Chief Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

-; Reading; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is looking for a Chief Instrumentation and Control Engineer in Reading, UK. This role involves strategic leadership and technical authority across energy projects. The candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation & Control or related discipline and relevant experience in the oil and gas sector. Responsibilities include technical leadership, mentoring engineers, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Competitive salary and benefits are offered, with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Flexible benefits package

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Professional development opportunities

33 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in oil & gas or energy sectors.
• Proven leadership across Concept, FEED, and EPC phases.
• Strong background in functional safety lifecycle (IEC 61511).

Responsibilities

• Define vision and strategy for the I&C discipline.
• Provide technical leadership and execution support.
• Act as primary technical interface with clients.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers.

Skills

Instrument & Control engineering experience

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Safety-critical control systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Instrumentation & Control or related field

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Remarkable people, trusted by clients to design and advance the world.

Wood is currently recruiting for a Chief Instrumentation and Control Engineer. This is a staff position working in our Reading office supporting a number of FEED and EPC petrochemical, Oil & Gas and energy transition projects.

The Role

The Chief Instrument & Control Engineer provides strategic discipline leadership and technical authority across all phases of Concept, FEED, and EPC execution for oil, gas, and green energy projects. The role is accountable for ensuring safe, compliant, and cost‑effective I&C engineering solutions that meet project requirements, industry standards, and client expectations.

While assigned to an active project, the Chief I&C Engineer will also act as the primary technical focal point for Instrumentation & Control, driving engineering quality, supporting business growth, and strengthening the technical capability of the discipline. The position ensures teams are equipped to deliver multiple concurrent projects with consistency, technical excellence, and strong stakeholder confidence. The role can present opportunities for both project and people leadership working in a range of interesting and diverse sectors including:

• Upstream / Midstream / Downstream Oil & Gas
• Chemicals
• Renewable Energy
• Power
• Mining & Minerals
• Industrials & Manufacturing
• Life Sciences
• Transportation
• Water
• Government services

Our Clients and Projects

Designing the future. Transforming the world.

Wood's Projects business unit specialises in delivering predictable and consistent results in high complexity projects that include new technology, challenging construction logistics and, or sheer scale. Just like the nature and expansiveness of our sectors, so is our Projects business, in its solutions, abilities and global track record. Across any major capital project lifecycle, we provide a full suite of solutions from programme and project management, to engineering and design, procurement, construction and project delivery.

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects delivered to leaders of industry across oil & gas, renewables and emerging energy sectors
• Flexible working arrangements that balance client, team and individual needs offering hybrid working where relevant
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market
• Flexible benefits package; inclusive of 33 days annual leave (including public holidays), generous contributory pension scheme, private medical cover, 4x base salary life insurance; all of these and more that can be adapted to suit your own lifestyle
• Commitment to continued professional development; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests
• Global connections; join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with the I&C Discipline Manager to define the vision, strategy, and long‑term development of the Control and Instrumentation discipline
• Provide technical leadership, execution support, and governance across all assigned projects
• Acts as the primary technical interface with clients, licensors, suppliers, and other departments, ensuring alignment of I&C scope, technical requirements, and critical engineering decisions throughout the project lifecycle
• Provide technical direction of the Instrumentation and Control Engineering and Design activities, acting as the technical focal point for the Group, including project set‑up, execution, close‑out and punch lists
• Manage the technical and execution aspects of Operational Alerts and Lessons Learnt. Ensuring effective communication to the I&C Engineers and Designers and integration of learnings into Procedures, Technical Work Practices and Standards
• Focal point and contact for the remote India Operations centre and other affiliates offices in providing technical support and development of workshare with other offices
• Support the development, monitoring, and maintenance of I&C engineering metrics, including standard quantities, man‑hour norms, and benchmarking based on project performance
• Support the Instrumentation and Control Engineering systems and tools software including validation, keeping abreast of latest market developments, training and ensuring correct deployment on to Projects
• Mentor and develop Instrument and Control Engineers, contributing to technical career progression and succession planning within the group
• Deputise for the Discipline Manager as required
• Support the training and mentoring of Instrument and Control graduates, including departmental rotation, competency development, and progression toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Provide guidance for professional institute applications where appropriate
• Keep up to date with latest industry practices, standards and product development, and disseminate to the group
• Prepare I&C discipline proposal inputs, including man‑hour estimates, schedules, and execution narratives, under the direction of the Discipline Manager

QUALIFICATIONS

What makes you remarkable?

At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world's most critical challenges.

Expected:

• Bachelor's Degree in Instrumentation & Control or related engineering discipline
• Extensive Instrument & Control engineering experience in oil & gas or energy sectors
• Proven discipline leadership across Concept, FEED, and EPC phases
• Strong background in safety‑critical control systems and the functional safety lifecycle (IEC 61511)
• Experience approving key engineering deliverables, vendor documentation, and control system designs
• Demonstrated capability in managing multi‑discipline interfaces
• Experience in estimating, proposal development, and discipline execution planningEstablished technical authority with the ability to align engineering decisions
• Strong communication and management skills

Desirable:

• Master's degree in engineering or engineering management (advantageous)
• Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional registration (desirable)
• Certified Functional Safety Professional/Engineer, e.g., TÜV / CFSP / CFSE (desirable)
• Relevant training in control systems, automation platforms, or cybersecurity (advantageous)

ABOUT US

Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering, helping to unlock solutions to critical challenges in energy and materials markets. We provide consulting, projects and operations solutions in 60 countries, employing around 35,000 people.

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.