refinery and Tetney Terminal to gather information from personnel and systems, with occasional site visits.

You will deliver migration/re-architecture options, support risk assessments, and develop cutover strategies in collaboration with operations teams. Strong automation expertise is essential.

Qualifications

• Experienced Automation Engineer with background in engineering/project delivery and owner-operator environments.
• Experience delivering automation and control system migration studies.
• Experience in oil & gas, process, utilities, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Ability to work autonomously while managing stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the EEMUA 191 Alarm Management Standard.
• IEC 61508 / IEC 61511 Functional Safety certification.

Responsibilities

• Interface with Client Operations teams and IC S groups to capture and document stakeholder requirements.
• Review current and future I/O requirements.
• Conduct loop-by-loop reviews with Operations teams.
• Develop migration and cutover strategies.
• Provide progress updates to Worley, Client Responsible Engineers, and Project Management teams.
• Deliver a comprehensive final report and summary presentation.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Technical report writing

Automation & control systems

Autonomous working

Education

Bachelor's degree in Automation Engineering

Electrical/Instrumentation Engineering

Tools

Automation OEM experience

Job description

Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days home (Occasional trips to sites)

Overview

Our client is currently recruiting for an Automation Engineer to join our client's team on a 12-month contract, operating on a hybrid working model. The role will involve significant time spent at the Humber Refinery and Tetney Terminal to gather information from personnel and systems, alongside visits to client offices and remote working.

This position requires an experienced Automation Engineer with a strong background in both engineering/project delivery and owner-operator environments.

The initial study phase is expected to last approximately 12 weeks and will focus on reviewing, assessing, and recommending options for the migration and/or re-architecture of the site's control systems. This will include supporting schedule development, risk assessments, and economic benefit analysis.

Project execution strategies should incorporate cutover philosophies that prioritise hot cutovers where practical, minimising plant changes and operational risk. Where cold cutovers are required, these must be thoroughly assessed in collaboration with Operations teams.

Additional studies may be commissioned between November 2026 and October 2027. During active project phases, the successful candidate may be required to work up to 40 hours per week, with breaks anticipated between studies.

Key Responsibilities

• Interface with Client Operations teams and IC S groups to capture and document stakeholder requirements.
• Review current and future I/O requirements.
• Conduct loop-by-loop reviews with Operations teams to:
• Challenge "like-for-like" migrations.
• Confirm ongoing loop requirements.
• Apply risk-based prioritisation.
• Identify advanced control opportunities.
• Assess site infrastructure upgrade requirements, including:
• Instrument Equipment House capacity.
• Control room capacity.
• Containerised solutions where appropriate.
• Evaluate brownfield constructability and operability considerations.
• Ensure alignment with planned refinery unit outages.
• Document all key technical and project decisions.
• Develop recommendations suitable for handover to project delivery teams for FEED and execution phases.
• Support the development of migration and cutover strategies.
• Provide regular progress updates to Worley, Client Responsible Engineers, and Project Management teams.
• Deliver a comprehensive final report and summary presentation to support future funding decisions.
• Proven experience delivering similar automation and control system migration studies.
• Experience working within owner-operator environments and engineering project delivery teams.
• Experience in the oil & gas, process, utilities, or pharmaceutical industries.
• Ability to work autonomously while managing stakeholder engagement and reporting requirements.
• Strong technical report writing and documentation skills.
• Automation OEM experience.
• Knowledge of fiscal metering and truck loading systems within terminal environments.
• Familiarity with the EEMUA 191 Alarm Management Standard.
• IEC 61508 / IEC 61511 Functional Safety certification.

Qualifications

Degree qualified in either of the below: