Control & Instrumentation Engineer

Kintec Global Recruitment; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kintec Global Recruitment is seeking a control systems professional for a site in the UK. You will act as the technical authority for control systems and OT/IT infrastructure, performing controlled programming on DCS/PLCs and maintaining site standards for alarms, cybersecurity and safety compliance.

The role involves ownership of protective systems (interlocks, trips, SIL-rated functions) and supporting budgets, with a focus on safety and regulatory alignment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Control Systems, or Instrumentation & Electronics.
• Experience owning instrumentation and control systems is desirable.
• Experience with DCS software/hardware, virtualised environments, replication and failover is beneficial.
• Hands-on PLC exposure across AB, Siemens, Emerson DeltaV; SCADA and ladder logic.

Responsibilities

• Act as the site's technical authority for control systems and OT/IT infrastructure.
• Make controlled programming changes to the DCS and PLCs under proper discipline.
• Set and maintain site standards for alarms, overrides, cybersecurity, IEC 61511 compliance.
• Own the site's protective systems including interlocks, trips and SIL-rated functions.
• Maintain infrastructure from controllers and networks through to historians, servers and backups.
• Investigate plant performance issues via root cause analysis.
• Support Engineering Manager with control-system and IT budget planning.
• Act as SME on capital projects involving control and OT scope.
• Coordinate local IT and wider corporate digital functions under one approach.
• Drive a safety-first culture aligned to UK legislation and site SHE.

Education

Degree in Chemical Engineering

Instrumentation & Electronics

Tools

Allen-Bradley

Siemens

Emerson DeltaV

SCADA

Ladder logic

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the site's technical authority for control systems and OT/IT infrastructure.
• Make controlled programming changes to the DCS and PLCs under proper change and commissioning discipline.
• Set and maintain site standards for alarms, overrides, cybersecurity, and IEC 61511 compliance.
• Own the site's protective systems, including interlocks, trips, and SIL-rated functions.
• Maintain infrastructure from controllers and networks through to historians, servers, and backups.
• Investigate plant performance issues through structured root cause analysis.
• Support the Engineering Manager with control-system and IT budget planning.
• Act as SME on capital projects involving control and OT scope.
• Coordinate local IT and wider corporate digital functions under one approach.
• Drive a safety-first culture aligned to UK legislation and site SHE requirements.

Requirements

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Control Systems, or Instrumentation & Electronics.
• Experience with ownership of instrumentation and control systems is highly desirable.
• Experience with DCS software and hardware architecture, including virtualised environments with replication and failover, is beneficial.
• Hands-on PLC exposure across platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or Emerson DeltaV, plus SCADA and ladder logic.
• Functional safety certification to IEC 61511/61508, or a strong willingness to work towards it.
• Working knowledge of, or interest in developing, OT cybersecurity practices and management systems.
• Structured problem-solving skills; familiarity with 5-Why, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies preferred.
• Valid right to work in the UK required - sponsorship is not available for this role.