Control Systems Engineer

apetito UK; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food supplier seeks a motivated Control Systems Engineer to join their team in Trowbridge. The role involves supporting manufacturing operations through effective control systems management and collaboration within engineering teams. The ideal candidate will bring recognized engineering experience, PLC programming skills, and an understanding of health and safety regulations. The position offers a competitive salary and numerous perks, contributing to an exciting opportunity in a growing company.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Discretionary bonus scheme

Pension contributions

Life assurance

Subsidized canteen

Free parking

Christmas vouchers

Salary sacrifice options

Retail discounts

Qualifications

• Recognized control systems engineering experience.
• Good understanding of health and safety regulations.
• Experience with HMI and SCADA systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for control systems.
• Develop and execute preventative maintenance schedules for PLCs.
• Monitor control systems performance and implement solutions.

Skills

PLC programming

Fault finding

Control systems

Health and safety awareness

Troubleshooting

Education

Relevant engineering degree or equivalent qualification

Job description

The Control Systems Engineer role offers an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to join our Engineering Team during a period of significant change and business growth.

We are integrating cutting-edge technology into our existing factory and planning to build a new world-class regenerative food manufacturing facility in Trowbridge.

We seek talented and enthusiastic Engineers to join us in this new chapter.

You will work within a team of 25 engineers at our factory and collaborate with the wider project team for our second factory, also in Trowbridge.

This role is vital in supporting the manufacturing operation and provides a unique chance to be involved in our expansion.

You should have in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with Siemens, Omron, and Allen-Bradley PLC systems. Your role is crucial in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and optimization of our manufacturing processes through effective control systems management.

Your experience in planning and managing OT change improvement activities, along with liaising with key stakeholders, will enable you to align OT standards with our strategic goals.

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to health and social care sectors, serving over 1,300 care homes, healthcare, and education settings. Our meals are crafted by dieticians and chefs and then frozen to preserve quality.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier, delivering over 330 different frozen meals across the UK.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide technical support and troubleshooting for control systems and automation issues to minimize downtime.
2. Collaborate with production teams to ensure seamless operations and resolve equipment challenges promptly.
3. Develop the Engineering team’s control systems fault-finding skills and understanding.
4. Work with the wider organization to develop common control systems strategies.
5. Monitor control systems performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement solutions.
6. Develop and execute preventative maintenance schedules for PLCs, HMIs, and automation hardware.
7. Conduct regular system health checks, backups, and updates to ensure long-term reliability.
8. Program and configure PLCs.
9. Maintain, modify, and optimize PLC programs for Siemens, Omron, and Allen-Bradley systems to meet production needs.
10. Design and integrate new control system solutions to enhance process flexibility.
11. Lead upgrades or expansions to control systems as operational needs evolve.
12. Evaluate and recommend new technologies to improve plant productivity.
13. Maintain compliance and documentation, including electrical schematics, backups, and maintenance records.
14. Ensure all control systems adhere to safety standards and regulations.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Recognized control systems engineering experience.
• Relevant engineering degree or equivalent qualification.
• Good understanding of health and safety regulations, safety systems, and standards (SIL, ISO 13849).
• Experience in PLC programming, fault finding, and control systems.
• Experience with HMI and SCADA systems.

Desirable Skills and Qualifications:

• Certificates or training in specific PLC platforms.
• Experience in food manufacturing.
• Familiarity with robotics, motion control, and advanced automation technologies.

We offer a competitive salary, accredited Living Wage employer status, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, options to purchase additional days, a discretionary bonus scheme, pension contributions, life assurance, subsidized canteen, free parking, Christmas vouchers, and perks including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts.

As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on making a difference and creating meals that promote health and well-being. We support British food and farming, aim for Net Zero by 2040, and are committed to inclusion and diversity.