Control Systems & Automation Engineer

H Squared Talent Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Life insurance

Healthcare cashback scheme

Job summary

H Squared Talent Ltd is seeking a PLC engineer to support and develop control systems for bespoke equipment in a small, close-knit team. You’ll split time between supporting existing PLC production systems and shaping next‑generation control with in‑house PLC and evolving microcontroller capabilities.

Join a production‑oriented environment with opportunities to learn embedded systems while collaborating with R&D, electronics, and production test teams.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in a similar role, ideally industrial/PLC background.
• Strong PLC programming experience (ladder logic/structured text).
• CX-Programmer experience is a bonus.
• Comfortable reading electrical/wiring schematics.
• Curious and keen to learn microcontroller and embedded systems over time.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and support existing PLC control systems (Omron CX-Programmer, ladder logic and HMI interfaces).
• Work with an electronics engineer to integrate motor/pump control (signal-level).
• Support Production/Test with fault diagnosis and acceptance testing.
• Read wiring schematics produced by the electronics team.
• Start building familiarity with microcontroller-based control for future product development.
• Use Git for version control.

Skills

PLC programming

Git version control

Reading schematics

Education

Engineering background

Tools

CX-Programmer

Job description

• Pension, Life insurance, Healthcare cashback scheme
• Office-based, Cheshire, with occasional remote working once established

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, working alongside R&D, Electronics, and Production Test. Are you an experienced PLC engineer looking to broaden into microcontroller-based control systems? This is a chance to join a small, close-knit engineering team supporting and developing control systems for bespoke scientific/lab equipment, with real variety across production support, R&D, and new product development.

The Role

Every system is built to order, so no two control systems are quite the same. You'll split your time between supporting existing PLC-controlled production systems and helping shape the next generation, which combines an external software platform with in-house PLC and (eventually) microcontroller-based control. You'll:

• Maintain and support existing PLC control systems (Omron CX-Programmer, ladder logic/structured text) and HMI interfaces
• Work with an electronics engineer to integrate motor/pump control (signal-level, not circuit design)
• Support Production/Test with fault diagnosis and acceptance testing
• Read wiring schematics (produced by the electronics team)
• Start building familiarity with microcontroller-based control for future product development
• Use Git for version control

About You

• Engineering background (degree, apprenticeship, HNC or HND)
• At least 4 years in a similar role, ideally industrial/PLC background
• Strong PLC programming experience (ladder logic/structured text); CX-Programmer experience a bonus
• Comfortable reading electrical/wiring schematics

Curious and keen to learn: open to picking up microcontroller and embedded systems knowledge over time