Control Systems Engineer

Vantage Consulting; Gainsborough CP; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays

Career progression opportunities

Exposure to varied bespoke machinery

Job summary

Vantage Consulting is seeking an experienced Control Systems Engineer to own controls and automation for bespoke machinery projects. You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical and manufacturing teams, developing control philosophies, programming PLC/ HMI systems, and supporting installation and commissioning at customer sites.

Ideal candidates bring proven PLC programming experience, hands-on fault-finding, and enjoy working on bespoke equipment from design through to a fully operational

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Control Systems Engineer or similar role.
• Experience with bespoke machinery and automation environments.
• Strong PLC programming experience and ability to develop software from scratch.
• HMI design and configuration experience; understanding of electrical drawings.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems for bespoke machinery and automated equipment.
• Develop PLC software from scratch and modify existing programs.
• Design, configure and develop HMI systems.
• Produce control philosophies and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with electrical and mechanical design engineers throughout projects.
• Support panel design, build and integration; perform FATs and commissioning.
• Troubleshoot PLC, electrical and automation issues on sites.
• Provide ongoing technical support to customers and internal teams.
• Contribute to standardisation and continuous improvement of control systems.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

Electrical control systems

Troubleshooting

System integration

Travel to customer sites

Tools

Siemens

Rockwell/ Allen-Bradley

Mitsubishi

Job description

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Control Systems Engineer to take responsibility for the controls and automation elements of bespoke machinery projects.

Working closely with mechanical, electrical and manufacturing teams, you will be involved throughout the full project lifecycle - developing control philosophies, programming PLC and HMI systems, testing machinery and supporting installation and commissioning at customer sites.

This would suit an engineer who enjoys working on bespoke equipment rather than repetitive projects, with the opportunity to see machinery progress from initial design through to a fully operational system.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop control systems for bespoke machinery and automated equipment
• Develop PLC software from scratch, including modification and improvement of existing programs
• Design, configure and develop HMI systems
• Produce control philosophies and supporting technical documentation
• Work closely with electrical and mechanical design engineers throughout the project lifecycle
• Support electrical control panel design, build and integration
• Carry out software and functional testing prior to machinery dispatch
• Participate in FATs and machinery testing
• Troubleshoot PLC, electrical and automation-related issues
• Support installation and commissioning of machinery at customer sites
• Modify and optimise control systems following commissioning and customer feedback
• Provide technical support to customers and internal engineering teams
• Contribute to continuous improvement and standardisation of control systems across future machinery projects

Skills & Experience

We are looking for someone with:

• Proven experience as a Control Systems Engineer, Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer or PLC Engineer
• Previous experience working with bespoke machinery, special purpose machinery, automated equipment or OEM environments
• Strong PLC programming experience
• Experience developing PLC software from scratch
• Experience with platforms such as Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Mitsubishi or similar
• HMI design and configuration experience
• Good understanding of electrical control systems and control panels
• Experience troubleshooting machinery and automation systems
• Knowledge of industrial communication networks and protocols
• Experience with machinery testing and commissioning
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings and technical documentation
• A practical, hands-on approach to engineering and fault finding
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a multidisciplinary engineering team
• Willingness to travel to customer sites when required

Why Join?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established engineering organisation at an important stage of its growth.

You'll benefit from:

• £50,000 - £60,000 salary, depending on experience
• 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays
• Pension scheme
• Opportunities for career progression as the business grows
• Exposure to varied and technically interesting bespoke machinery projects
• Involvement across the complete project lifecycle
• Opportunity to work closely with mechanical, electrical and manufacturing engineering teams
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Long-term professional development opportunities

If you're an experienced Control Systems Engineer looking for a role where you can take ownership of technically interesting machinery projects from concept through to commissioning, this could be an excellent next step.